Koh Tao: British tourist murder suspects confess to human rights commissioner

[webfact]

Tourist murder suspects confess to human rights commissioner



BANGKOK: -- A human rights commissioner said Tuesday the two Myanmar migrant workers arrested on charges of murdering the two British backpackers on Koh Tao admitted to him that they committed the crime as charged.

The commissioner, Mr Prinya Sirisarakan, and his staff visited the two suspects at a prison on Koh Samui where they are being detained pending prosecution.

Commenting on the suspicion by netizens in the social media that the two suspects might be just scapegoats, Mr Prinya suggested that the police should disclose more details about the case to clear up the air.

He said the two told him that they drank both beer and wine before they attacked the two British tourists and he suspected that they might be drunk at the time they committed the crime.

He went on saying that he would notify the police about their interpreter who was a Rohingya as the two suspects did not trust the interpreter and were afraid that they might not be treated fairly.

Meanwhile, Ms Pornpen Kongkachornkiat, director of Cross Cultural Foundation and a member of the subcommittee of the National Human Rights Commission and a representative of foreign migrant workers’ network called on Mr Paibul Artchavananthakul, Koh Samui public prosecutor, to follow up the case against the two Myanmar suspects, Win and Sorin.

She said that she felt relieved that the case was proceeding in accordance with procedures.

Source: http://englishnews.thaipbs.or.th/tourist-murder-suspects-confess-human-rights-commissioner/


-- Thai PBS 2014-10-08

[Thai at Heart]

Well a statement like that, anywhere else in the world would probably bring an instant mistrial.

Pure heresay

[PaullyW]

They are REALLY trying hard, aren't they? The suspects drank beer and wine. Oh, thank god for that solid evidence of brutal murder and rape.

It's like the reports of the American who "ran up, and then fall down" from the hotel in Nana a few weeks back.

These people are extremely simple. My 5 year-old grandson can see through this.

[petedk]

Beer and wine?

Migrant workers?

Is wine cheap on Koh Tao?

I know in Bangkok the cheapest wine is about 350 Baht a bottle. Surely these people won't spend a days wage on a bottle of wine.

[englishoak]

Commenting on the suspicion by netizens in the social media.......

Wot ? are pbs using that Rohingya translator now ?

[NongKhaiKid]

Interesting article in the other newspaper about the police news conference to prove all was above board.

It's reported that the British Embassy didn't send a representative and that an official at the Myanmar Embassy refuted claims by the Foreign Minister that they were happy with the investigation. The Second Secretary at the embassy supposedly said it's too early to decide if they are happy with the information.

IS this yet another case of Thai officialdom speaking on behalf of others without justification or has the Foreign Minister picked up the ' white lie ' habit of his predecessor ?

It's intriguing there was no representative from the British Embassy which, under other circumstances, could have been because they didn't want to be part of the dog and pony show or is it embarrassment over the remarks attributed to the ambassador and which have attracted so much adverse comment ?

[JohnThailandJohn]

Lawyer Aung Myo Thant said the pair, Zaw Lin and Win Zaw Htun, both 21, from the Arakanese town of Kyaukphyu, told a Burmese embassy legal team they had murdered English tourists

Speaking to DVB on Monday, Kyaw Thaung, a representative of the Myanmar Association in Thailand, who attended the interview with the defendants, said, “We went to the prison [on Koh Samui] and were allowed to meet with the two freely. They confessed to committing the crime under the influence of alcohol.

https://www.dvb.no/news/koh-tao-murderers-were-tortured-says-burmese-embassy-lawyer-burma-myanmar/44781

[englishoak]

Are you enjoying spamming excerpts that suit you JTJ ?

crack on

[dcutman]

The cigarette butts with their dna found on the beach is part of the strong evidence against them. Now these boys were both very drunk from beer and wine. Were are the bottles that these two drank from I wonder?

[JohnThailandJohn]

Well a statement like that, anywhere else in the world would probably bring an instant mistrial.

Pure heresay

Hearsay only applies to testimony in court. Nowhere that I am aware would there be a mistrial because somebody freely is reporting to the press what the suspects freely told them. Not to mention this case is going to be heard in front of judges and not a novice public jury who could be influenced by media reports.

[seahorse]

Mr Prinya Sirisarakan was told this by these suspects' interpreter.

http://www.irrawaddy.org/burma/burmese-suspects-koh-tao-murders-tortured-interrogation-lawyer.html

Aung Myo Thant, a Burmese lawyer who is part of a legal team sent by the Burmese Embassy in Bangkok to represent the accused, told The Irrawaddy that Win Zaw Htun was assaulted and threatened after refusing to confess to the murders during a police interrogation.

“He didn’t confess when he was in the investigation center,” Aung Myo Thant said. “A police officer hit the side of his face and the interpreter also hit him four times. Then police threatened to electrocute them [the suspects] and said that no worse thing would happen to them if they confessed. So, they finally confessed as they saw no hope.”

[ATF]

This "Human Rights" person has absolutely no legal or professional standing at all.

It's a load of bullocks.

[JeremyBowskill]

IF you were being beaten on a regular basis, by now you would be telling people you wore womans knickers and liked to be called daisy, if that's what they wanted to hear. Not saying that's the case, but who knows. Aung San Suu Kyi is about the only person I would trust the word of.

[JohnThailandJohn]

I have little doubt police may have roughed these guys up or at minimum deprived them of some of their rights but have nearly no doubt (only doubt is the court has not ruled yet) they have the right guys. Also have no doubt if these suspects were Thai (especially rich) that many of the posters outraged over the abuse of their rights would be screaming for more of their blood.

Police shouldn't abuse any suspects or anyone even rapist murderers but the evidence is just beyond overwhelming against these guys and their DNA samples can be got again by these lawyers and human rights people they confessed and then compared to the DNA results from the crime scene.

The way this is going to go down seems fairly predictable ..... these guys are going to please guilty and do everything in their power to downplay how monstrous their behavior was by saying they were drunk, didn't mean to kill them and so on in hopes of not receiving the death penalty

[MJP]

I have little doubt police may have roughed these guys up or at minimum deprived them of some of their right but have nearly no doubt they have the right guys. Also have no doubt if these suspects were Thai (especially rich) that many of the posters outraged over the abuse of their rights would be screaming for more of their blood.

Police shouldn't abuse any suspects or anyone even rapist murderers but the evidence is just beyond overwhelming against these guys and their DNA samples can be got again by these lawyers and human rights people they confessed and then compared to the DNA results from the crime scene.

The way this is going to go down seems fairly predictable ..... these guys are going to please guilty and do everything in their power to downplay how monstrous their behavior was by saying they were drunk, didn't mean to kill them and so on in hopes of not receiving the death penalty

Independent investigation including DNA testing is the only way this mess is going to be resolved. There is too much doubt.

[carstenp]

Beer and wine?

Migrant workers?

Is wine cheap on Koh Tao?

I know in Bangkok the cheapest wine is about 350 Baht a bottle. Surely these people won't spend a days wage on a bottle of wine.

For people down here wine is the same as spy classic, red, black.

[dcutman]

Lawyer Aung Myo Thant said the pair, Zaw Lin and Win Zaw Htun, both 21, from the Arakanese town of Kyaukphyu, told a Burmese embassy legal team they had murdered English tourists

Speaking to DVB on Monday, Kyaw Thaung, a representative of the Myanmar Association in Thailand, who attended the interview with the defendants, said, “We went to the prison [on Koh Samui] and were allowed to meet with the two freely. They confessed to committing the crime under the influence of alcohol.

https://www.dvb.no/news/koh-tao-murderers-were-tortured-says-burmese-embassy-lawyer-burma-myanmar/44781

You dont find it odd at all that people representing these two suspects, facing possible death penalty, would just come out and openly talk to the press about their conversations?

[Emptyset]

Interesting article in the other newspaper about the police news conference to prove all was above board.

It's reported that the British Embassy didn't send a representative and that an official at the Myanmar Embassy refuted claims by the Foreign Minister that they were happy with the investigation. The Second Secretary at the embassy supposedly said it's too early to decide if they are happy with the information.

IS this yet another case of Thai officialdom speaking on behalf of others without justification or has the Foreign Minister picked up the ' white lie ' habit of his predecessor ?

It's intriguing there was no representative from the British Embassy which, under other circumstances, could have been because they didn't want to be part of the dog and pony show or is it embarrassment over the remarks attributed to the ambassador and which have attracted so much adverse comment ?

Had a look at Mark Kent's Twitter feed recently and he denied he'd made any public remarks on the case at all (perhaps that's what you meant, wasn't sure). Anyway, whether the Burmese men are guilty or not, any future ruling will lack credibility given the mess police have made of the case and the many apparent anomalies in the evidence and testimony. I don't think they realize having people like this human rights commissioner testify to the men's supposed guilt actually makes it look like more of a fit-up, not less.

There's a simple solution: ''Therefore, we believe it is necessary for an independent body to investigate the forensic evidence that has allegedly implicated the two men. The investigation should be carried out by a foreign authority that has accredited technological facilities to verify the DNA results. The independent inquiry should (1) confirm that none of the DNA samples have been tampered with, and (2) evaluate the alleged match between the two suspects and the DNA traces acquired from Witheridge's body.''

http://www.khaosodenglish.com/detail.php?newsid=1412595379

An independent DNA test would restore faith in the investigation at a stroke and at this point I think it's the *only* thing they could do that would reassure people that this is a just legal process, not simply the scapegoating of innocent migrants to cover up the crimes of more powerful people.

[MJP]

Interesting article in the other newspaper about the police news conference to prove all was above board.

It's reported that the British Embassy didn't send a representative and that an official at the Myanmar Embassy refuted claims by the Foreign Minister that they were happy with the investigation. The Second Secretary at the embassy supposedly said it's too early to decide if they are happy with the information.

IS this yet another case of Thai officialdom speaking on behalf of others without justification or has the Foreign Minister picked up the ' white lie ' habit of his predecessor ?

It's intriguing there was no representative from the British Embassy which, under other circumstances, could have been because they didn't want to be part of the dog and pony show or is it embarrassment over the remarks attributed to the ambassador and which have attracted so much adverse comment ?

Had a look at Mark Kent's Twitter feed recently and he denied he'd made any public remarks on the case at all (perhaps that's what you meant, wasn't sure). Anyway, whether the Burmese men are guilty or not, any future ruling will lack credibility given the mess police have made of the case and the many apparent anomalies in the evidence and testimony. I don't think they realize having people like this human rights commissioner testify to the men's supposed guilt actually makes it look like more of a fit-up, not less.

There's a simple solution: ''Therefore, we believe it is necessary for an independent body to investigate the forensic evidence that has allegedly implicated the two men. The investigation should be carried out by a foreign authority that has accredited technological facilities to verify the DNA results. The independent inquiry should (1) confirm that none of the DNA samples have been tampered with, and (2) evaluate the alleged match between the two suspects and the DNA traces acquired from Witheridge's body.''

http://www.khaosodenglish.com/detail.php?newsid=1412595379

An independent DNA test would restore faith in the investigation at a stroke and at this point I think it's the *only* thing they could do that would reassure people that this is a just legal process, not simply the scapegoating of innocent migrants to cover up the crimes of more powerful people.

It's the only way.

Very easy. Simple. Thai's just need to invite the Brits to corroborate. Brits will do it no problem.

[ATF]

These guys haven't even seen a lawyer yet. F-me!

[NongKhaiKid]

Interesting article in the other newspaper about the police news conference to prove all was above board.

It's reported that the British Embassy didn't send a representative and that an official at the Myanmar Embassy refuted claims by the Foreign Minister that they were happy with the investigation. The Second Secretary at the embassy supposedly said it's too early to decide if they are happy with the information.

IS this yet another case of Thai officialdom speaking on behalf of others without justification or has the Foreign Minister picked up the ' white lie ' habit of his predecessor ?

It's intriguing there was no representative from the British Embassy which, under other circumstances, could have been because they didn't want to be part of the dog and pony show or is it embarrassment over the remarks attributed to the ambassador and which have attracted so much adverse comment ?

Had a look at Mark Kent's Twitter feed recently and he denied he'd made any public remarks on the case at all (perhaps that's what you meant, wasn't sure). Anyway, whether the Burmese men are guilty or not, any future ruling will lack credibility given the mess police have made of the case and the many apparent anomalies in the evidence and testimony. I don't think they realize having people like this human rights commissioner testify to the men's supposed guilt actually makes it look like more of a fit-up, not less.

There's a simple solution: ''Therefore, we believe it is necessary for an independent body to investigate the forensic evidence that has allegedly implicated the two men. The investigation should be carried out by a foreign authority that has accredited technological facilities to verify the DNA results. The independent inquiry should (1) confirm that none of the DNA samples have been tampered with, and (2) evaluate the alleged match between the two suspects and the DNA traces acquired from Witheridge's body.''

http://www.khaosodenglish.com/detail.php?newsid=1412595379

An independent DNA test would restore faith in the investigation at a stroke and at this point I think it's the *only* thing they could do that would reassure people that this is a just legal process, not simply the scapegoating of innocent migrants to cover up the crimes of more powerful people.

Thanks for the info about Kent's Twitter denial. If it's accurate I wonder if the embassy has protested about the extremely erroneous and damaging quote attributed to him which has caused such a stir.

[JohnThailandJohn]

Lawyer Aung Myo Thant said the pair, Zaw Lin and Win Zaw Htun, both 21, from the Arakanese town of Kyaukphyu, told a Burmese embassy legal team they had murdered English tourists

Speaking to DVB on Monday, Kyaw Thaung, a representative of the Myanmar Association in Thailand, who attended the interview with the defendants, said, “We went to the prison [on Koh Samui] and were allowed to meet with the two freely. They confessed to committing the crime under the influence of alcohol.

https://www.dvb.no/news/koh-tao-murderers-were-tortured-says-burmese-embassy-lawyer-burma-myanmar/44781

You dont find it odd at all that people representing these two suspects, facing possible death penalty, would just come out and openly talk to the press about their conversations?

I would find it more odd if this was a private meeting with their own lawyers but this was a meeting with embassy officials and human rights people and probably others.

But consider too they have already confessed and reenacted and in addition other evidence there is the DNA evidence. Seems clear there is not going to be a defense of not guilty and it is going to be about getting the death penalty off the table through their cooperation and remorse and although not likely to help (judges not stupid) them downplaying the crime by saying things like they were drunk and didn't intend to kill

[dcutman]

Lawyer Aung Myo Thant said the pair, Zaw Lin and Win Zaw Htun, both 21, from the Arakanese town of Kyaukphyu, told a Burmese embassy legal team they had murdered English tourists

Speaking to DVB on Monday, Kyaw Thaung, a representative of the Myanmar Association in Thailand, who attended the interview with the defendants, said, “We went to the prison [on Koh Samui] and were allowed to meet with the two freely. They confessed to committing the crime under the influence of alcohol.

https://www.dvb.no/news/koh-tao-murderers-were-tortured-says-burmese-embassy-lawyer-burma-myanmar/44781

You dont find it odd at all that people representing these two suspects, facing possible death penalty, would just come out and openly talk to the press about their conversations?

I would find it more odd if this was a private meeting with their own lawyers but this was a meeting with embassy officials and human rights people and probably others.

But consider too they have already confessed and reenacted and in addition other evidence there is the DNA evidence. Seems clear there is not going to be a defense of not guilty and it is going to be about getting the death penalty off the table through their cooperation and remorse and although not likely to help (judges not stupid) them downplaying the crime by saying things like they were drunk and didn't intend to kill

Ok so you are saying that these Burmese kids embassy and human rights people arent really representing their fair and honest treatment and will just go out of their way to park the bus on them? You dont find that odd at all?

[JohnThailandJohn]

I have little doubt police may have roughed these guys up or at minimum deprived them of some of their right but have nearly no doubt they have the right guys. Also have no doubt if these suspects were Thai (especially rich) that many of the posters outraged over the abuse of their rights would be screaming for more of their blood.

Police shouldn't abuse any suspects or anyone even rapist murderers but the evidence is just beyond overwhelming against these guys and their DNA samples can be got again by these lawyers and human rights people they confessed and then compared to the DNA results from the crime scene.

The way this is going to go down seems fairly predictable ..... these guys are going to please guilty and do everything in their power to downplay how monstrous their behavior was by saying they were drunk, didn't mean to kill them and so on in hopes of not receiving the death penalty

Independent investigation including DNA testing is the only way this mess is going to be resolved. There is too much doubt.

Nothing is going to help the doubt in some people's mind ever and others just need to let more time pass and calm down. Many are already seeing they were led astray but theories spread as fact later turned out to be BS. The bodies and crime scene have been cleaned and if DNA was cooperated they would just say authorities switched the samples.

These suspects have lawyers sent to them by an NGO who can retake their DNA and compare with that collected from the crime scene. This is better than independent testing as it is being done by advocates of theirs. If there is any doubt in their mind they will do this.

The two have their Embassy officials and Human Rights groups meeting with them in addition to their own lawyers. They have lots of advocates that are acting in their interest and much better informed on the process and case than any of us.

[ATF]

So whose sperm was in the condom?

[evadgib]

Lawyer Aung Myo Thant said the pair, Zaw Lin and Win Zaw Htun, both 21, from the Arakanese town of Kyaukphyu, told a Burmese embassy legal team they had murdered English tourists

Speaking to DVB on Monday, Kyaw Thaung, a representative of the Myanmar Association in Thailand, who attended the interview with the defendants, said, “We went to the prison [on Koh Samui] and were allowed to meet with the two freely. They confessed to committing the crime under the influence of alcohol.

https://www.dvb.no/news/koh-tao-murderers-were-tortured-says-burmese-embassy-lawyer-burma-myanmar/44781

You dont find it odd at all that people representing these two suspects, facing possible death penalty, would just come out and openly talk to the press about their conversations?

Or that the prison would allow cameras in & turn the consular aspect into a spectator sport.

[MJP]

I have little doubt police may have roughed these guys up or at minimum deprived them of some of their right but have nearly no doubt they have the right guys. Also have no doubt if these suspects were Thai (especially rich) that many of the posters outraged over the abuse of their rights would be screaming for more of their blood.

Police shouldn't abuse any suspects or anyone even rapist murderers but the evidence is just beyond overwhelming against these guys and their DNA samples can be got again by these lawyers and human rights people they confessed and then compared to the DNA results from the crime scene.

The way this is going to go down seems fairly predictable ..... these guys are going to please guilty and do everything in their power to downplay how monstrous their behavior was by saying they were drunk, didn't mean to kill them and so on in hopes of not receiving the death penalty

Independent investigation including DNA testing is the only way this mess is going to be resolved. There is too much doubt.

Nothing is going to help the doubt in some people's mind ever and others just need to let more time pass and calm down. Many are already seeing they were led astray but theories spread as fact later turned out to be BS. The bodies and crime scene have been cleaned and if DNA was cooperated they would just say authorities switched the samples.

These suspects have lawyers sent to them by an NGO who can retake their DNA and compare with that collected from the crime scene. This is better than independent testing as it is being done by advocates of theirs. If there is any doubt in their mind they will do this.

The two have their Embassy officials and Human Rights groups meeting with them in addition to their own lawyers. They have lots of advocates that are acting in their interest and much better informed on the process and case than any of us.

There's always the conspiracy theorists who load conspiracy on to conspiracy and disappear up their own wazoo.

It would be so much easier if a. UK authorities had recovered DNA evidence from Hannah. b. Then took DNA evidence from the accused, and c. Confirmed Thai evidence.

That would be the end of this. Done. No further issue for normal people and the conspiracy theorists can get back to the X-Files or whatever it is they do.

I wonder if this is possible, or is being done? If possible, it needs to happen now and this can be very quickly resolved. Because normal people watching this from day one are quite right to question as they are.

[JohnThailandJohn]

Lawyer Aung Myo Thant said the pair, Zaw Lin and Win Zaw Htun, both 21, from the Arakanese town of Kyaukphyu, told a Burmese embassy legal team they had murdered English tourists

Speaking to DVB on Monday, Kyaw Thaung, a representative of the Myanmar Association in Thailand, who attended the interview with the defendants, said, “We went to the prison [on Koh Samui] and were allowed to meet with the two freely. They confessed to committing the crime under the influence of alcohol.

https://www.dvb.no/news/koh-tao-murderers-were-tortured-says-burmese-embassy-lawyer-burma-myanmar/44781

You dont find it odd at all that people representing these two suspects, facing possible death penalty, would just come out and openly talk to the press about their conversations?

I would find it more odd if this was a private meeting with their own lawyers but this was a meeting with embassy officials and human rights people and probably others.

But consider too they have already confessed and reenacted and in addition other evidence there is the DNA evidence. Seems clear there is not going to be a defense of not guilty and it is going to be about getting the death penalty off the table through their cooperation and remorse and although not likely to help (judges not stupid) them downplaying the crime by saying things like they were drunk and didn't intend to kill

Ok so you are saying that these Burmese kids embassy and human rights people arent really representing their fair and honest treatment and will just go out of their way to park the bus on them? You dont find that odd at all?

No I think as you have done with this case you are doing with my post and that is you are seeing and hearing what suites you regardless of facts or reality. While many have backed off and are coming to terms that these two are guilty (pending the official court findings) others like yourself seem to be going off the deep end and reading one thing but registering another.

It is like the more confirmation that comes out these guys are guilty (by their own accounts) the more you fight to suggest they are liars and everyone is setting them up -- now even their own embassy and a human rights group.

[T_Dog]

Police in Thailand have a long proven record of using scapegoats and of prosecuting the wrong person, and that is why this case needs scrutiny. It bothers many that government officials are not emphasizing a thorough investigation and fair trial to make sure they got the right person, but rather focusing on a quick conviction. There are way too many open questions, rumors of torture, and hints at a cover up at this point.

Also.... Here is a link to the article that some quotes are being pulled from. It is worth reading the whole thing.

http://bangkok.coconuts.co/2014/10/07/koh-tao-murders-accused-men-recant-confessions-tell-embassy-lawyer-they-were-tortured

[djhotsox]

The cigarette butts with their dna found on the beach is part of the strong evidence against them. Now these boys were both very drunk from beer and wine. Were are the bottles that these two drank from I wonder?

These boys admitted to smoking cigarettes on the beach where they were playing guitar.

They did not say they were smoking where the crime was committed. Those two places are a ways apart.

Just one of the holes in the stories er...confessions rather.