Koh Tao murders: Father swears his son is innocent

[webfact]

KOH TAO'S KILLERS
Father swears his son is innocent
Eleven Media, Mizzima
The Nation


British Ambassador to Thailand Mark Kent meets yesterday with National Broadcasting and Telecommunications Commission member Supinya Klangnarong at NBTC headquarters.

BANGKOK: -- The father of a Myanmar national accused of killing two Britons on Koh Tao has insisted that this son, Win Zaw Htun, is innocent. "My son isn't an aggressive person and has good morals," he said.

He would never commit such a violent act. Plus, the British man [he allegedly killed] is bigger than my son," Tun Tun Htaik was quoted as saying by Myanmar's Eleven Media.

The families of the two Myanmar nationals accused of killing David Miller and Hannah Witheridge have arrived in Thailand with the help of the Myanmar government, Mizzima newspaper reported.

Ko Tun Tun Htike and his wife, parents of the second suspect Zaw Lin Oo, arrived in Thailand on Sunday, the paper reported. The Myanmar embassy in Thailand will look after the families, Htoo Chit, chairman of the Foundation for Education and Development, said.

Tun Tun Htike and May Thein, parents of 21-year-old Win Zaw, and Phyu Shwe Nu and Thein Shwe Aung, the mother and uncle of Zaw Lin, 21, would remain in Thailand for about a month.

Htoo Chit said NGOs wanted to help the men because they believed in their innocence.

"After visiting Thailand to look into the case, we can tell you clearly that the two young men are not the killers. We can say that they are not guilty as accused," Htoo Chit said.

Separately, British Ambassador to Thailand Mark Kent yesterday met with National Broadcasting and Telecommunications Commission member Supinya Klangnarong.

After the meeting, Kent said media freedom came with responsibilities, adding that it was important for the media to observe professional ethics. However, he said, he did not mean to tell the Thai media how to do their job. "Press freedom is necessary but it must respect a persons' rights," he said.

Cooperation is being sought with the NBTC for future coverage of the case that is balanced and free from the violation of personal rights and does not affect the feelings of the victim's relatives, he said. "I have come as a representative of British people to tell of an issue new [to the Thai media] regarding the violation of personal rights. I have met NBTC to seek cooperation. This should be the best [solution] and, hopefully, the Thai media would agree," he added.

Source: http://www.nationmultimedia.com/national/Father-swears-his-son-is-innocent-30245635.html


-- The Nation 2014-10-17

[ScubaPhuket]

One dirty, rich family protecting it's son's murderous acts & in effect teaching their son that murder is ok is destroying a perfectly good & morally intact family.

[JLCrab]

Well if the dirty rich family's son is truly the murderous SOB in this case then, regardless of the outcome of the current criminal case, they can be the subject of a wrongful death civil suit under Thai Civil Code statutes.

No use filing a civil suit against someone who is not in a position to be 'bound to make compensation' for a wrongful act.

Edited October 16, 2014 by JLCrab

[BritTim]

Has anyone seen any suggestion anywhere that either of the two accused is some kind of martial arts expert capable (as the RTP claims) of single handedly killing a much bigger and stronger opponent without suffering any injury himself?

[ScubaPhuket]

Pathetic isn't it.

[The stuttering parrot]

Might as well forget mark kent.

The PM is trying to get on the world stage so the British press should hit him up while he is in Milan and force him to give a promise of co operation with the Brits over the murder of two British subjects.

Good luck with that!

[NongKhaiKid]

I wonder if Kent is passing on the strong message not to quote him, the Embassy or the British government without proper authority ?

Somehow i doubt it.

[Chupup]

Mark Kent ? who the <deleted> is he, oh the British Ambassador another soft <deleted> like D Cameron Mr yesterdays man both talk the talk but CANNOT walk the walk

[wackybacky]

Well there are hundreds of protesters marching to Downing Street today.

When people are protesting in the streets, then it shows the general feeling in the UK.

More fuel for the press.... I wonder how Prayuth would take it knowing that there are protests on the streets because of Thai police corruption, and probably military government corruption to boot.

How does he think that reflects on Thailand on the world stage??

Basically.... You have been found out. This time it is NOT going to go away.

Edited October 16, 2014 by wackybacky

[Soiyamoto]

M kent pussy footing around. Show some backbone for gods sake you pathetic man, you are there to represent the british are you not? Stop your grovelling

[PaPiPuPePo]

Anybody with two eyes and half a sense can see these two guys are not killers.

Now, that pic of Mon Set playing with the bilge hose on the boat; check his pecs and shoulder/biceps muscles at the edge of the pic. Pretty ripped, typical of (Thai/SE Asian) men who labor or of course of any young guy who's very active.

What some of the foreigners posting here don't get is that you don't have to be big to be very strong if your muscles are well-toned. Try arm-wrestling a skinny Thai labourer some time, see how it goes.

Last, anyone who's spent more than a couple years (like one self-appointed high-count poster who's a self-styled expert on Thailand after….3 years here! in SE Asia can pick out the tough guys pretty quickly if not at a glance. The guys peering over the counter at the 7-11 in the pic--tough guys, definitely. The Burmese guys--no way.

I've also noticed some posters on these Koh Tao threads with very, very high post counts, like 10-20 every single day for months; a few also have suspiciously similar names and posts (--John-- and similar in case you're curious) and to me come across as shills because they continually either praise the investigation without giving doing much other than parrot the police press releases, or otherwise mis-direct or try derail the thread by making irrelevant comparisons to other countries (as if two wrongs make a right), o badger people who are posting comments critical of this farce I mean investigation.

I suggest readers of these threads read with a critical eye anything written pro or con the handling of this case; though to be frank in my eyes the cons outweigh the pros 100 to 1.

Another ignorant i.e. misinformed comment the Thai authorities and some posters have made is that the rape of poor Hannah was due to sexual lust. This just shows they never took criminology 101, though interestingly it plays right into the framing scenario (or is another reason it's ludicrous, so in fact they're actually weakening their case in the eyes of all but the gullible by focusing on it as motive).

I've seen my share of gore in real life and not much shocks me any more, but the photos I saw of Hannah did. Whoever did that to her is a monster or was drugged up into being one. Brutal, vicious beyond anything short of a beheading; I actually encourage all of you interested in this case, especially the Thai-apologists, to seek these photos out, see for yourself, and then come back here and make word-play about her, David, or these two Burmese guys. Go ahead, disgust me (and no doubt others) more than you have already.

In my conspiratorial moments I can see this as an action directed either intuitionally or not at many foreigners in Thailand. The comments on the Thai side within days worrying or hoping about the effect on tourism have also disgusted me but also revealed what I've long known about Thailand, since I first started visiting it couple of decades+ back: we are tolerated for our money, at times given respect for our relative wealth/power (i.e. that of our native countries), but there is also a very, very strong current of envy and dislike bordering on contempt for us (and no small part of that is deserved due to the behaviour of many of us in Thailand), and that combination is a toxic one, it can and does lead to violence.

So open your eyes, folks, this is about all of us. Look at the facts; it would be very good actually for someone(s) to put together an online source of verified information related to the case, as well as a list of unanswered questions, of which there are many. The mantra for all of this should be "never again."

/rant

[PaPiPuPePo]

Mark Kent ? who the <deleted> is he, oh the British Ambassador another soft <deleted> like D Cameron Mr yesterdays man both talk the talk but CANNOT walk the walk

Exactly, expect nothing from him, in fact he should be ignored at best and maybe even shamed a bit for being such a limp noodle who appears to have only his job security in mind.

[jdinasia]

Has anyone seen any suggestion anywhere that either of the two accused is some kind of martial arts expert capable (as the RTP claims) of single handedly killing a much bigger and stronger opponent without suffering any injury himself?

HUH?

Hit by a massive blow to the head In a blitz attack and there is no fighting back.

[Tatsujin]

We need a new British Ambassador . . . one with balls.

Oh, and a British Government with balls too.

So far, Mr Kent has been pathetic, and his public strong condemnation of the Thai Govt for deliberately misquoting him badly was heard loud and clear. Not.

[meatboy]

One dirty, rich family protecting it's son's murderous acts & in effect teaching their son that murder is ok is destroying a perfectly good & morally intact family.

nothing for him to worry about as yesterdays statement say's ITS NOW BEEN FIXED.

[Jeremy50]

M kent pussy footing around. Show some backbone for gods sake you pathetic man, you are there to represent the british are you not? Stop your grovelling

Yes. I can't stand to see this guy kowtowing to all and sundry.

[jdinasia]

There were several wounds that looked as if they would have incapacitated an adult. I however am not a forensic pathologist.

Note how desperate people Are that they have to include insults....

[mortiboy]

Mark Kent ? who the <deleted> is he, oh the British Ambassador another soft <deleted> like D Cameron Mr yesterdays man both talk the talk but CANNOT walk the walk

Well said! Typical pussy footing British Government!....Mustn't upset the foreigner

Cameron? What has done? More interested in taking care he's resident foreigners !

[crazykopite]

No BALLS KENT go back to your office and hide behind your chair !

[FRR]

Mark Kent ? who the <deleted> is he, oh the British Ambassador another soft <deleted> like D Cameron Mr yesterdays man both talk the talk but CANNOT walk the walk

And you Chupup? What an man of immense character you are. A real solid asset to humanity. Sit at home, use an alias, and denigrate other people. The world would be so much better if it were full of pople of your ilk rather than than those of the standing of Kent and Cameron.

[andygunther]

It is a big house of cards by now, if it falls, many heads will roll....

[CNXTim]

more than 60,000 voices have been heard.

[NongKhaiKid]

We need a new British Ambassador . . . one with balls.

Oh, and a British Government with balls too.

So far, Mr Kent has been pathetic, and his public strong condemnation of the Thai Govt for deliberately misquoting him badly was heard loud and clear. Not.

Naturally if we have to be told anything it will be the usual diplomatic guff that it's all going on behind the scenes as if anyone would believe that.

If the Thais have been warned about making unauthorised comments it doesn't seen to have done any good and now they're at it in Milan.

Yes, walk softly but carry a big stick and in Kent's case time to start using it.

[Dogmatix]

Well if the dirty rich family's son is truly the murderous SOB in this case then, regardless of the outcome of the current criminal case, they can be the subject of a wrongful death civil suit under Thai Civil Code statutes.

No use filing a civil suit against someone who is not in a position to be 'bound to make compensation' for a wrongful act.

That is correct. The victims' family may sue for damages in the civil court, regardless of the outcome of this show trial. They can pursue their own investigation.

[Dogmatix]

This 'loving father' has zero credibility and is probably an accessory after the fact. If he is so sure his little didums is innocent, why not send off his DNA for testing in the UK? Then we will all believe it.

[Neeranam]

M kent pussy footing around. Show some backbone for gods sake you pathetic man, you are there to represent the british are you not? Stop your grovelling

And learn how to wai you dipstick.

[user4674534]

Has anyone seen any suggestion anywhere that either of the two accused is some kind of martial arts expert capable (as the RTP claims) of single handedly killing a much bigger and stronger opponent without suffering any injury himself?

Hasn't anyone seen a young, small framed Burmese after a session on 1-2-call (this concoction of Kratom Leaf, powder from flourescent tubes, sansom, M150). That packs a wild punch and gives them phenomenal strength and destroys their ability to think straight. I witnessed it several times in my restaurant, even the most gentile of my staff. Similar effects from the Ya Ba. I wouldn't hang my hat on the fact they were 'too small' to do it.

[sadako]

all i can see is a pair of clowns sniffin coke

[bertty]

Has anyone seen any suggestion anywhere that either of the two accused is some kind of martial arts expert capable (as the RTP claims) of single handedly killing a much bigger and stronger opponent without suffering any injury himself?

Hasn't anyone seen a young, small framed Burmese after a session on 1-2-call (this concoction of Kratom Leaf, powder from flourescent tubes, sansom, M150). That packs a wild punch and gives them phenomenal strength and destroys their ability to think straight. I witnessed it several times in my restaurant, even the most gentile of my staff. Similar effects from the Ya Ba. I wouldn't hang my hat on the fact they were 'too small' to do it.

Well theres a first. Someone who encourages drug use in his own restaurant.

[greenchair]

One dirty, rich family protecting it's son's murderous acts & in effect teaching their son that murder is ok is destroying a perfectly good & morally intact family.

nothing for him to worry about as yesterdays statement say's ITS NOW BEEN FIXED.

And lets not forget the dirty foreigner , who ran away to let these boys lives be destroyed.

We know you were there.