Britain summons Thai envoy over Koh Tao tourist murder probe

[freedom4life]

But ! where did the "convicts" come from in the first place???

Do we need to go through this Poms versus Convicts name calling exercise YET again? If so, can it be done on a separate thread and leave this one for something other than name calling?

Mods, please?

maybe ditch the rude comments about Queen Elizabeth as well. it's in poor taste and she's a fine lady. must be some poor, low-class peasants taking pot shots at her.

Fine lady?..kidding right?

[Oscar2]

Not going to read this nonsense. I know and every one else capable of thinking knows that England is only showing concern because the media is putting the pressure on them.

they have no reason to disbelieve the situation as the Thai government has presented it to them but the press in it's endless quest to sell papers by printing negative news and many times baseless allegations and ignore positive things has put the pressure on them to the point where they had no choice.

No reason to disbelieve!!!!!!??????? Are you for real??

he's an elderly troll.

[Greg Nixon]

The possibility of a third murder some weeks or months previous to the double murder puts an entire new twist to the investigation. Another murder previous to the double murder would make the likelihood of a local being involved rather than migrant workers.

[Oscar2]

UK summons Thai envoy to raise concern of backpacker murders

The Samui Provincial Court is scheduled to hear testimony from a key witness to the murder case Tuesday. The witness is a foreign tourist who the court wants to hear accounts from the tourist who have to leave the country and would be inconvenient to recall him back again.

must be the farang in khaki shorts and t-shirt with the woman with the blondish hair seen in photos and involved the crime scene re-enactment, no? reference was made to them a couple of times but nobody seemed to know who they were. interesting...

[Dario]

^{Britain now has DNA from Hannah and also the two innocents in jail.}

^{That is why they are now getting more involved.}

source?

So, there is no source which can be mentioned. sweatalot doesn't show us this source.

As far as I read in non censored UK newspapers UK police have DNA obtained from Hannah's parents, that's all. Hannah's body was brought back to England straight to their home by her parents and it was nowhere ever mentioned that her body was ever in hands of British police. Her parents stated they were happy that their beautiful daughter was now back at her home.

And how did Britain get the DNA from the two innocents in jail, sweatalot? Can you back up your claims?

Edited October 14, 2014 by Dario

[Dogmatix]

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

But the national police chief stated publicly that there can't be any mafia on Koh Tao or his police would have informed him.

We are back to the old days of military government where people in authority make outrageously untrue public statements in the belief that common people have to bow down and lap whatever they say without question, however absurd it may be.

[seahorse]

UK summons Thai envoy to raise concern of backpacker murders

BANGKOK: -- Britain has summoned the Thai charge d'affaires in London to raise concerns over the police investigation into the murder of two British backpackers in Thailand, the Foreign Office said on Monday.

But Royal Thai Police commissioner Pol Gen Somyos Phumpanmuang reiterated Monday that no scapegoats were arrested and no one was assaulted to make confession.

The summons of the Thai diplomat in UK reveals that the police investigation has placed a considerable strain on relations between the UK and Thailand following the murders on 15 September.

It comes 48 hours after Thai police insisted they had concrete evidence linking two Burmese migrant workers with the brutal killings, following reports the suspects had withdrawn their confessions.

The Samui Provincial Court is scheduled to hear testimony from a key witness to the murder case Tuesday. The witness is a foreign tourist who the court wants to hear accounts from the tourist who have to leave the country and would be inconvenient to recall him back again.

A British Foreign Office statement on Monday said that minister Hugo Swire had summoned the diplomat to express his concerns about how the investigation has been handled by the Thai authorities.

“He said that it was crucial for the investigation to be conducted in a fair and transparent way,” it said.

Hannah Witheridge and David Miller were found dead on a beach on the island of Koh Tao on September 15. Miller, 24, had died from drowning and a blow to the head while Witheridge, 23, died from head wounds.

Police in Thailand have defended the arrest of two Myanmar men over the murders amid concern the pair may have confessed under duress.

Thai police say they have concrete evidence linking the men to the killings.

The two suspects, named as bar workers Zaw Lin and Win Zaw Htun, could face a possible death sentence after being accused of murdering Witheridge, 23, and Miller, 24, on the island of Koh Tao.

However, last week the suspects reportedly withdrew their confessions and alleged they were beaten during interrogations by Thai police. Other witnesses have also said they faced police brutality, such as scalding with boiling water.

Recently Swire, the Foreign Office minister and Tory MP for East Devon, raised his concerns with Thailand’s deputy prime minster, Tanasak Patimapragorn, shortly after the allegations of police brutality first surfaced.

“Mr Swire emphasised how important it was that the UK and Hannah and David’s families received regular updates on the investigation’s progress. 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, ” the foreign office said.

Human rights groups including Amnesty International have also called for an investigation into the allegations of police torture.

A spokesman for the Royal Thai Police, however, said the claims were false. “We had them checked by a doctor before and after the inquiry because we thought the accused may claim they were tortured,” said deputy police chief spokesman Colonel Kissana Phathanacharoen.

“The accused persons can say anything they want. They can withdraw their confessions if they like. We have concrete evidence, including DNA evidence from Hannah’s body which matched the two suspects.”

The British media said the Thai police have vigorously defended their investigation into the killings, despite coming under repeated scrutiny over the long delay in tracking down suspects and for staging a bizarre reconstruction of the murders in which TV reporters played the two British victims.

The authorities have also denied claims that the two Burmese suspects have been made scapegoats for possibly higher-profile culprits. Police said investigators relied on witness testimony, CCTV evidence and DNA tests – particularly evidence taken from cigarettes found at the crime scene – to come to their conclusions and that their investigation was by the book.

Postmortem examinations found Miller, from Jersey, died from drowning and a blow to the head, while Witheridge, from Great Yarmouth, died from head wounds.

Source: http://englishnews.thaipbs.or.th/uk-summons-thai-envoy-raise-concern-backpacker-murders/

-- Thai PBS 2014-10-14

The Samui Provincial Court is scheduled to hear testimony from a key witness to the murder case Tuesday. The witness is a foreign tourist who the court wants to hear accounts from the tourist who have to leave the country and would be inconvenient to recall him back again.

Poorly worded and therefore not clear, but could this be Sean McAnna?

[deecee10]

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.

You are contradicting yourself.

Where do you think so many tourists to Thailand come from?

[Thormaturge]

People are being very unfair to the Thai police.

I am sure any day now the investigation into these murders will be handed over to the crack team that is investigating the disappearance of Jim Thompson.

[Dogmatix]

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

That can happen in any inquiry. But unlike this case was no-one "fitted": for it?

That was not for lack of trying. They tried to fit up guest house owner, Andrew Gil, and a Karen hilltribesman who was ordered to masturbate to provide semen to insert into the corpse.

This is now at a time when tourism income is faltering due to the coup, martial law and economic slowdowns in China and Russia. At the same Thai consumers are overleveraged, export demand is slow and there are signs that Thai exporters no longer have competitive products that foreigners want to buy anyway. The pressure is much greater to come up with an acceptable result. That may explain why they have been trying too hard.

[Andyfarquar]

At what point does the coup, military government, martial law, and lack of rule of law, lead to international sanctions placed on junta members similar to those employed against the Burmese generals? Its hard to argue that Thailand is more democratic than Burma or Cambodia at this point, and is one of only two military regimes in the entire world.

At no point in a case like this. The fate of 2 civilians is not big enough for any country to get that upset about when there is Ebola & ISIS to worry about.... Only two military regimes in the world???? You mean like Libya, Egypt, Fiji, North Korea....? How about Hamas in Gaza? How about Vietnam, Laos & Myanmar? Whatever the official position politically, they are military authoritarian regimes.....

[Phuketboy]

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.

The era of fitting people up is over and won't happen under his command? That is why it's still happening everyday and I only read a story yesterday regarding a Brit who was framed and spent 12 mths in jail in Pattaya cause he didn't want to pay the police 500 baht to do a statement after he was mugged. I tried to post but mods took it down.

[wabothai]

You are overruled mr. Kent. Serves you right.

[SOMeTOM]

After the burmese's flop, the BiB finally releases a more credible identikit for the Turtle's island culprits

[jdinasia]

The possibility of a third murder some weeks or months previous to the double murder puts an entire new twist to the investigation. Another murder previous to the double murder would make the likelihood of a local being involved rather than migrant workers.

Migrants that have been around for 3+ years would be a "local"

[jdinasia]

You are overruled mr. Kent. Serves you right.

Apparently you do not follow the Ambassador on Twitter.

[DekDaeng]

Yesterday the National Police Chief again insisted the investigation had been transparent

That's great. O.k. chief, post the video of the confession.

Not the confessions 'purported to be signed' on a document that neither could read.

Edited October 14, 2014 by DekDaeng

[smokie36]

Mods this is getting ridiculous, time to step in again as this is not about countries, queens , sport etc.

It's about two dead holiday makers.

Correct......try to find some focus and perspective here folks....its a serious thread not a pissing contest.

[Mosha]

Mods this is getting ridiculous, time to step in again as this is not about countries, queens , sport etc.

It's about two dead holiday makers.

They should be careful. the Lesse Majeste law applies to all royalty.

[VINCENT2012]

Britain summons......well don't summons....just tell all british and others not to come where it is unsafe...then they will learn how to cut the head of their island ancestral mafia if they want to keep tourism in the area

Edited October 14, 2014 by metisdead
Oversize font reset to normal.

[Krataiboy]

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.

It's Britain, not Briton. Great Britain, moreover.

[minikev]

UK summons Thai envoy to raise concern of backpacker murders

BANGKOK: -- Britain has summoned the Thai charge d'affaires in London to raise concerns over the police investigation into the murder of two British backpackers in Thailand, the Foreign Office said on Monday.

But Royal Thai Police commissioner Pol Gen Somyos Phumpanmuang reiterated Monday that no scapegoats were arrested and no one was assaulted to make confession.

The summons of the Thai diplomat in UK reveals that the police investigation has placed a considerable strain on relations between the UK and Thailand following the murders on 15 September.

It comes 48 hours after Thai police insisted they had concrete evidence linking two Burmese migrant workers with the brutal killings, following reports the suspects had withdrawn their confessions.

The Samui Provincial Court is scheduled to hear testimony from a key witness to the murder case Tuesday. The witness is a foreign tourist who the court wants to hear accounts from the tourist who have to leave the country and would be inconvenient to recall him back again.

A British Foreign Office statement on Monday said that minister Hugo Swire had summoned the diplomat to express his concerns about how the investigation has been handled by the Thai authorities.

“He said that it was crucial for the investigation to be conducted in a fair and transparent way,” it said.

Hannah Witheridge and David Miller were found dead on a beach on the island of Koh Tao on September 15. Miller, 24, had died from drowning and a blow to the head while Witheridge, 23, died from head wounds.

Police in Thailand have defended the arrest of two Myanmar men over the murders amid concern the pair may have confessed under duress.

Thai police say they have concrete evidence linking the men to the killings.

The two suspects, named as bar workers Zaw Lin and Win Zaw Htun, could face a possible death sentence after being accused of murdering Witheridge, 23, and Miller, 24, on the island of Koh Tao.

However, last week the suspects reportedly withdrew their confessions and alleged they were beaten during interrogations by Thai police. Other witnesses have also said they faced police brutality, such as scalding with boiling water.

Recently Swire, the Foreign Office minister and Tory MP for East Devon, raised his concerns with Thailand’s deputy prime minster, Tanasak Patimapragorn, shortly after the allegations of police brutality first surfaced.

“Mr Swire emphasised how important it was that the UK and Hannah and David’s families received regular updates on the investigation’s progress. 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, ” the foreign office said.

Human rights groups including Amnesty International have also called for an investigation into the allegations of police torture.

A spokesman for the Royal Thai Police, however, said the claims were false. “We had them checked by a doctor before and after the inquiry because we thought the accused may claim they were tortured,” said deputy police chief spokesman Colonel Kissana Phathanacharoen.

“The accused persons can say anything they want. They can withdraw their confessions if they like. We have concrete evidence, including DNA evidence from Hannah’s body which matched the two suspects.”

The British media said the Thai police have vigorously defended their investigation into the killings, despite coming under repeated scrutiny over the long delay in tracking down suspects and for staging a bizarre reconstruction of the murders in which TV reporters played the two British victims.

The authorities have also denied claims that the two Burmese suspects have been made scapegoats for possibly higher-profile culprits. Police said investigators relied on witness testimony, CCTV evidence and DNA tests – particularly evidence taken from cigarettes found at the crime scene – to come to their conclusions and that their investigation was by the book.

Postmortem examinations found Miller, from Jersey, died from drowning and a blow to the head, while Witheridge, from Great Yarmouth, died from head wounds.

Source: http://englishnews.thaipbs.or.th/uk-summons-thai-envoy-raise-concern-backpacker-murders/

-- Thai PBS 2014-10-14

The Samui Provincial Court is scheduled to hear testimony from a key witness to the murder case Tuesday. The witness is a foreign tourist who the court wants to hear accounts from the tourist who have to leave the country and would be inconvenient to recall him back again.

Poorly worded and therefore not clear, but could this be Sean McAnna?

That would make sense. If so well spotted. Perhaps it would also explain his inability to talk about the case.

[Thaddeus]

Talk about stable door.

This is too little too late and shows just how uncaring the UK government is.

Right from the start Cameron and the Foreign Office should have been in the mix.

These two people were British Subjects and instead of pussy footing around they should have told the Thai authorities they would be getting assistance from a UK investigation team like it or not.

Total mess up and I'm sick of all this bullshit.

My Father always told me to speak softly and carry a big stick.

Sometimes you need the patience to wait for the right stick, then take some time to make sure that it is big enough.

[tezzainthailand]

Finally the poms are showing some backbone

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

Any chance of Cameron shirt fronting Prayuth on the matter?

[DennisF]

Britain summons......well don't summons....just tell all british and others not to come where it is unsafe...then they will learn how to cut the head of their island ancestral mafia if they want to keep tourism in the area

Summons in diplogarble is prettty serious stuff.

Not to be taken lightly although I fail to see whaat the British gov/police can do without a direct invitation.

Cant see that happening.

[Oscar2]

The Samui Provincial Court is scheduled to hear testimony from a key witness to the murder case Tuesday. The witness is a foreign tourist who the court wants to hear accounts from the tourist who have to leave the country and would be inconvenient to recall him back again.

Poorly worded and therefore not clear, but could this be Sean McAnna?

see post #201

[minikev]

The Samui Provincial Court is scheduled to hear testimony from a key witness to the murder case Tuesday. The witness is a foreign tourist who the court wants to hear accounts from the tourist who have to leave the country and would be inconvenient to recall him back again.

Poorly worded and therefore not clear, but could this be Sean McAnna?

see post #201

Aaah!

[wabothai]

Mr. Jdinasia, no have twitter, be specific.

[Jean Pierre Jacquot]

No problem. The Thai authorities already laid out the plan out of this mess: suicide of the Myanmar youngsters. Case will be closed and face not lost. Very easy and utterly disgusting.

[wilcopops]

Britain summons......well don't summons....just tell all british and others not to come where it is unsafe...then they will learn how to cut the head of their island ancestral mafia if they want to keep tourism in the area

Summons in diplogarble is prettty serious stuff.

Not to be taken lightly although I fail to see whaat the British gov/police can do without a direct invitation.

Cant see that happening.

I think as a result of this, Thai authorities are going to scrutinise every move they make as they are now fully aware that they are being watched all over the world to see how they handle this.

Of course it's also fairly obvious that some seem to ignorant to see what is actually happening and feel that by masking "threatening-style" comments to the press they are helping their image.

Edited October 14, 2014 by metisdead