‘We’ll tie you to burning tyres!’ – ‘We’ll cut off your limbs and put them in plastic bags’
As the Koh Tao murder case rumbles on, despite Thai Police putting a lid on the affair and stating the case was now closed, the father of one of the accused has given an interview to the Democratic Voice of Burma giving more details of threats by Thai police
Htun Htun Htike, the father of Win Zaw Htun, said, “My son and his friend [Zaw Lin] told me that they were subjected to physical torture by the Thai police and their translator.
“The interrogators told them to confess to the crime, and threatened to cut off their limbs, put them in a bag, and dump them in a river if they did not.”
He added: “The police also threatened to tie the two boys to a tire, pour petrol on it, and set it alight,” he told DVB’s Aye Nai.
“My son said they were terrified and confessed. But now that we [their parents and Burmese officials] are present, they can speak the truth – that they did not commit the murder.
“My son also told me that the police threatened to use tasers on them.” – DVB
Now together with calls for a completely new investigation headed by Thailand’s Chief Forensic Pathologist Dr. Pornthip Rojananasun and some tip-toeing by British detectives the Thai investigation into the murder of David Miller and Hannah Witheridge is looking more and more unprofessional.
It has the potential of damaging Thailand’s relations not only Britain but also Burma (Myanmar).
Manager magazine has suggested that British police ‘know’ that the two Burmese were not involved in the killing and that David Miller’s friend Christopher Ware has provided valuable testimony – but if that is the case that can only have come from a Thai police leak – as the British detectives will make absolutely no comment before they return to the UK with their report.
I just love this pancake guy. From selling roti to part-time torturer and interrogator. He's supposed to be there translating only but it sounds like he happily joined in a conspiracy to pervert justice by forcing a confession out of these terrified kids. I wonder what was in it for him?
The taxi driver allegedly offered a large chunk of change to give false witness has also been conveniently forgotten as well. I'm sure the Thai police are going to play the waiting game here, hoping the publicity will die down. This case has so many conflicting stories people are not going to let the police pull their usual tricks anymore, so they better have the right guys or all hell will break loose.
They claim they have these guys on tight DNA evidence but if that proves to be false, pandora's box will open and cases from the past will all be suspect. In the Saudi Gems case people actually produced fake gems to be returned to the Saudis whilst the real ones turned up at functions being worn by certain high ranking people's wives. So how can be believe evidence hasn't been manufactured in this case?
We've all seen previous cases where everything possible was done to blame and convict scapegoats. Why would this case be different given the circumstances? Saving face and protecting the status quo has become a national obsession with Thai leaders. The Thai masses just want justice and fairness. If this does turn out to be a fit up, no amount of apologies will repair the damage.
I have no idea of who killed these two poor kids but these two Burmese boys are looking more and more like a couple of patsies chosen to take the fall to save Thailand's name and tourist industry from too much damage. If this is true the real murderers are roaming free and that is more disturbing.