Koh Tao debacle: Shoddy work from beginning to end

[Jonathan Fairfield]

Opinion

Koh Tao debacle: Shoddy work from beginning to end

Thailand’s ludicrous official response to the outcry at the verdict

BANGKOK:-- The investigation into the murder of two British backpackers on Koh Tao was, from the very start, a muddled affair. Yet, despite public revelations of mishandling of the case by the police and widespread doubt about the guilt of the accused, the authorities were caught by surprise at the international outcry that greeted last week's court ruling.

The sentencing to death of the accused, two Myanmar migrant workers, provoked a raucous street protest in Yangon and grumbling in Nay Pyi Taw. Irked government officials claimed the reaction was all a conspiracy to discredit the Royal Thai Police. It would be wonderful if it could be so easily imagined away.

The inescapable fact is that the controversy surrounding the Koh Tao case is only the latest global outcry directed at the Thai police force, whose reputation and credibility now seem irrevocably tainted in the eyes of most outsiders and indeed many citizens.

The Koh Tao investigation was compromised from the beginning, when police failed to properly seal off the crime scene. A rumour that the attack was carried out by someone linked to influential figures on the island was summarily dismissed and investigators quickly focused on the migrant community, refusing to even contemplate the possibility that Thais might have been involved. The police gave no explanation for this shift in focus, which saw Myanmar migrants Zaw Lin and Win Zaw Htun arrested and charged with the despicable crime.

Respected forensic scientist Pornthip Rojanasunand, who has clashed with law-enforcement officials in the past, was denied access to the investigators' findings. That decision suggests that the police allowed emotion to overrule duty and professional ethics. Dr Pornthip was, however, able to testify subsequently in court that the police had failed to analyse blood found at the crime scene and might have destroyed evidence by prematurely moving the body of one victim.

More doubts were raised over the failure to run comparative DNA tests the female victim's clothing and a hoe that was the purported murder weapon. Pornthip, acting on behalf of the defendants, conducted that test and found that the DNA on the hoe did not match that of the accused.

The court presumably attached more credence to prosecution testimony that the suspects' semen was found on the female victim's body, even though analysis of the DNA samples of three people was, in the view of other witnesses, done too hastily.

Most troubling of all for the police case - and for the police force's reputation - is the fact the defendants, having withdrawn their confessions once a lawyer was belatedly provided, claimed they had admitted to the crime after being tortured. The court did not even take this point into consideration.

In spite of these many doubts and shortcomings, the national police chief, Pol Gen Jakthip Chaijinda, had the audacity to suggest that an unnamed political group had instigated the ensuing protests to discredit his men. Deputy police spokesman Pol Maj Gen Piyaphan Pingmuang wondered aloud why, of the 126 murder cases involving Burmese in this country in the past year, no others met with protest.

The simple answer is that none of the other cases caught the interest of the foreign press, which stemmed from the fact that the victims in this murder were citizens of Britain, where the news media are not only highly opinionated but also alert to the hazards of Thai tourism.

Moreover, the story evoked an all-too-common narrative - defenceless migrant workers becoming ready scapegoats in criminal probes and the victims of the whims of the rich and powerful. Those from Myanmar know all too well the pitfalls presented by working here, beginning with horrendous labour conditions. The protest in Yangon - which forced the Thai embassy to close out of security concerns - was at core an expression of anger over Thai attitudes and behaviour towards their countrymen.

In what can only be viewed as a bid to save face, Defence Minister Gen Prawit Wongsuwan ordered a hunt for the "masterminds" behind the protest rallies in Myanmar and Thailand. Rather than making matters worse, he should be pushing for a reform of the police force.

Source: http://www.nationmultimedia.com/opinion/Koh-Tao-debacle-Shoddy-work-from-beginning-to-end-30275967.html

-- The Nation 2016-01-01

[jaywalker]

Well written article!

[jucel]

The mafia on Koh Tao must be really pissed off this case will not end. SOM NOM <deleted> NAH!

[Norvid 1950]

"Koh Tao debacle: Shoddy work from beginning to end"

"In what can only be viewed as a bid to save face, Defense Minister Gen Prawit Wongsuwan ordered a hunt for the "masterminds" behind the protest rallies in Myanmar and Thailand. Rather than making matters worse, he should be pushing for a reform of the police force."

...............................................................................................AMEN !

[z42]

2016, stating the obvious... But in all seriousness what hope does Thailand have when almost all in a uniform appear to be very openly unscrupulous & insistent on spinning implausible theories on an almost daily basis.

The honest & hard working people here (and there are very many) deserve much much better than this outfit.

[stickylies]

who's the author ?

[jucel]

2016, stating the obvious... But in all seriousness what hope does Thailand have when almost all in a uniform appear to be very openly unscrupulous & insistent on spinning implausible theories on an almost daily basis.

The honest & hard working people here (and there are very many) deserve much much better than this outfit.

Quite often you get what you deserve

[tuanku]

"A rumour that the attack was carried out by someone linked to influential figures on the island was summarily dismissed"

Much more than a rumour, it was a statement by the investigating officer, who was then quickly removed from the case.

[jucel]

who's the author ?

Anonymous!!

[worgeordie]

But it got the required results, Burmese did it, not Thais.they never would

regards Worgeordie

[ratcatcher]

who's the author ?

Anonymous?

[MorristheRunt]

WOW....This is not going away anytime soon!

[phitsanulokjohn]

Shoddy work to say the least.

[Briggsy]

Way beyond shoddy. However, there are limits to what newspapers here can say.

[oneday]

Phenomenal article!

It goes further than many other articles and even comments by many posters. I won't be a bit surprised if the junta goes ballistic over this article. I won't be a bit surprised if they try to hunt down the author and do a lot more than take him or her for an attitude adjustment. And I will bet the Nation comes under fire.

I applaud the author for writing it, I applaud the "The Nation" for publishing it and I applaud ThaiVisa for reprinting it.

Thank heaven for people still willing to stand-up for TRUTH!

[Thailand]

Phenomenal article!

It goes further than many other articles and even comments by many posters. I won't be a bit surprised if the junta goes ballistic over this article. I won't be a bit surprised if they try to hunt down the author and do a lot more than take him or her for an attitude adjustment. And I will bet the Nation comes under fire.

I applaud the author for writing it, I applaud the "The Nation" for publishing it and I applaud ThaiVisa for reprinting it.

Thank heaven for people still willing to stand-up for TRUTH!

Just one of many articles out there that the ptb will not like,and no doubt many more to come in 2016.

[cnx101]

Good article totally agree

[phoenixdoglover]

Furious PM in 3...2...1...

[Langsuan Man]

the authorities were caught by surprise

Thailand is always surprised at these International outrages , it comes from having an insular government (military or civilian) that can't see any farther than the Baht

[Andreas2]

Unfortunately you can say this in so many cases here in Thailand. Koh Tao is just an extremely obvious example.

[Khonper]

who's the author ?

Anonymous!!

And I think he better stay that way but I am sure someone will be looking for him

[DM07]

I know some people, who say, everything was just purrrrrrrrfect!

[Srikcir]

"The Koh Tao investigation was compromised from the beginning,"

Curiously, the article doesn't mention RTP's misdirection with its early arrest of Brit backpacker Christopher Alanvare for the murders, failed results from DNA samples collected from foreign workers who lived near the murder scene and failure to implicate three Myanmar workers when "interrogation revealed they were not involved in the fatal attack."

Seemingly, these initial investigative failures set the stage for the RTP to lose control of the murder scene, chain of evidence and (mostly importantly) face. The article further does not mention Prayut's involvement in the case when he declared that "no Thais would have committed the murders" and rewarded the RTP with cash for their quick arrest of the 2 Burmese and their confessions. It is then that it seems any further objective investigation was lost.

[seajae]

wonder when they will take the author in for "a talk", printing the truth seems to be a real no go these days especially when they point out the corrupt practices of those involved

[phoenixdoglover]

Generally speaking, the following systemic reforms are not on the table:

- reform of the RTP

- reform of the criminal justice system

- reform of the military role in government

They say change does not occur until the pain of change is exceeded by the pain of not changing. The whippings will continue until morale improves.

[Habs]

Just a sad day for justice oh right there is no justice in Thailand, cover up cover up....

[z42]

2016, stating the obvious... But in all seriousness what hope does Thailand have when almost all in a uniform appear to be very openly unscrupulous & insistent on spinning implausible theories on an almost daily basis.

The honest & hard working people here (and there are very many) deserve much much better than this outfit.

Quite often you get what you deserve

So you're telling me that the likely millions of Thais who strive either to better themselves through learning, or who toil for hours in tropical heat for an insultingly low salary that teeters on exploitation deserve government institutions that behave in the manner the RTP / RTA have behaved over the years (with impunity I may add) are you?

I'm sorry to break it to you. But those people do deserve better, and those who don't deserve better are higher up the ladder anyways & generally don't care & accept all the lies, deception and downright cheating as OK because they themselves are OK and not really affected by it. It's 2016 for christ's sake, it's unacceptable. End of

[cream]

2016, The bubble is going to BURST

[Lex Talionis]

The article fails to address the fact that both the British police - who reviewed the case on site - and the families of the victims both seem to agree that justice has been served. Why would that be?

[bangon04]

Opinion: 99.99 per cent of all Thais believe that total incompetence and lack of credibility have never been any impediment to the work of the Royal Thai Police farce.