Myanmar says workers innocent of murdering Britons on Koh Tao

[webfact]

Myanmar says workers innocent of murdering Britons in Thailand
Reuters
Yangon

BANGKOK: -- Myanmar investigators said on Thursday they believe two Myanmar men accused of murdering two British tourists in Thailand are innocent, but witnesses who might be able to prove their innocence will not testify as they fear the Thai police.

Hannah Witheridge, 23, and David Miller, 24, were found dead on Sept. 15 on a beach on the southern Thai island of Koh Tao. Post-mortem examinations showed both suffered severe head wounds and Witheridge was raped.

The murders dealt a blow to Thailand’s vital tourism industry, which is struggling to recover after months of political unrest and a May 22 coup, and the government called on police to solve the case quickly.

Myanmar migrant workers Zaw Lin and Win Phyo, both 21, initially confessed to the murders but later retracted their confessions saying they had been beaten and threatened by Thai police.

But Thai police deny those accusations and say they have solid evidence, including DNA evidence, against the two men who were arrested in October.

A committee set up by Myanmar’s embassy in Thailand to investigate the case said they had interviewed about 40 Myanmar nationals who were working on Koh Tao at the time of the murders.

Some of those interviewed were "strong witnesses" who might provide evidence to exonerate the accused, said Kyaw Thaung, who heads the committee, but they were reluctant to testify and had returned to Myanmar for fear of being implicated in the crime.

"If they go to court and speak as witnesses, they’ll have problems with the Thai police and Thai bosses," Kyaw Thaung told reporters in Yangon, Myanmar’s largest city.

Thai Police Major General Suwat Jaengyordsuk, defended the investigation, which he led, and said Myanmar was welcome to present witnesses.

The two pleaded not guilty on Dec. 8 to charges including conspiracy to commit murder and rape. The first hearing in the case will take place on Dec. 26.

"Whatever the Thai government decides in this case, we believe these two young people did not commit this crime," said Htoo Chit, the Myanmar committee’s spokesman.

Source: http://www.nationmultimedia.com/national/Myanmar-says-workers-innocent-of-murdering-Britons-30250162.html


-- The Nation 2014-12-18

[clockman]

Standoff!

[Just1Voice]

This could get interesting.

[dragonfly94]

"Whatever the Thai government decides in this case, we believe these two young people did not commit this crime," said Htoo Chit, the Myanmar committee’s spokesman.'

Should be nothing to do with the Thai government of course, what is decided should be in an impartial court. Unfortunately the prosecution have loaded the dice by withholding evidence already.

[sweatalot]

Why should it not be possible to bring the Burmese workers who fled to Burma back

under protection of their government and then back to Burma.

May be even some money could be found as a substitute for their loss of income in Thailand.

[JOC]

Nice to see the Myanmar government to stand up for their nationals!!

Well done!!

Must carry some weight coming from a normally close ally!!

[JOC]

If Thailand really want to see real justice in this case, how difficult can it be to guarantee the security and safety of the witnesses??

Let them be escorted to the courthouse by Embassy staff and HRW staff, and after their testimony escorted back to the border by the same people.

Whatever small charges the witnesses my face in Thailand should be voided in the interest of justice in the all important murdercase.

Or is that too simple??

[StealthEnergiser]

Because of the well founded concerns of witnesses and track record of Thai Police this makes it difficult for a fair trial if there were deep problems like this in Australia a Royal Commission could be called.

(Royal Commissions are called to look into matters of great importance and usually controversy. These can be matters such as government structure, the treatment of minorities, events of considerable public concern or economic questions).

A witness protection programmes seems a waste of time unless the army were willing to act on behalf of the witnesses .

Really the PM should be stepping and using his powers for a full investigation again from the start , how can these boys get a fair trial from the start if mafia are controlling everything.

The Defence needs to put the pressure back onto the prosecutors and force them to answer every concerning question before the trial starts , for example have phone and bank records of suspects forensically examined, all security footage and anything thing else of concern.

All thai governments are responsible as nothing has ever been done to stop police corruption .

All info from scotland yard should be made available .

Edited December 18, 2014 by StealthEnergiser

[JLCrab]

From Post #1 above: Some of those interviewed were "strong witnesses" who might provide evidence to exonerate the accused, said Kyaw Thaung, who heads the committee, but they were reluctant to testify and had returned to Myanmar for fear of being implicated in the crime.

From the screenplay for :A Few Good Men' (Tom Cruise as Kaffee)

Capt. Ross: Airmen Cecil O'Malley and Anthony Rodriguez, what exactly were these guys going to testify to?

Kaffee: Unless I'm mistaken, they were both going to testify under oath that they had absolutely no recollection of anything.

Capt. Ross: Strong witnesses.

[Dogmatix]

This committee could at least publish the interviews it has done with Burmese witnesses, if it can't oersuade them come and testify with suitable witness protection.

[AGareth2]

interesting that they use the word government rather than court

[JOC]

OMG. Big loss of face for Thailand!! (again)

No doubt this statement only came after serious consideration on the Myanmar side.

No diplomatic niceties, but straight forward: The RTP has screwed up!!

[Prbkk]

Tainted process, no guilty verdict could be considered 'safe'. They will have to let them go even if they are guilty. The RTP can blame themselves and the conga line of dimwits making conflicting and contradictory statements from day one.

[JOC]

Hope the witnesses are brave enough to do the right thing, despite the intimidation and threats from the Headman and his gang!!

[JOC]

Myanmar is normally not known for caring about its poorer nationals, so to stick their neck out in this fashion, must mean they are really convinced about the guys innocence.

Timing is also perfect, less than a week before the "trial".

Said it before and will say it again: The B2 are scapegoats, used to protect billion baht drug franchise on the islands!!

[lostinisaan]

I'm just wondering where the Scottish clown guy who had blood on his guitar and on his body, with a wound at his body, right after the killing, is hiding now.

Would you really let somebody go out of this country, who could have been more than just a witness?

Even when they're threatening him, he could stay somewhere in Thailand. But no, they let him go.

BTW, I never had blood on my guitar. Why does the whole story smell so god damned fishy?

[AleG]

Some of those interviewed were "strong witnesses" who might provide evidence to exonerate the accused, said Kyaw Thaung, who heads the committee, but they were reluctant to testify and had returned to Myanmar for fear of being implicated in the crime.

"If they go to court and speak as witnesses, they’ll have problems with the Thai police and Thai bosses," Kyaw Thaung told reporters in Yangon, Myanmar’s largest city.

Doesn't make sense, if they are back in Myanmar why would they have problems with the Thai police and Thai bosses?

[boomerangutang]

Thai government will give the impression of being helpful (like they did with agreeing with PM Cameron, to allow Brit experts to assist in the investigation), but beneath the surface, top Thai officials will continue doing all it can to stymie the defense (similar to changing the word 'assist' to 'observe' re; the Brit experts).

[boomerangutang]

Some of those interviewed were "strong witnesses" who might provide evidence to exonerate the accused, said Kyaw Thaung, who heads the committee, but they were reluctant to testify and had returned to Myanmar for fear of being implicated in the crime.

"If they go to court and speak as witnesses, they’ll have problems with the Thai police and Thai bosses," Kyaw Thaung told reporters in Yangon, Myanmar’s largest city.

Doesn't make sense, if they are back in Myanmar why would they have problems with the Thai police and Thai bosses?

I may be wrong, but I think witnesses in a crime case have to appear in person. I don't think witnesses would be allowed to submit a 'friend of the court' sort of thing in the form of certified testimony. I hope I'm wrong. If so, the someone like Sean could do that, as well as other farang who were witnesses (and have returned to their home countries), .....and the Burmese who are justifiably spooked about returning to Thailand to testify against the government ....oops, I meant; in support of the defense. Must have been a freudian slip.

[boomerangutang]

I'm just wondering where the Scottish clown guy who had blood on his guitar and on his body, with a wound at his body, right after the killing, is hiding now.

Would you really let somebody go out of this country, who could have been more than just a witness?

Even when they're threatening him, he could stay somewhere in Thailand. But no, they let him go.

BTW, I never had blood on my guitar. Why does the whole story smell so god damned fishy?

You're right, there's enough fishy smell to cover the entire island, and then some. There's one main reason Thai authorities were glad Sean left to go far away - he had info which could very possibly implicated friends and family of the Headman. Because he's UK subject, perhaps the Brit officials have interviewed him. We don't know, except it's very likely he has significant first-hand info on what happened that night. He may have even been a perpetrator, but Thai officialdom doesn't want us to even think about Sean.

[chainarong]

The present pushing and shoving of who did what is all fine and all of us here at TV are well versed in the Keystone Cops antics of the RTP , however the remark that witnesses are scared of the RTP is alarming to say the least , no-body should be afraid of a police officer , the extent of distrust , hate in the community and the expat common complaint Corruption ,along with this remark should have alarm bells ringing in PM Prayuth's ear, the RTP do the Thai Justice system no Favours when credible witness are frightened of waking up dead or even disappeared.

[lostinisaan]

Myanmar is normally not known for caring about its poorer nationals, so to stick their neck out in this fashion, must mean they are really convinced about the guys innocence.

Timing is also perfect, less than a week before the "trial".

Said it before and will say it again: The B2 are scapegoats, used to protect billion baht drug franchise on the islands!!

On all these islands. quite a few different drugs are always available. I know from a friend who wanted to buy only a little quantity of recreational drugs, that nothing without the coppers works on these islands.

He told a guy from Isaan, who worked at a "Reggae bar" that he didn't wanted anybody to know that he, the farang- was buying it. The guy who wanted to "buy" it for him started laughing,and said:

" Don't you know that the cops BIB are running this business?" That was the point when he decided to destroy his liver instead.

All these places have quite a few dead, sometimes overdosed foreigners. But you never hear the truth. These guys died because of a heart attack, or similar.

Every month, people are dying heroin overdosed in Pai and Mae Hong Son district. Almost every week. Has anybody heard of it?

Same's happening on the islands, as they really make good money, by tolerating what's killing people world wide.

I always had the feeling that these youngish Burmese guys were innocent.

Edited December 18, 2014 by lostinisaan

[greenchair]

I totally understand those witnesses not willing to come forward. Their whole life would change. The police even from their own country cannot protect them forever. I am so proud of the Myanmar government is standing up for it's people. I doubt they would have anything to do with this if they thought the boys guilty at all. If those investigators believe them innocent. That's good enough for me. I believe them innocent also.

[Mooner]

I think the Burmese need to back up these claims and get the witnesses to testify.

Otherwise this kind of journalism just backs up the RTP supporters when nothing materializes.

[metisdead]

An inflammatory post has disappeared.

[greenchair]

Their is one very important witness they could call. He would have nothing to fear from this country. That would be the British coroner.

[greenchair]

I totally understand those witnesses not willing to come forward. Their whole life would change. The police even from their own country cannot protect them forever. I am so proud of the Myanmar government is standing up for it's people. I doubt they would have anything to do with this if they thought the boys guilty at all. If those investigators believe them innocent. That's good enough for me. I believe them innocent also.

Yes, and must not forget to mention that people with money have very long arms.

[falangjim]

If Thailand really want to see real justice in this case, how difficult can it be to guarantee the security and safety of the witnesses??

Let them be escorted to the courthouse by Embassy staff and HRW staff, and after their testimony escorted back to the border by the same people.

Whatever small charges the witnesses my face in Thailand should be voided in the interest of justice in the all important murdercase.

Or is that too simple??

Walk a mile in buffalo dung up to your hips and you'll see how difficult it is to see justice in Thailand.

[Neeranam]

I'm just wondering where the Scottish clown guy who had blood on his guitar and on his body, with a wound at his body, right after the killing, is hiding now.

Would you really let somebody go out of this country, who could have been more than just a witness?

Even when they're threatening him, he could stay somewhere in Thailand. But no, they let him go.

BTW, I never had blood on my guitar. Why does the whole story smell so god damned fishy?

Please explain why you think he is a clown.

[JOC]

"but witnesses who might be able to prove their innocence will not testify as they fear the Thai police."

So the corruption and greed within the RTP might cost two young boys their lives, because Thailands finest have managed to intimidate and threaten witnesses even beyond Thailands borders!!

What a sad state of affairs!!