FRIDAY, March 29, 2024
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Legitimate use of Section 44

Legitimate use of Section 44

Yet another tourist died mysteriously on Koh Tao, south of Thailand.

Yet again, the victim happened to be a young attractive female,  travelling alone. By official accounts, seven tourists have died on that island within the last three years. The most infamous of which was the brutal murder and rape of a British couple David Miller and Hannah Witheridge in September 2014.
Same script, just a different victim: a case of suicide or mysterious death, police rushing to close the case, speedy cremation, unreliable police reports, secrecy, lack of witnesses, victim’s parents pleading etc. It is the case of those who know, don’t talk. To the military junta: If there ever was a legitimate time to invoke Section 44, backed by full public backing, this is it. With Section 44, I strongly encourage the military junta to bring the culprits to justice. Justice delayed is justice denied. Otherwise, I guarantee there will be more deaths and disappearances on the island. By not confronting this and set things right, no one else ever will. If the military don’t deal with this, politicians will certainly not.
Here are my suggestions to the junta:
1. Seek locals’ testimonies by granting them witness protection.  
2. Remove the local police officers handling the case.
3. Reward local police officers who whistle blow and apprehend the culprits.
4. Break up the island’s monopolistic power and interests
5. Ask yourself which is more important: Protecting culprits vs protecting Thailand’s reputation as a world-class holiday destination
6. Set the victims’ souls free – those reported and unreported deaths – and do everything in your power to not let more victims die in agony.  
7. Honestly ask yourself, would you let your daughter travel alone, unguarded, on that island?
Edward Kitlertsirivatana

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