British police arrive in Thailand to observe Koh Tao murder probe

[webfact]

UK police arrive to observe murder probe
THE NATION

BANGKOK: -- BRITISH POLICE have arrived in Bangkok to observe their Thai counterparts' investigation into the widely publicised murders of two young British backpackers, which led to the arrests of two Myanmar men.

Pol Lt-General Pravut Thawornsiri, spokesman of the National Police, said yesterday that the British team first conferred with officials from their embassy in Bangkok. Later they will meet with the Thai side to learn more details and follow up on the progress police have made so far, he said.

The police inquiry into the deaths of David Miller and Hannah Witheridge met international standards and was unequivocally fair, he said.

British investigators were sent to Thailand after police here were criticised for rushing to solve the case and suggestions that the suspects could be scapegoats.

The two men, who are detained in Koh Samui prison, have retracted their confessions to killing both Britons on September 15. They have also claimed that they were physically assaulted by police during interrogation.

A coordinator assigned by the Myanmar Embassy said the parents and relatives of both suspects reached Surat Thani's Samui district at 5pm yesterday and were scheduled to visit the men at 9am today.

They will be accompanied by lawyers, officials from the embassy and officials from the Human Rights Protection Bureau under the Thai National Human Rights Commission.

Meanwhile Pol Colonel Apichart Boonsrirote, acting Surat Thani police commander, said he would propose setting up a police station on Koh Tao to provide more security for tourists on the island.

If approved, the new station could be established in the fiscal year that started this month.

He added that more police had been deployed to Koh Tao to bolster the island's seven-strong contingent, as well as vehicles and support equipment to strengthen security there.

Source: http://www.nationmultimedia.com/national/UK-police-arrive-to-observe-murder-probe-30246160.html


-- The Nation 2014-10-24

[The stuttering parrot]

How much input will they be allowed?

If just observing then they might as well stayed at home.

As for setting up a police station well that horse as truly bolted but I suppose anything is better than the current set up.

Still the RTP reckon they have the guys and the DNA so innocent until proven guilty but if they are then throw the full weight of the courts at them

[cornishcarlos]

The seven strong contingent will be gutted, they are going to take a dramatic hit to their wallets...

[greenchair]

And who do you think will be in charge of that inactive post ?

[JLCrab]

So Nation puts out an article on the Brits arriving and they are met by the ThaiVisa contingent with:

[NongKhaiKid]

Let's hope the Embassy gave them a very full briefing on what to expect here, what they will be up against and what they MAY be allowed to do / see and most especially what is NOT going to happen.

If this all becomes a waste of time, barely going through the motions, I hope on their return home they are permitted to speak out fully on what did or did not happen. It's too important to have to observe diplomatic niceties so as not to upset Thailand.

[Robert2006]

How much input will they be allowed?

If just observing then they might as well stayed at home.

As for setting up a police station well that horse as truly bolted but I suppose anything is better than the current set up.

Still the RTP reckon they have the guys and the DNA so innocent until proven guilty but if they are then throw the full weight of the courts at them

Here is a sentence from a National News Bureau of Thailand article dated October 23rd. “Regional Public Prosecution 8 deputy director-general Thawatchai Siangjaew said that “Thai police will be able to answer every doubt raised but no outside authorities can send their people to work on this case as Thai laws do not permit such a scenario”.

What a scam, it's theater, a show for the public, the Brits will not be allowed to work on the case.

[SteveFong]

How much input will they be allowed?

If just observing then they might as well stayed at home.

As for setting up a police station well that horse as truly bolted but I suppose anything is better than the current set up.

Still the RTP reckon they have the guys and the DNA so innocent until proven guilty but if they are then throw the full weight of the courts at them

Here is a sentence from a National News Bureau of Thailand article dated October 23rd. “Regional Public Prosecution 8 deputy director-general Thawatchai Siangjaew said that “Thai police will be able to answer every doubt raised but no outside authorities can send their people to work on this case as Thai laws do not permit such a scenario”.

What a scam, it's theater, a show for the public, the Brits will not be allowed to work on the case.

it is not a scam

Chris Ware stood up for his friend, and gave a full briefing of what happened that night.

The full details of what Scotland Yard detectives know, is everything we hoped for, and more.

So much so, that the word is, the Police general in charge, has recently gone on sick leave and his whereabouts are unknown

This case has blown wide open, and the people involved know it

Expect this to get bigger than any of the bad actors could have ever expected, and with it, international coverage of their arrests

Edited October 24, 2014 by SteveFong

[ramrod711]

I don't believe that it is a waste of time. The officers will examine evidence and procedures, compare with what they know and do in Britain, and tell the world what they think. How can that be a waste of time?

[rhythmworx]

I was under the impression they arrived last week.

Maybe that was unofficial and they have been having fun on Soi Cowboy and Nana for a week and can now get to observing.

What ever that means.

[chainarong]

Unless the UK plods have some active part in determination, the exercise is both expensive and a waste of time , but probably humorous for the UK contingent, sit back chaps and watch the real BILL show how it is done , they always get their man in the soaps, unfortunately in real 4/4 time they couldn't find their way out of a Wheaties packet, enjoy Thailand, the B/S and all the trappings of a guest from the UK.

[ScubaPhuket]

With the sheer number of ex-convicts & Brits on the run in thailand there are bound to be a few dissenters, probably a few people taking a short break from their homes/hideouts on the islands too.

[MaxLee]

Just here for observation ONLY , because the PM aka former general said so, last week,...

[tx22cb]

"The police inquiry into the deaths of David Miller and Hannah Witheridge met international standards" ***

*** = North Korea & Myanmar

[rhythmworx]

I don't believe that it is a waste of time. The officers will examine evidence and procedures, compare with what they know and do in Britain, and tell the world what they think. How can that be a waste of time?

What have they got to examine?

There is no real evidence and no proving the evidence provided is correct or incorrect.

They are not authorised to finger the justice system.

They will find nothing, it's just a few officers or forensics off on a free holiday.

Simple as that.

[Thormaturge]

I just hope (but doubt) that the British police have a good idea how things work here, and know how not to be taken for fools.

[ttthailand]

They are here to ask questions and see if everything is on the up and up. If they get the run around and are stonewalled then the PMs will have to get back involved and the international press will have a field day. Thailand will get all the free press it can handle and more.

It is time to come clean and the British police will assist in the process.

[daveAustin]

I just hope (but doubt) that the British police have a good idea how things work here, and know how not to be taken for fools.

Indeed, it'd help immensely if they know Thai, have done time here and can move beyond greng jai/niceties. Having kindergarten experience would also be hugely beneficial.

[MaxLee]

"Hey you, take photo with us? Sorry, cannot sa-peak English, go home..."

[bubblegum]

I suspect they'll be home soon, expelled for working without a workpermit

[SteveFong]

It is not permitted to paste the entire article here, but,

there is a lengthy report about Chris Ware reporting to the Scotland Yard detectives,

everything that happened on that island and who it is that drugged the girl, intending to gang rape her

the CCTV footage has been identified as a man who later he police claimed was not on the island at the time,

but who's girlfriends internet postings dispute as she apparently felt abandoned for 2 days as there was no contact with that certain said un-named individual, for the two days in question

the CCTV footage shows a person favoring their left arm or shoulder,

you can hide your face,

but you cannot hide pain that causes body misalignment

it is also being reported on the same page of the same site which is a social media page of a Thai person with great personal interest in seeing the real killers being brought to justice,

that the police general in charge has suddenly taken a "sick leave" and his whereabouts are unknown

to the people who prefer to express doubt, and want to quote Thai officials

take a look at the facts on the ground,

they may as well have said, "over my dead body" you will come to Thailand and interfere in our perfect investigation

well,

they are here aren't they

today may be the longest day in Kho Tao history and, it is a bad time to be the guy on the CCTV footage

[bristolgeoff]

they can do nothing but look on,the police will not take any interest in what they say,it is Thailand not England.they will have a nice holiday and fill in a expense report at the end.

[Johnsen]

His whereabouts are unknown. Its absolute gold. Don't expect the Thai police to be able to find him they couldn't find there own noses. I think he is on sick leave for being made to feel sad.....

[binjalin]

Posters should not confuse Thai Police 'methods' with British. Some posters seems unable to separate the two and have been here too long. Good luck tot he British Cops and God Speed to a conclusion based on JUSTICE not FACE

RIP to those that died and justice to their family's

a note to the General : justice is not 'face' please recognize the difference

[Johnsen]

If that's true what do you make of his lawyers BS alibi re being in school or the pathetic photo shop photo. They should all hang right down to the people who did the photo shopping. Aiding and abetting a murderer. Old Swampy gonna be busy today.

[alfalfa19]

How much input will they be allowed?

If just observing then they might as well stayed at home.

As for setting up a police station well that horse as truly bolted but I suppose anything is better than the current set up.

Still the RTP reckon they have the guys and the DNA so innocent until proven guilty but if they are then throw the full weight of the courts at them

Here is a sentence from a National News Bureau of Thailand article dated October 23rd. “Regional Public Prosecution 8 deputy director-general Thawatchai Siangjaew said that “Thai police will be able to answer every doubt raised but no outside authorities can send their people to work on this case as Thai laws do not permit such a scenario”.

What a scam, it's theater, a show for the public, the Brits will not be allowed to work on the case.

it is not a scam

Chris Ware stood up for his friend, and gave a full briefing of what happened that night.

The full details of what Scotland Yard detectives know, is everything we hoped for, and more.

So much so, that the word is, the Police general in charge, has recently gone on sick leave and his whereabouts are unknown

This case has blown wide open, and the people involved know it

Expect this to get bigger than any of the bad actors could have ever expected, and with it, international coverage of their arrests

Just curious, does that guy in the photo have a gimpy left arm? If so, much easier to identify.

[Emster23]

Are they on tourist or education visas?

Let the games begin!

[ukrules]

I suspect there would have been a few British government employees who work out of the Embassy sent to Koh Tao the same day these murders happened.

The type of worker who patiently watches from the background and records what's going on without saying a word.

[jlwilliamsjr18]

The word, "observers" have rolled off the lips of Police officials since the whole idea was announced. I don't believe this was the intension, but if you say "observe" enough, that will be the extent of their role. The dance the Police are doing is amazing. In the end, we'll never see the real criminals prosecuted.

[ukrules]

In the end, we'll never see the real criminals prosecuted.

Don't count on that.