Britain summons Thai envoy over tourist murder probe
London, United Kingdom | AFP |

LONDON: -- The British government on Monday summoned Thailand's top diplomatic representative in London to lay out its "real concern" about the investigation into the murder of two British tourists on a holiday island, officials said.

Thai police last week charged two migrant workers from Myanmar with the murder of David Miller, 24, and the rape and murder of Hannah Witheridge, 23, after the tourists' battered bodies were found on Koh Tao on September 15.

Junior foreign minister Hugo Swire summoned Thai charge d'affaires Nadhavathna Krishnamra and "stressed that there was a real concern in the UK about how the investigation has been handled by the Thai authorities," the Foreign Office said in a statement.

Swire "said that it was crucial for the investigation to be conducted in a fair and transparent way," it said.

He also noted "his concern about the way that the police had engaged with the media on the case, and reiterated that the UK police stood ready to assist with the investigation and subsequent legal process", it said.

Swire emphasised the need for the British government and the victims' families to receive regular updates on the investigation's progress.

Thai police said on Friday that the two suspects had confessed to the crime and their DNA matched with samples taken from Witheridge's body.

The breakthrough followed intense scrutiny of Thai authorities, which had been accused -- in criticism led by the British media -- of bungling the investigation in the days after the crime.

There have been reports that the suspects were tortured into confessing -- an allegation Thailand has strongly denied.

The grisly murders delivered a fresh blow to Thailand's image as a tourist haven after months of political protests that ended in May's army coup.


-- (c) Copyright AFP 2014-10-14

Finally the poms are showing some backbone

Aha. Very clever.

It keeps the local embassy out of it, and very publicly hauls the Thai govt over the coals.

Very nice touch.

I'm sure a very thorough investigation is ongoing in the UK. This issue won't go away easily.

For this to happen I suspect there must be some preliminary results.

This is obvious the communication needed to start opening the case to more UK Investigation,which is what is needed! but will this offer be refused,because of loss of FACE?

Long overdue , Britain is now voicing concern over the handling, due process, diligence, corruption, and gangstering.

Finally the poms are showing some backbone

Show me where Backbone won and Thailand loss?

Great timing considering this mornings court appointment.

Finally the poms are showing some backbone

Show me where Backbone won and Thailand loss?

Part of the problem is that the Thais have dug themselves into a deep hole and suddenly reversing course is all but unthinkable as too much has been said and too much possibly covered up, ' arranged ' etc. The loss of face would be massive.

Yesterday the National Police Chief again insisted the investigation had been transparent and that the era of fitting people up was over and wouldn't happen under his command.

These and other strong words from the top HAVE To be seen through now.

"his concern about the way that the police had engaged with the media on the case"

Fair comment I think.

Finally the poms are showing some backbone

Unlike our Aussie counterparts, we tend to think first and act accordingly.

I don't think the Thai powers will like this move by the UK.

The Brits did not get far with Kirsty Jones murder in Chiang Mai. 14 years ago, still not solved.!

Does anyone really think Thailand and the RTP really care about what Briton thinks and does? The ONLY thing that makes them concerned is lack of tourists and the money that follows.

I must be missing something.

Regular reports to the family etc and a call for fair and transparent investigation /trial...

This doesn't seem to be so strongly worded. Just a reiteration of what has already been said.

"his concern about the way that the police had engaged with the media on the case"

Fair comment I think.

Absolutely

The Brits did not get far with Kirsty Jones murder in Chiang Mai. 14 years ago, still not solved.!

Not resolved anyway.

I don't think the Thai powers will like this move by the UK.

Tough.

To little to late. That arse wipe Cameron should have been jumping up and down the first week.

Finally something, but as also mention "call me Dave" shoul have stepped in earlier, and they should have used the actual Foreign Minister to deliver the message to The Thai diplomat as opposed to a junior nor, just to give the idiots a further push. Hopefully, oh ugh this might be the beginning of some serious political pressure from The UK

Jonathan Head on BBC now about this story.. Should kick those SOBs where it hurts..

Now the English get involved, poke their dirty fingers in everything but cant even solve their own in country problems.

Don't expect anything worthwhile, just some dirty pigs getting a free holiday at my expense.

Oh dear Mr Angry, Is it the wrong time of the month. Keep taking the tablets and climb back into your pit.!!

that there was a real concern in the UK about how the investigation has been handled by the Thai authorities

JohnThailandJohn, Beetlejuice, ClutchClark, Pattaya46, your boys just took a hell of a beating.

You might be too thick to realise it, though.

Finally the poms are showing some backbone

Unlike our Aussie counterparts, we tend to think first and act accordingly.

What do you expect from a bunch of convicts?

Zzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz. Next please.

According to the next-to-the-last sentence of theGuaredian article on the same UK FCO's expression of real concerns:

The accused are to appear in court in Koh Samui on Wednesday.

Thai police said on Friday that the two suspects had confessed to the crime and their DNA matched with samples taken from Witheridge's body.

All they have to do is get this verified by an independent agency and all the speculation will cease, the other issues of human rights and peoples right to council is a longer issue that needs to also be addressed along with opening the court system up to full public and media scrutiny - access and follow up of cases as they are heard - time for Thailand to get with being open honest and transparent.

It was the constant media release of conflicting statements from the authorities that caused this circus, the RTP need a central press/media department that has 100% control over statements that are released to the public, all proposed press statements must go through them for approval

The NRC can add this to their reform agenda - it needs to happen

Finally the poms are showing some backbone

Unlike our Aussie counterparts, we tend to think first and act accordingly.

It's going to take a little more that words from envoys to get this mess cleared up, Action from Thai's = MONEY, threaten to take away income and see what happens.

JeremyBowskill, Really how so? Much as I enjoy Top Gear and Jeremy Clarkson, Seems he didn't do much thinking before acting accordingly huh?

Not so long ago on Samui the cops tried one on, trying to blame a motor cycle death of a woman on her partner when clear CCTV footage showed a speeding motor bike smash into them killing the female passenger and the cop's tried fitting him up and wanted cash for his passport back and to make things go away, The Aussies came in hard and the BIB had to back down.

Much like the Pom's and bodyline tactic in the cricket, that didn't work out to good for the Pom's huh? So what was that about thinking first and act accordingly?

GO THE DON!!!

So how's the humble pie today?

Finally the poms are showing some backbone

Unlike our Aussie counterparts, we tend to think first and act accordingly.

What do you expect from a bunch of convicts?

Zzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz. Next please.

What? First time I've used that one in my life after hearing poms rattle on with it for 40 years

Now the English get involved, poke their dirty fingers in everything but cant even solve their own in country problems.

Don't expect anything worthwhile, just some dirty pigs getting a free holiday at my expense.

Are you a bitter Jock?

Finally the poms are showing some backbone

Unlike our Aussie counterparts, we tend to think first and act accordingly.

It's going to take a little more that words from envoys to get this mess cleared up, Action from Thai's = MONEY, threaten to take away income and see what happens.

JeremyBowskill, Really how so? Much as I enjoy Top Gear and Jeremy Clarkson, Seems he didn't do much thinking before acting accordingly huh?

Not so long ago on Samui the cops tried one on, trying to blame a motor cycle death of a woman on her partner when clear CCTV footage showed a speeding motor bike smash into them killing the female passenger and the cop's tried fitting him up and wanted cash for his passport back and to make things go away, The Aussies came in hard and the BIB had to back down.

Much like the Pom's and bodyline tactic in the cricket, that didn't work out to good for the Pom's huh? So what was that about thinking first and act accordingly?

GO THE DON!!!

So how's the humble pie today?

Surely you would wait for the Thais to show their full hand first? after all they do have suspects in custody, or would you have yours and our queen Liz send in the gurkhas now? BTW, this isn't 1 rogue copper trying it on for a bit of tea money is it, this is an entire force plus potentially the army.

On the subject of Clarko, I would say he did quite a bit of thinking on how best to wind everyone he meets up.