Thailand agrees to British police help over murders

[Johnsen]

Where is the banana pancake selling interpretor. Anyone seen him lately. You should b shitttttingg yourself bro. Your not even a real cop. U might b the first one they go after.

Run pancake man run....

[Franky Bear]

I'm going to look at this in a positive way and here's why

1. As i read it, Cameron and the General had a face to face, so the General looked Cameron in the eye and told him to send cops to help. This is a big deal. As other have said this gives the General one last "get out". He cam feign mock outrage at the corruption, sack Cops that were involved and appease the online outrage from his own Countrymen and give his own PR a massive boost. Has anyone ever seen the Thai people actually rise up like this before and back Farangs against their own? I appreciate once the cops have their feet on the ground that might change. That's when Kent has to step in and do his job and make sure the General is briefed that the BIB on the ground are being uncooperative.

2. If they are seen to be hampering the UK Cops that in itself will paint a big black picture to the worlds press that will no doubt be buying tickets and booking hotel rooms up as we speak

3. At a minimum this should prove the Two Burmese lads are not the killers, right now, that is the number one priority.

4. That cretin Sean. Now the UK cops are involved they can easily order an international arrest warrant if they feel he is involved more than he says.

I could prattle on but will bore you and i'll only say what others have. Make no mistake though, this is huge and due to the dynamics of the PM office and his words of making Thailand happy again, this is a great opportunity to show that he really means business about corruption.

[Artisi]

I am not sure but have the bodies been sent back to UK or are they still in Thailand.

The UK police/authorities need to do a full post mort on the bodies and get some new DNA samples unless the Thai police have had the victims cleaned.

The also need to take there own translator.

I can see the UK police will have their hands tied, with firm instructions from the UK government to not upset the Thai Police.

I personally think this will be a waste of time, they will not have freedom to do their own thing.

Hello, are you awake or have you been in a coma for the past few weeks.

[thesetat2013]

I think there are several possibilities now that they have approved the UK to get (involved).

In my first I think it will be a "dog and pony show" with the UK police being given the polices (evidence?) without any real investigation done independently.

The DNA samples can already have been (hehee) mislabeled at both ends being from samples taken inside the deceased and of the 2 Burmy men.

But let's say the police are good, really good and get through the RTPs BS and find out the men are REALLY the scapegoats the world is questioning and not the killers? What then?

Do you really think the UK police will go public and destroy Thailands image along with some of its main income (tourism)? Surely not! Instead they may insist the men get off on a technicality or other such reason that does not hurt this country, Gen Prayuth, and the RTPs (hehee) image.

I think any evidence that would have shown these men are innocent will surely have been changed to enforce the polices charges against the men. Any other situation leaves too much to chance to make Thailand look bad to the rest of the World. Something Gen. Prayuth is desperately trying to stop from happening since his coup.

Also, if the police do find this is all a cover-up to hide the real killers who are influential? How will justice be brought to them?

If Thailands main culture is "saving face" and their biggest fear is "losing tourists $$) then any situation which opposes their finding now will be swept under the carpet or handled secretly so as not to hurt Thailand.

Even an independent investigation.

Edited October 18, 2014 by thesetat2013

[ScubaPhuket]

Did it ever occur to some of you lot that these guys are as guilty as sin and there has been no fit up?

If the Thai were to hinder the British Police from doing a proper investigation as been suggested they won't be too long in letting the world know about it.

To me all the Doubting Thomas's have achieved by slagging the RTP at every chance is to blacken the name and do further damage of the country most of you live in.

These guys were paraded in front of the public rinacted the crime for all to see and not one chirp out of them.

How stupid are you people. Put yourself in their place.

If you were innocent and knew you were facing the death penalty would you not shout patsy at the first chance you got?

So what if you got a beating later for crying out......according to them they had been beaten already.

Not until their lawyers came on board did we hear about beating..........the only possible defense they have.

Of course they are going to say they confessed under duress but could it possibly be that's what they were told to say ?

Of course the were beaten but it couldn't have been that's what they were told to say now could it?

IMVHO The lawyers are depending on public opinion to try and get these guys off and you lot are playing right into their hands.

I sincerely hope the British Police do get full access and back up the RTP and they throw everything the doubting Thomas's have said straight back in their faces.

It's a bad day in hell when a Prime Minister of any country is forced into a situation like this because idiots believe that every single policeman in Thailand is bent to such a degree

Common sense should tell you no top policeman with half a brain is going to put his head on the chopping block in a high porfile case like this with the Army looing over their shoulder

What do you think would happen to those if Paryut found out these boys had been stitched up?

Gave up reading your thoughts after your first sentence.

Yes, we have all considered what you suggest & all come to the conclusion based on our own personal experiences with the RTP, that they are as less than trustworthy.

I wish you luck with your time in this country but you will inevitably come to the same conclusion as the rest of us. Unless of course you're just a brainwashed thai in which case I wish you more luck.

Give it time.

Edited October 18, 2014 by ScubaPhuket

[slygeeza]

About bl00dy time!

It remains to be seen just how much 'help' will be permitted.

Exactly. I'm sure they will only be shown as little as possible, especially the contentious material, and requests for access met with ' no have ', ' cannot ' and other suitably weak excuses.

If it doesn't go well I sincerely hope the visitors don't get bound up by diplomacy and if appropriate make it clear they were not permitted to operate as they would have liked so their report is not as comprehensive as it should be.

In any case they are not coming for "a few weeks"----- can you imagine the scramble that is now going on to get rid of anything and everything that might point to a cover up----- sorry guys but much too late

exactly where did you hear they won't be here for weeks????? Mark my words they will be here in days, sorry to deflate your opinion

the article in the daily telegraph gave that impression, i dont think it was the posters personal opinion so chances are you didnt deflate it

Edited October 18, 2014 by slygeeza

[AGareth2]

2. If they are seen to be hampering the UK Cops that in itself will paint a big black picture to the worlds press that will no doubt be buying tickets and booking hotel rooms up as we speak

TAT will be happy

[monspencer]

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/worldnews/asia/thailand/11171148/British-police-to-fly-to-Thailand-to-probe-brutal-murder-of-two-young-tourists.html

In the Telegraph article, it says this: "They could travel to the country within weeks."

How many weeks? When is the trial set for? Perhaps they are going to get here after it is all over. Too little too late comes to mind, but better than nothing.

[T_Dog]

Absorbing all the news on this crime that occurred, it is unconscionable to most that anyone could send two innocent boys to the death penalty to cover up for someone else's heinous and monstrous behavior, but it is looking like that is exactly what is happening. Two things can be said about the crime, one, that it was one of the most gruesome on record, and two, that it is getting significant coverage from Thai and international news media.

So if it is indeed a cover up, and the majority of Thai nationals and foreigners believe that to be the case, what are the relationships that are in play? How can influential people garner power that can so effectively influence many organizations and get support from top government officials? Is it:

-Syndicated crime?

-Thug mafias?

-Political relationships?

-Simple corruption with financial pay-offs?

-Just a symptom of a hierarchical social structure?

-Family relationships?

I'm hopeful that ultimately, truth will emerge and we will know what actually happened, but am curious what others currently think of how things operate here. What are the reasons the Koh Tao case would might be pinned on innocents?

It was stated in some writings by Thai people a few days ago (on Thai Visa here) that this Island's families has ties to the powerful Suthrup.

I saw that French website as well, but it didn't explain what drives those relationships beyond political favors. Must be some strong underlying reasons for people to risk their reputations for a murder. As one poster said so well...."The murders were horrific, but to put two innocent men to the sword is the stuff of pure evil."

[Tanlic]

In any case they are not coming for "a few weeks"----- can you imagine the scramble that is now going on to get rid of anything and everything that might point to a cover up----- sorry guys but much too late

Who knows where those two boys will be by then !!!!!!!

You obviously know nothing of forensic science.

It's as easy to spot tampering as it is in taking a DNA sample.

These guys can spot tampering amile away.

If the sperm sample in the bodies were removed and replaced they would know immediately

[wackybacky]

#86 wackybacy.

I agree there's so much room for a diplomatic incident over this and it's a big test for the PM so will international diplomacy trump Thainess, loss of face. etc.

He's already praised the BIB and indicated he will reward the investigators so if he needs to do a 180 degrees he's going to have to throw a lot of people including at very senior level to the wolves to save his own reputation.

I'd hate to guess how he will handle that other than make sure it doesn't reach that situation.

I'll drink to that.

[TTom911]

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/worldnews/asia/thailand/11171148/British-police-to-fly-to-Thailand-to-probe-brutal-murder-of-two-young-tourists.html

In the Telegraph article, it says this: "They could travel to the country within weeks."

How many weeks? When is the trial set for? Perhaps they are going to get here after it is all over. Too little too late comes to mind, but better than nothing.

even though such an exercise will of course need proper preparation (time) on behalf of the british police, I still hope they will send at least one senior "watch dog" immediate, and if just to make the point VERY clear for everyone to SEE, that the time of messing is over...

[hugh2121]

"One is the verification of the DNA samples of the suspects, making sure there is further independent verification."

But will they be permitted to obtain their own samples?

[CMHomeboy78]

OH YEAA

This is what we wanted all along, objective reached.

BIG thanks to everyone who made a fuss and helped get the word out.

For once its one up to the good guys.

It's not over till the fat lady sings!

You misquote.

"It ain't over 'til da fat lady sings."

That's the way the mafioso say it.

You say it like a toff.

[Neeranam]

facebook is actually good for something.

Reforms won't happen. Perhaps the overdue revolution that Thailand desperately needs can come through such a media.

[Orac]

Has anyone seen any photos of this meeting between Prayuth and Cameron. The general is desperate for international recognition at this Milan get together with loads of pics with him and the usual suspects from SE Asia. That he has had a meeting with a G7 leader yet no photos have been released speaks volumes.

[Yann55]

After the endless, complicated and contradictory developments and comments concerning this case, it seems to me that it all boils down to one very simple FIRST action, at this stage, for the British investigators to perform : take a DNA sample from the two Burmese guys, with enough witnesses around so that the authenticity of the samples cannot later be questioned, and then compare them with the DNA that the British investigators have taken in Britain from the body.

The only question is : did the British perform such a sampling or did the body of this poor girl go untouched after entering British soil ? I don't recall reading anywhere, clearly, that British authorities had made such a move after recovering the body.

If the DNA of the Burmese guys is compared with samples provided by the Thai police, there will be no end to suspicion of foul play.

The whole system of evidence based on DNA works on the assumption that no one tampers with the samples because the people who perform the sampling are trustworthy and eager to serve true justice. If and when the people in question become suspicious in the eyes of the public and/or the press, then the whole process amounts to nothing, and so called evidence is rightly seen as potential manipulation.

[hoyism]

I don't think the thai police have the brains to play this game with the British. They will shoot themselves in the foot with every answer they give, every excuse/piece of evidence they produce & they won't even know they've done it until the British inquest is complete.

i totally agree

even though the British police's role will be limited to observing they will smell a rat should there be one

one thing i have learnt about people out here is they are terrible at lying/hiding things, and hilariously they think they're good at it.

nothing hilarious about this case and the way it's been handled

[Franky Bear]

Has anyone seen any photos of this meeting between Prayuth and Cameron. The general is desperate for international recognition at this Milan get together with loads of pics with him and the usual suspects from SE Asia. That he has had a meeting with a G7 leader yet no photos have been released speaks volumes.

Simle answer to that. it was a phone call or behind closed doors

[TTom911]

BBC UK section

British tourist murders: Petition calls for independent investigation

http://www.bbc.com/news/uk-29655934

Edited October 18, 2014 by TTom911

[Franky Bear]

I don't think the thai police have the brains to play this game with the British. They will shoot themselves in the foot with every answer they give, every excuse/piece of evidence they produce & they won't even know they've done it until the British inquest is complete.

i totally agree

even though the British police's role will be limited to observing they will smell a rat should there be one

one thing i have learnt about people out here is they are terrible at lying/hiding things, and hilariously they think they're good at it.

nothing hilarious about this case and the way it's been handled

Plus it will be very experienced seniou cops coming out. I'm sure Kent will have been involved in briefing them about how the BIB operate and to be ready for lies and deflection

[Oziex1]

Pretty big deal in the scheme of things and doubtless some face lost, especially for the weak UK 'ambassador' to Thailand with his praise for the police's handling of the investigation. They'll get the runaround, no doubt, and it'll be like working with tetchy teenagers, but if the Thais do sandbag this (foregone conclusion) they could be looking at some interesting travel advisories.

You haven't been following closely enough, Kents positive remarks were fabricated by Thai officials

[Neeranam]

Can you imagine the reception foreign police will get from the average Somchai Plod?

Can you imagine what the senior police, with their power hungry, over-inflated egos are saying?

[Franky Bear]

Can you imagine the reception foreign police will get from the average Somchai Plod?

Can you imagine what the senior police, with their power hungry, over-inflated egos are saying?

"Oh Sh*t"

[T_Dog]

A quote from today's Bangkok Post from a man that might have something to hide:

"Allowing the UK team to conduct an investigation is tantamount to a breach of our sovereignty," Pol Gen Somyot.

[sitti]

Nothing is going to change much. UK police have no authority outside of their own country. They can only work within what Thai authorities allow. Pretty much what going to happen is Thai police will give the brits some tour, show some evidences, let them re-verify the evidences, take some of their opinions, and at the end they will agree with Thai police on most things. Case resolved. Basically just a show to satisfy interests of both sides. Nothing more than politics.

you are brain-dead, my friend... just watch... and don't bother us with your nonsense...

:-) Yes, just watch

[biplanebluey]

About bl00dy time!

It remains to be seen just how much 'help' will be permitted.

Exactly. I'm sure they will only be shown as little as possible, especially the contentious material, and requests for access met with ' no have ', ' cannot ' and other suitably weak excuses.

If it doesn't go well I sincerely hope the visitors don't get bound up by diplomacy and if appropriate make it clear they were not permitted to operate as they would have liked so their report is not as comprehensive as it should be.

In any case they are not coming for "a few weeks"----- can you imagine the scramble that is now going on to get rid of anything and everything that might point to a cover up----- sorry guys but much too late

exactly where did you hear they won't be here for weeks????? Mark my words they will be here in days, sorry to deflate your opinion

If you read the excerpt from the British newspaper THE TELEGRAPH on Kaubangs post#13 you will see the quote "They could travel to the country within weeks"---sorry but you have not deflated my opinion----I just seem to read more than you. OK so as I say--- if anything nasty happens in the meantime it maybe the brits will cancel their team of experts holiday abroad

[TTom911]

Pretty big deal in the scheme of things and doubtless some face lost, especially for the weak UK 'ambassador' to Thailand with his praise for the police's handling of the investigation. They'll get the runaround, no doubt, and it'll be like working with tetchy teenagers, but if the Thais do sandbag this (foregone conclusion) they could be looking at some interesting travel advisories.

You haven't been following closely enough, Kents positive remarks were fabricated by Thai officials

... and that stupid fabrication was probably the best that could have happened... how better prove to the Brits first hand how messed up they are, than publicly twist their words... the UK will NOT have been amused by that, for sure.....

[minikev]

This IS a result. Well done to General Prayut.

We have all been captured by this case it seems the truth will now come out and justice will be served for Hannah and David.

All our theories may be wrong but with an outside investigation the families will get some closure.

To all the people that will post negative comments DON'T. We got what we asked for.

There will definitely be confusion, badly translated quotes, clashes of culture,the Thai police will see a different way to investigate and hopefully this will help them with future crimes.

It should also teach us expats etc not to judge so quickly I for one am impressed I don't see this as a loss of face. Prayut Chan-o-cha is doing what he said he would do.

[IAMSOBAD]

Saw on BBC that Thailand has been dealing with slavery by taking/ kidnapping men from poor countries like Bangladesh and selling them like garbage. All of Thailands secrets are going viral now. The game is over.

I bet the British cops are lied to more than a han sum man in a bar.