Thai PM plays down British offer of help in beach murder probe

[baboon]

I fear this could blow up into an international diplomatic incident

IMHO I rather doubt it

I don't. Quite the altercation this is turning into now. One side will have to eat humble pie and neither like the taste..

[lucpez]

That statement is rather telling and almost threat-like:

"Anyone can come to Thailand, but don't forget that what is our issue, is our issue," he said of British offer of help.

Can you imagine the UK allowing Thai help in their country?

Or what about the US lol

If another country wanted to see the evidence they would be welcome in the US. Can't say about the UK. But the investigation would be transparent, expertly done, and there would be nothing to hide.

ALL of the evidence would also become public at the trial.

This is about something to hide and it's being hidden from Burma who is complaining and from the UK who is complaining. If the Thais really have proof they need to show the world because they are quickly losing all credibility. Period.

Fair point.

I feel the dictators have to refuse help - they know the police have framed two innocent but can't turn around now, it would be such a loss of face.

Actually, according to the news, 4 days after the murder, RTP was looking in bkk for the son of a local business owner where the victims spent the night with friends. Then they suddenly changed direction and started looking for scapegoats. Not sure if this change was independently taken by RTP or was ordered by a pm that is seeing tourism fall over 10% yoy for its martial law and unacceptable coup.

[Wilsonandson]

Face culture versus say your sorry culture. Prayuth is the big man now, he's powerful, maybe we need to ask some else in the UK for help. Queen Elizabeth.

[dcutman]

The General is shooting for a record breaking low high season. I guess saving face has more value than all else.

Having pissed off the UK government I expect this fiasco will be featuring heavily in news reports around the world for some time to come.

Has the prosecutor given the go ahead yet??

I would hope not yet.

I would hope the accused get at least five minutes with a defense attorney before the trial.

[smokie36]

The General is shooting for a record breaking low high season. I guess saving face has more value than all else.

Having pissed off the UK government I expect this fiasco will be featuring heavily in news reports around the world for some time to come.

Has the prosecutor given the go ahead yet??

I would hope not yet.

I would hope the accused get at least five minutes with a defense attorney before the trial.

It seems they don't need one....the police have "extracted" a confession.

Why muddy the waters?

[ParadiseLost]

Who exactly was on that island that night...?

[metisdead]

Off topic posts, inflammatory posts and replies have been removed.

[Wilsonandson]

Well, it's official now. I have now lost all faith in, and respect for, the PM. It is now too obvious that the coup agenda is NOT to reform Thailand, but only to get rid of the Shin threat. There will be no sweeping reforms that bring Thailand into the 21st century, or even the 20th. Once the Shin threat has been suitably eliminated, then things can return to business as usual.

Shin threat? No way related to the ko tao murders. Coup or no coup this case needs to be reinvestigated properly due to the international and national disbelief in the incredibly bad investigation and scapegoat suspects.

[jacky54]

"Anyone can come to Thailand, but don't forget that what is our issue, is our issue,"

The issue is not everyone leaves alive though and when they don't the world expects the culprits to be punished, and not a couple of poor sods who already passed the DNA test.

[Johnsen]

My father told me 25 years ago Thailand was indestructible. Up until present day he has proven to be correct. The new military PM is showing us he thinks the same. We r indestructible. F u all. This is a disgusting crime that is not the first of its kind. If we all continue to keep coming and staying here then they r indestructible. Only one way to prove to the Thais they r not as smart as they think. Let's see how many people can put their money where their mouth is. Its very simple. STOP COMING HERE. Support another country. Then sit back and watch these villains suffer. We are our own worst enemy when it comes to Thailand.

[andygunther]

They are so afraid that the truth emerges....

[toonsai]

They are so afraid that the truth emerges....

Exactly. It is amazing how far in stupidity and insanity they can go, just to avoid the truth and fear to lose face.

2 innocent kids butchered on an island but strictly nobody in Thailand (besides social media), from bottom to top to say "ENOUGH". All, including the PM General, prefer to cover the story, protect the mafia and save the corruption.

This is really hard and sad to believe, but unfortunately the reality.

How can we humanly explain and understand this?

How can we swallow this and continue to look at the Thai smile or Wai in the same way?

Impossible... Something is definitely broken here.

[Wilsonandson]

A 10% drop in tourism, maybe due to the ko tao murders, so why cover it all up. This must go all the way to the top. Who did murder them?

[macanello]

Really happy to see that this macabre story is getting more airtime on BBC world news.

This is not over by a long way

[Lowryder]

Can you imagine the UK allowing Thai help in their country?

They could, if there was a field where Thailand was competent. Just wonder what that would be? Do you have any suggestions?

[american12bthai]

"The grisly murders on the normally tranquil Thai island"

The Island is far from tranquil from what I have heard of the place

http://mikeestravels.com/2014/09/25/the-dark-side-of-thailands-island-paradise

the island is a hub for smuggled drugs. almost all my female travelling friends tell me about how they get free drugs, (well, the pretty ones). selling alcohol must be great for business. to be giving away free X and coke.

[sweatalot]

That statement is rather telling and almost threat-like:

"Anyone can come to Thailand, but don't forget that what is our issue, is our issue," he said of British offer of help.

Can you imagine the UK allowing Thai help in their country?

Or what about the US lol

Why should first world countries need or allow the help of developing countries - or of not developing countries?

[sweatalot]

I fear this could blow up into an international diplomatic incident

If so - right so

[HeijoshinCool]

"Anyone can come to Thailand, but don't forget that what is our issue, is our issue,"

Uh, no sir. Not that black and white as your "issue" also involves citizens of a foreign nation, invited by your country (marketing) to vacation in Thailand with the (implied) promise of safety.

You can't have your khanom and eat it too.

[Thongkorn]

Maybe the British police would find more than they expected, Mafia links Police Corruption, Lets face it, a thief who has been caught, would not want his pockets searching.

[sweatalot]

Actually, according to the news, 4 days after the murder, RTP was looking in bkk for the son of a local business owner where the victims spent the night with friends. Then they suddenly changed direction and started looking for scapegoats. Not sure if this change was independently taken by RTP or was ordered by a pm that is seeing tourism fall over 10% yoy for its martial law and unacceptable coup.

You'r OT, so Iam

the coup was more than acceptable - it was necessary

[sweatalot]

I fear this could blow up into an international diplomatic incident

Unfortunately this is what happens when unelected Generals take power thanks to the support of a corrupted support base.

I hope all well Intentioned Thais and expats that were supporting this coup just for the sake of getting rid of TS and YS realize the risk and terrible effects of eliminating the democratic rule. When is this going to end?

eliminating the democratic rule ?

[smokie36]

Actually, according to the news, 4 days after the murder, RTP was looking in bkk for the son of a local business owner where the victims spent the night with friends. Then they suddenly changed direction and started looking for scapegoats. Not sure if this change was independently taken by RTP or was ordered by a pm that is seeing tourism fall over 10% yoy for its martial law and unacceptable coup.

You'r OT, so Iam

the coup was more than acceptable - it was necessary

Subjective and totally unrelated to the topic.

Try to keep it on track.....

[CUNJU]

I can assure you that if these were Italian Citizens, Italy would not stand by silent!!

[Wilsonandson]

Is it true that Thailand is now being ruled by people who care more about saving face than they do about tourist dollars?

[CiaranO]

clown

[englishoak]

Is it true that Thailand is now being ruled by people who care more about saving face than they do about tourist dollars?

No its run by people who care about saving face and think the tourist dollar will always continue to roll in without them making any effort to adapt to world demands and changing social expectations.. both domestic and International.

They are about to find out the dark ages are dead and gone and social media and the internet has changed the world from lots of little abused and clueless cultures ( countries) into a world wide community that are correctly increasingly demanding the same rights and respect for justice as their brothers and sisters enjoy in other locations. This is natural

The social revolution has been under way for sometime and will continue, those establishments that adapt and listen will survive, those that dont will eventually be swept away.

[Baerboxer]

I can assure you that if these were Italian Citizens, Italy would not stand by silent!!

No, they would probably not - but no one would pay any attention.

This is the senior Thai response. That's it.

[daiwill60]

Tough or Idiotic leader ??????????

[Torrens54]

Another time, another country (Australia 1972)....Scotland Yard was requested to assist Police in South Australia, with the investigation of a murder in which it was thought a few cops may have been involved. Two gentlemen had been "getting to know each other" on the banks of the River Torrens in Adelaide late one evening. They were set upon by three rather Large men who chucked them both in "the drink". One crawled out and later made his way to hospital where he reported the incident.

Next morning the City's News Crews were on hand when a gent with his trousers around his ankles was pulled from the water (very dead) and laid on the river bank. One news crew arrived too late to get footage of the "discovery" but somehow the deceased, George Ogilvie Duncan, (a lecturer in Law, newly arrived from England) managed to fall back into the river. He was pulled out again and this time Channel 7 got their shots.

At the inquest it was revealed that the dead man was a Passive Homosexual. All hell broke out, the Police Commissioner, a former "Yard Man" called in his mates from London. They investigated not only the S.A. Police Force but also turned the Adelaide Gay Community upside down. They had the names of some very prominent and very worried folk in their file, which became known as "Harold Salisbury's PINK File. (Harold Salisbury was the Police Commissioner.)

The State Premier, Don Dunstan (noted for wearing a pair of Tight Pink Shorts into Parliament) was incensed and with flared nostrils, demanded that Harold turn over the "Pink File." The battle raged on and on and in time, Premier Donny managed to have Homosexuality Decriminalised in South Australia. Some were relieved that he didn't make it Compulsory!

BOTTOM Line: If Thailand accepts help from the British Police, be prepared for whatever may happen!

Edited October 14, 2014 by Torrens54