NGO questions if the two Myanmar suspects are scapegoats

[Lite Beer]

NGO questions if the two Myanmar suspects are scapegoats

KOH TAO: -- The Cross Cultural Foundation, a non-governmental organization, has voiced concern over the arrest of two Myanmar workers in Koh Tao on alleged rape-murder charge of two British tourists, reasoning there was no transparent justice procedure in making arrest and feared the duo might be scapegoats.

Director of the CCF Ms Pornpen Kongkachornkiat said she received complaint about the mass arrest of migrant workers in Koh Tao by the police after the murder of the two tourists, particularly information related to the three Myanmar suspects in the murder.

She revealed that she received complaint saying that on September 27, nine migrant workers were playing “Takraw” when the police came and rounded up all the migrant workers.

Three migrant workers who have no identification documents and work permits were advised by their colleagues to flee.

She said the three were later followed and kept under surveillance by the police and later arrested. They turned out to be the murder suspects of the British tourists.

She claimed she has information that migrant workers were rounded up to have DNA tests, thus forcing the migrant workers in Koh Tao to live in fear.

She questioned the forced DNA test whether the police have followed international standard or not as DNA results were known in very short time, contradicting to earlier DNA test of foreigners which took 3-4 days to know.

Is this a discriminated practice, she asked.

She added that right now the Thai authorities were more concerned about the drop in tourist arrivals than justice that the suspects should be treated with no discrimination.

She said the pursuance of the case by the British embassy and its lawyer has inevitably turned a pressure on the Thai police that could jeopardize confidence in the country’s justice system.

Source: http://englishnews.thaipbs.or.th/ngo-questions-two-myanmar-suspects-scapegoats/

-- Thai PBS 2014-10-03

[Artisi]

[ffaarraanngg]

Someone with clout and money has to represent these men.

[Costas2008]

Well done woman, I have been questioning that from the moment it was announced that the murderers were Burmese migrants.

And I want the truth.......this case has affected me a lot.

[daveAustin]

Good. At least someone is sitting up and taking notice. Everyone must know it's a sham. Those who don't and shout conspiracy theory are either loved-up with the place and have the blinkers on or haven't been paying attention... this lot were already rounded up and given the all-clear, only to be yanked back in when the truth was discovered (a local someone did it) and the pressure intensified for a result!

[carstenp]

So are we back to square zero again, or does it matter what she is telling.....

I think what ever they say. Case solved, back with turist

[Artisi]

The only way to solve the "stand-off" between "they are guilty" and "no they're not" is for independent qualified 3rd party analysis of all the DNA obtained and the collection of DNA from all those who have refused to allow DNA sampling (I assume from what has been said previously - that some people have refused). Only then will the real fact be known - however I would think this is very unlikely for a number of reason -- that I leave for you to answer.

Edited October 3, 2014 by Artisi

[eeeya]

I will laugh so hard if its a set up. I hope it isn't.

[mauGR1]

It was a horrendous crime... But we don't need scapegoats.

The Burmese may be guilty, but that must be proven without any doubt.

May justice prevail in a civil society.

RIP Hannah and David

[Wilsonandson]

At last someone is doing something about these ridiculous arrests. Time to bring in an independent investigation.

[littlebw]

laugh if 2 innocent people get punished?

yea its a big <deleted> laugh

like to see you laughing if you were one of them

I will laugh so hard if its a set up. I hope it isn't.

[Patje]

Meanwhile the police are doing their happy - dance on the beach as shown in the picture ...

Can someone in Thailand with a high rank please follow the reasoning of this lady, pretty please ????

[eeeya]

laugh if 2 innocent people get punished?

yea its a big laugh

like to see you laughing if you were one of them

I will laugh so hard if its a set up. I hope it isn't.

Keep your shirt on. If its proven its a set up then they will be proven innocent.

[littlebw]

the lady is a skynews reporter

she played the part of hannah in the reconstruction

Meanwhile the police are doing their happy - dance on the beach as shown in the picture ...

Can someone in Thailand with a high rank please follow the reasoning of this lady, pretty please ????

[mrtoad]

The cover up, to try and save the tourist dollar. Let's see how the power of social media affects those greedy bastards down in Koh Tao.

[aTomsLife]

Simple. Send the suspects' DNA to England where it can be compared to that on the victims.

[Tredz]

we will never know the truth !

RIP Hannah and David

[Bluespunk]

"She said the pursuance of the case by the British embassy and its lawyer has inevitably turned a pressure on the Thai police that could jeopardize confidence in the countrys justice system."

I agreed with her concerns and saw good points in her arguments right up until that last bit of nationalistic chauvinism.

[Wilsonandson]

The cover up, to try and save the tourist dollar. Let's see how the power of social media affects those greedy bastards down in Koh Tao.

Try and save the Godfather's sons from life in prison. The grim reaper is catching up to you Monti

[kalbo123]

Considering personal involvement of the PM congratulating the Koh Tao police force with their excellent work I do not give a lot of changes for any other outcome then that the Burmese are FKD.

[NeverSure]

Someone must sneak some swabs of their DNA to the Brits who most certainly have true semen DNA samples from the murdered woman's body.

[tbthailand]

let's just say that this arrest doesn't pass the 'sniff test'

[Wilsonandson]

Considering personal involvement of the PM congratulating the Koh Tao police force with their excellent work I do not give a lot of changes for any other outcome then that the Burmese are FKD.

Yes, but if you tell the world then he might change his mind.

[blu3]

Kudos to this lady.

We can only hope that more people with some kind of authority raise concern as to the legitimacy of these arrests.

I wish the British Embassy and media would get some backbone and start asking more difficult questions of what's gone on here.

I'm not saying these guys aren't the killers. They might be. But an independent verification would prove this once and for all.

There's no legitimate excuse not to allow or offer this if they are confident they are right. Thailand has everything to gain my definitively proving they have got the right men. The world is watching.

[IAMSOBAD]

You go girl!

[ukrules]

Well, you can't argue with the facts.

The DNA results from the victims said the attackers were Asian, so they arrested three Asians

I would really like to know if all traces of evidence were removed from the bodies before they made it back home and if follow up tests will be done at some point in the future. It could be years away but I'm sure the full proven truth will eventually emerge.

If that DNA exists outside Thailand then collecting samples to match it with will be trivial in the future.

[sabaitoo]

Where to point ???

[MJP]

Where to point ???

That's a pointers frenzy.

[englishoak]

Good, absolutely no doubt should remain regarding the victims killers....

This must remain high profile and fully open and transparent...

For Thailand it means doing it to regain international face, respect and trust.

For the victims families it will mean full closure.

for tourism itll mean people will feel safer.

Its a win win for Thailand, tourism and families

The only reason NOT to make it so is if they have something they wish to hide.

[Pattaya28]

2 days ago the police said an arrest warrant of the guilty partys would be issued in 3 days, and they were sure they got it right.

What was that all about ? considering they now have 2 more guilty partys ?