Myanmar military chief weighs in on Koh Tao murder case

[smedly]

why not at least get the CIFS chief, Dr Pornthip Rojanasunand to provide an independent retest of the claimed "original" DNA Samples of sperm taken from the victims body they claim to still have (confirmed by the Thai police Chief) even though a cop witness in court claimed they no longer existed, that would certainly go a long way to remove some doubt and speculation of the scapegoat accusations, Dr Pornthip is generally recognised respected and trusted (not so much by the police for some reason). The judge based his conviction primarily on that evidence, worth noting that only original samples would be trusted for a retest if this was to happen

[moon47]

Due to the screwed up RTP investigation and all the miss information I for one am not sure if they are innocent or guilty. But if they are guilty and are given a Pardon just to quiet the crowds it would be another travesty of justice.

The law in most countries constitutes guilty as "beyond a reasonable doubt".

The fact that there are so many that doubt the guilt of these two demands they be let go guilty or not.

If they truly are guilty and were let go "Justice" will have prevailed, if there is any reason to doubt the conviction.

In an ideal world, guilty would always be punished and innocent treated as such, unfortunately our is not an ideal world an we muse uphold the fact that if there are any doubts whatsoever (within reason Ie: "Reasonable doubt") then the party should go free.

We can not ever be 100% certain about things in life, even things that we see with our own eyes could be factually different from how we personally perceive them.

There is just too much doubt surrounding this case plain and simple.

[jwongbkk]

case is closed. no matter how hard they appeal, thailand will uphold it's law, FACE, and "murder" the 2 boys.

sad but we have to learn how to accept and move on.

inequality exists in life everywhere on this shameless globe

[mrrizzla]

The Burmese do not need to invade thailand, they just need to leave and it will collapse. No one to do all the work.

This will slowly happen as Burma heads in the right direction while Thailand is regressing back into what Burma has been like for these past 60 odd years.

[jing jing]

Elephants at dawn.

No contest, Kan Kluay wins - every Thai person knows that!

[phuketrichard]

The Burmese do not need to invade thailand, they just need to leave and it will collapse. No one to do all the work.

This will slowly happen as Burma heads in the right direction while Thailand is regressing back into what Burma has been like for these past 60 odd years.

i have a Burmese workers village 50 meters up the road from me.

as soon as they can make a living wage ( it does not even have to be as much as they make here in Phuket) they will leave.

Many already are not renewing their 2nd L-A migrant visa and staying home.

Thailand's construction industry will collapse.

[smedly]

Due to the screwed up RTP investigation and all the miss information I for one am not sure if they are innocent or guilty. But if they are guilty and are given a Pardon just to quiet the crowds it would be another travesty of justice.

The law in most countries constitutes guilty as "beyond a reasonable doubt".

The fact that there are so many that doubt the guilt of these two demands they be let go guilty or not.

If they truly are guilty and were let go "Justice" will have prevailed, if there is any reason to doubt the conviction.

In an ideal world, guilty would always be punished and innocent treated as such, unfortunately our is not an ideal world an we muse uphold the fact that if there are any doubts whatsoever (within reason Ie: "Reasonable doubt") then the party should go free.

We can not ever be 100% certain about things in life, even things that we see with our own eyes could be factually different from how we personally perceive them.

There is just too much doubt surrounding this case plain and simple.

if the DNA could be trusted then it is pretty strong evidence, problem is that there were so many f'ups in this investigation that nobody trusts anything the police have said and claimed to have done, plus the strong belief that certain influential people are being protected, it really is that simple, the police need to go a long way to restore trust and integrity with this debacle if it is even possible - which I doubt

Like I said above, it is all down to two things -

1. If the original DNA samples they claim to have and tested still exist, if not then that raises serious questions as to whether they ever existed, it was also stated by a UK coroner that evidence of rape was not found on the victims body, I assume that would include sperm, this is very important because one of the primary objectives in solving and proving a murder is "motive", if no rape occurred then no sperm exists and B2 would have absolutely no possible reason for committing these crimes, it would/should turn focus on the accusation that an altercation took place in the AC bar were both victims were last seen alive - a different investigation entirely

2. If the original DNA samples still exist then have them retested and verified at an independent trusted lab like the CIFS

I know I have repeated this twice now but it is critical to have this done, and I stress again - only original samples can be used for this - police chief says they have them

[DrTuner]

The Burmese do not need to invade thailand, they just need to leave and it will collapse. No one to do all the work.

Which, if and when Myanmar gets out of it's rut, is what they are going to do. Thailand will find itself having to resort to local slave labor.

[Sydebolle]

Pol Colonel Prachum Ruangthong, superintendent of Koh Pha Ngan Police Station, said "We have handled the case very carefully."

No doubt, the handling was PERFECT; question which shall never be answered is, if the handling was in the interest of serving justice or not!

[Briggsy]

Gotta laugh at the Thai reply. Even a death sentence handed down in one of the longest, most heavily covered internationally murder trials in recent history is simply presented as a starting position in a negotiation.

So now you have:-

the interests of the nation

the interests of justice

the interests of the wealthy ruling clique

the interests of the victims' families

the interests of the convicted defendants

So far the third set of interests has clearly triumphed at the expense of the others.

[jing jing]

Gotta laugh at the Thai reply. Even a death sentence handed down in one of the longest, most heavily covered internationally murder trials in recent history is simply presented as a starting position in a negotiation.

So now you have:-

the interests of the nation

the interests of justice

the interests of the wealthy ruling clique

the interests of the victims' families

the interests of the convicted defendants

So far the third set of interests has clearly triumphed at the expense of the others.

Well said, but if you live in Thailand for any length of time you will surely realize that this is always the case here, no matter what the issue at hand.

One could safely say that it is the one constant which holds true in all cases.

[mercman24]

just be careful if you tick "like" on topics, as it would appear this can be construde as a "conspiracy" paranoid or what ??

[Rimbuman]

just be careful if you tick "like" on topics, as it would appear this can be construde as a "conspiracy" paranoid or what ??

Ooops, I shouldn't have liked this.

[Nowisee]

The Burmese do not need to invade thailand, they just need to leave and it will collapse. No one to do all the work.

This will slowly happen as Burma heads in the right direction while Thailand is regressing back into what Burma has been like for these past 60 odd years.

i have a Burmese workers village 50 meters up the road from me.

as soon as they can make a living wage ( it does not even have to be as much as they make here in Phuket) they will leave.

Many already are not renewing their 2nd L-A migrant visa and staying home.

Thailand's construction industry will collapse.

There are a few villages near me as well and quite a few small hotels/condos under construction with many Burmese living on the ground floor in makeshift quarters.

When I drive past they are always working, many are women... kinda cute too in their tight black pants...5555

Not just the construction industry, most anything that requires labor or just responsible people to show up and actually work.

I suspect then some sites will be left unfinished and that would just make my day in a sick you got what you deserved pay back sorta way.

Edited December 28, 2015 by Nowisee

[Eddy B]

Supposedly they can appeal. I am expecting this to get shot down. Then the last chance they have will be a royal pardon, which I feel they will receive. By doing this Thailand saves "face" again. So sad that they can not just admit that they <deleted> up and did not arrest the real criminals in the first place because of saving some high ranking scumbags "face". I do hope the boys get the royal pardon at least!

[daveAustin]

Well done, Burma, rise up and be great again. Show your lucky, smarmy neighbour who the real boss of the region is. We're all waiting for you to spread your wings once again.

[mihalis]

Burma, oh yes, human rights, how many innocent have been killed there......

[Alwyn]

Oh dear! If Burma invades, Thailand is going to get stuffed.

Burma should "unvade". recall ALL of it's citizens working in Thailand and also cut off gas supplies. That would make a statement!

[bangon04]

Due to the screwed up RTP investigation and all the miss information I for one am not sure if they are innocent or guilty. But if they are guilty and are given a Pardon just to quiet the crowds it would be another travesty of justice.

Protecting the guilty is what they are doing:

http://englishnews.thaipbs.or.th/one-tourist-murder-suspect-now-arrested-another-run

"The police have arrested a suspect in the murder of two British tourists in Koh Tao and are still hunting for a second suspect who has escaped into Bangkok.

Eighth Region Police Command commissioner Pol Lt-Gen Panya Mamen identified the first suspect as Mon.

He is the brother of a village headman in Koh Tao.

Hope these early articles can be preserved. Danger they will be erased from history in Thailand.....

[WaiLai]

Oh dear! If Burma invades, Thailand is going to get stuffed.

? money is needed to conduct a war...

drugs don't equate to money?

[WaiLai]

Oh dear! If Burma invades, Thailand is going to get stuffed.

Burma should "unvade". recall ALL of it's citizens working in Thailand and also cut off gas supplies. That would make a statement!

That would be counterproductive!

Let craftiness win here. I think Myanmar is crafty enough to sort out this matter.

Let's say they decide to give the Thais a " drug holiday" - cut off the source for a month

whoops! is that street rage building up in Thailand?

Edited December 28, 2015 by WaiLai

[Daryle]

Due to the screwed up RTP investigation and all the miss information I for one am not sure if they are innocent or guilty. But if they are guilty and are given a Pardon just to quiet the crowds it would be another travesty of justice.

Agree, doesn't seem like the defence case was presented as well as it should have been. Will watch to see if the appeal is reported.

Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

[Ks45672]

Even when the courts hand down the verdict it is open to interpretation when an angry mob appears.

In this case I hope mob rules prevail.

Mob rules are fine with me... If they did it, hang em high.... I will pull the rope....

But they deserve a fair trial... I would suggest the UK or another country doing it...

Young impoverished people Tortured into a confession doesn't agree with me...

But if they did it, stop wasting time and pull the trigger....

[Norvid 1950]

..................."A spokesman of the Courts of Justice said the death sentences for the double homicide and gang rape were not yet final.

"It is still possible to appeal the verdict," Suebpong Sripongkul said."

Does this sound like verdict is just a sort of public probe spelled out to feel the wind from where is coming?

Is the verdict of Court Of Justice temporary?

What kind of verdict is considered final according to Thai Court Of Justice?

All of this doesn't sound right to me.

True perpetrators want closure.

Poor parents and family of deceased lovely young people want closure.

Thai police wants closure.

Court Of Justice wants to be impartial and don't want to make a mistake they "did" (didn't they?) already.

​Presumably guilty party sentenced to death want freedom.

BUT BY NOW INTERNATIONAL PUBLIC WANTS TRUTH !

[thequietman]

https://www.change.org/p/david-cameron-independently-investigate-the-horrific-murders-of-hannah-witheridge-and-david-miller/u/14756758?tk=kfWOtlZTM2fJPffPVo5q9u9lqbjQ2bn8ZKO7DHyinZc&utm_source=petition_update&utm_medium=email

[loveushorttime]

The court system on Koh Samui would be dodgy as hell

[kimamey]

case is closed. no matter how hard they appeal, thailand will uphold it's law, FACE, and "murder" the 2 boys.

sad but we have to learn how to accept and move on.

inequality exists in life everywhere on this shameless globe

Highly unlikely there will be an execution.

[kimamey]

Supposedly they can appeal. I am expecting this to get shot down. Then the last chance they have will be a royal pardon, which I feel they will receive. By doing this Thailand saves "face" again. So sad that they can not just admit that they <deleted> up and did not arrest the real criminals in the first place because of saving some high ranking scumbags "face". I do hope the boys get the royal pardon at least!

Might not go down too well with the victims families but it seems the most likely outcome.

[khaowong1]

Oh dear! If Burma invades, Thailand is going to get stuffed.

again...........

Yeah, it didn't go so well for the Thai's the last time, when they leveled Ayutthaya.

[Richard W]

Oh dear! If Burma invades, Thailand is going to get stuffed.

again...........

Yeah, it didn't go so well for the Thai's the last time, when they leveled Ayutthaya.

That was the last major Burmese achievement in their wars with Siam. Since then, they have had no spectacular gains, though they have had defensive successes.