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[Jimjim]

Any video on the internet we can see of the dives?

[basjke]

sriracha john, on 2009-05-15 02:39:02, said:

Khunying Pornthip led a DSI team yesterday to investigate the site.

The Navy will send 3 boats to the area today to assist.

The FSI Director today reviewed a skull being kept at a local charity organization, stating that investigation would be difficult as the skeletons had been affected due to submersion in the sea. She noted that the skull did not have many of the identifying traits needed by forensic scientists such as hairs or tissue.

She probably forgot to mention that it wasn't carrying a name card or personal phone number either which would have made the identification possible.

[sriracha john]

Forensic Expert Examines Sunken Container off Chonburi Shore

Renowned forensic expert Dr. Pornthip Rojanasunan will examine the human remains found in a shipping container sunk in the Gulf of Thailand.

Relatives of those who went missing during the Black May incident urged Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva to investigate after eight containers were found near Sattahip Bay, since they believe that the containers might hold the remains of their loved ones.

Central Institute for Forensic Science Director Dr. Pornthip Rojanasunan has travelled to Sattahip district in Chonburi province since yesterday for an investigation.

Dr. Pornthip revealed that Deputy Prime Minister Suthep Thuagsuban said the prime minister is interested in the issue, and has urged related organisations to speed up the process.

Various sectors are cooperating, including the Navy, which contributed supplies including cranes and ships, and the Science Ministry.

Dr. Pornthip and her team then visited the Sawangrochanatham Foundation to perform initial investigations on a human skull, caught in the net of fishing trawlers a while back and believed to have floated up from those sunken containers. It is estimated that it might be around 30 to 40 years old. The gender, however, still remains unknown.

Today, the team will visit various areas in the sea that might have more human remains. The containers will only be opened on land, but if the weather causes any inconvenience tomorrow, further investigations will be postponed.


-- Tan Network 2009-05-15

[medegen]

Quote

No containers in Sattahip sea
  By: BangkokPost.com
  Published: 15/05/2009 at 02:31 PM  

Head of Silpakorn University's Underwater  Archaeogy Division said Friday he can confirm that there are no  shipping containers containing human skeletons in the seabed in Chon  Buri province.

Imprem Watcharangura, head of the division, said the Department of  Special Investigation (DSI) has contacted his division to search the  seabed off Sattahip to look for the containers after it has received  reports about it from divers. But his team found no containers there.

Mr  Imprem also said that fishermen have told the team that they must know  if dead bodies were hidden there because fish would have flocked to the  area.

He also said that there are people filing complaints about  this in the past 20 years, but no evidence was found after diving teams  had searched the seabed.

On Friday morning, a diving team of the navy began searching a location there to look for the containers.


Scuba  divers claim to have come across a large number of skulls on the seabed  during a coral reef adventure dive. They reported the find to the media.

DSI said it would have another look at the site.

Edited by medegen, 2009-05-15 15:07:30.

[Dario]

sriracha john, on 2009-05-15 01:39:02, said:

Khunying Pornthip led a DSI team yesterday to investigate the site.

The Navy will send 3 boats to the area today to assist.

The FSI Director today reviewed a skull being kept at a local charity organization, stating that investigation would be difficult as the skeletons had been affected due to submersion in the sea. She noted that the skull did not have many of the identifying traits needed by forensic scientists such as hairs or tissue.

At 14:31 the Bangkok Post reports, I quote:

"Breakingnews » Breakingnews

No containers of bones on seabed
By: BangkokPost.com
Published: 15/05/2009 at 02:31 PM A search by divers has failed to find any sign of shipping containers reputed to contain human skeletons on the seabed in Chon Buri province, the head of Silpakorn University's Division of Underwater Archaeology said on Friday

Imprem Watcharangura said the Department of Special Investigation (DSI) asked his division to organise a search of the ocean floor off Sattahip for the containers reported to have been seen by other divers.

He could confirm there were no containers there, Mr Imprem said.

Mr Imprem said fishermen have told the team that they would surely know if there were dead bodies hidden there, because fish would have flocked to the area to feed and the news would have spread.

He said people had been filing complaints based on the rumoured containers for the past 20 years. Diving teams had searched the area and found no evidnce of the containers.

On Friday morning, a team of navy divers began searching a location there for the containers.


Scuba divers claim to have come across a large number of skulls on the seabed during a coral reef adventure dive. They reported the find to the media.

The DSI said it would have another look at the site."


-- Bangkok Post 2009 05 15

[LennyW]

So where did the containers go that we saw on the channel 3 news report a few days ago??

[Humphrey Bear]

Dario, on 2009-05-15 19:17:33, said:

sriracha john, on 2009-05-15 01:39:02, said:

Khunying Pornthip led a DSI team yesterday to investigate the site.

The Navy will send 3 boats to the area today to assist.

The FSI Director today reviewed a skull being kept at a local charity organization, stating that investigation would be difficult as the skeletons had been affected due to submersion in the sea. She noted that the skull did not have many of the identifying traits needed by forensic scientists such as hairs or tissue.

At 14:31 the Bangkok Post reports, I quote:

"Breakingnews » Breakingnews

No containers of bones on seabed
By: BangkokPost.com
Published: 15/05/2009 at 02:31 PM A search by divers has failed to find any sign of shipping containers reputed to contain human skeletons on the seabed in Chon Buri province, the head of Silpakorn University's Division of Underwater Archaeology said on Friday

Imprem Watcharangura said the Department of Special Investigation (DSI) asked his division to organise a search of the ocean floor off Sattahip for the containers reported to have been seen by other divers.

He could confirm there were no containers there, Mr Imprem said.

Mr Imprem said fishermen have told the team that they would surely know if there were dead bodies hidden there, because fish would have flocked to the area to feed and the news would have spread.

He said people had been filing complaints based on the rumoured containers for the past 20 years. Diving teams had searched the area and found no evidnce of the containers.

On Friday morning, a team of navy divers began searching a location there for the containers.


Scuba divers claim to have come across a large number of skulls on the seabed during a coral reef adventure dive. They reported the find to the media.

The DSI said it would have another look at the site."


-- Bangkok Post 2009 05 15

Unfortunately he got his Eastings and Northings confused and was looking in the sea off Newfoundland.

But he did pinpoint the three locations and looked around for at least 100m perimeter search area.

How much has this cretin been paid to pour cold water on the whole story

[plasticpig]

Surprised it’s not on the world news.
True or Not

[loonodingle]

Do You really think it took so long to get someone from Bangkok  to Pattaya to deal with this?????????

ahhahahaaahahahah they could have pulled those containers over night

AND WE ARE SUPPOSED TO BELIEVE IT .................

[sriracha john]

Container, but no bones, discovered

CHONBURI : Authorities have confirmed the discovery of a 3m x 6m cargo container under the sea off Juang island in tambon Samaesarn, Sattahip district, after their first joint underwater survey yesterday.

The joint survey by the Navy and the Justice Ministry's Central Institute of Forensic Science (CIFS) followed recent media reports on local fishermen's claims that three to five containers stuffed with human skeletons had been found under the sea off Samaesarn.

"We did find a cargo container but we could neither open nor salvage it because a large part of the container is buried deep in the muddy seabed," said Khunying Porntip Rojanasunan, the Director of the CIFS, who led the joint survey team. Dr Porntip said divers from the Navy had taken photos of the container and collected evidence in the area including samples of coral, barnacles, and seawater for testing to find out how long the container has been under the sea.

She said the divers did not find any human skulls or bones near the container. Nor did they find any clue that would point to its manufacturer. "Had we found some clues, they could have made our investigation into this case easier," she said.

Continued:

-- Bangkok Post 2009-05-16

[sriracha john]

an interesting tidbit yesterday regarding the specific shipping lane the containers were found in with yet another possible explanation:

Quote

That area used to be the water transportation channel of cargo ships, besides the American troops had used that area for transportation when it was based in Sattahip as well.
- National News Bureau of Thailand / 2009-05-15

[Humphrey Bear]

sriracha john, on 2009-05-16 11:39:50, said:

Container, but no bones, discovered

CHONBURI : Authorities have confirmed the discovery of a 3m x 6m cargo container under the sea off Juang island in tambon Samaesarn, Sattahip district, after their first joint underwater survey yesterday.

The joint survey by the Navy and the Justice Ministry's Central Institute of Forensic Science (CIFS) followed recent media reports on local fishermen's claims that three to five containers stuffed with human skeletons had been found under the sea off Samaesarn.

"We did find a cargo container but we could neither open nor salvage it because a large part of the container is buried deep in the muddy seabed," said Khunying Porntip Rojanasunan, the Director of the CIFS, who led the joint survey team. Dr Porntip said divers from the Navy had taken photos of the container and collected evidence in the area including samples of coral, barnacles, and seawater for testing to find out how long the container has been under the sea.

She said the divers did not find any human skulls or bones near the container. Nor did they find any clue that would point to its manufacturer. "Had we found some clues, they could have made our investigation into this case easier," she said.

Continued:

-- Bangkok Post 2009-05-16

OK, it's been in the sea a long time. But when totally submerged there is little rust after an initial attack.

Painted numbers, owning cargo transporter's name, other details will last for many years.

There's none so blind .....

[sriracha john]

Humphrey Bear, on 2009-05-16 11:35:38, said:

OK, it's been in the sea a long time. But when totally submerged there is little rust after an initial attack.

Painted numbers, owning cargo transporter's name, other details will last for many years.

There's none so blind .....

The underwater footage that was shown on Channel 3 revealed containers that were heavily and thickly covered in barnacles and other sea life that due to the extensive growth completely obscured any identifying numbers or names on the container itself.
One gets the impression that they had been down there for a looong time.

Edited by sriracha john, 2009-05-16 12:30:34.

[sriracha john]

An example of above is Matichon newspaper's still photo:



or The Nation:

Edited by sriracha john, 2009-05-16 12:48:22.

[Samuian]

And a Mystery unfolds...

Skulls - so far only ONE!

Bones - not yet..

"Containers full of bones" - no evidence yet - might be pure coincidence....

well, well, well so far the only one skull is dated 30-40 years old...
as long as there is NO forensic evidence linking it to someone who is missing..
it might be anything - as long as there is no further evidence showing up in these containers....

[JetsetBkk]

[Beardog]

LennyW, on 2009-05-15 19:49:54, said:

So where did the containers go that we saw on the channel 3 news report a few days ago??

Probably with the same guy that gave info to the police about the large denominations of baht  sealed in blue 4' pvc pipes buried a couple of years ago.
He was supposed to receive a kickback from the police....shortly after him & the story disappeared.
Things that make you go HMMMMMMMM

[KhaoNiaw]

LennyW, on 2009-05-15 19:49:54, said:

So where did the containers go that we saw on the channel 3 news report a few days ago??

Channel 3 only showed one container. Local fisherman say that there are 3 sites where containers are located. The Channel 3 team dived at the site nearest to the shore (about 7 nautical miles) - this is not the site where fishermen say they have pulled up skulls. The other sites were about 40 and 70 nautical miles offshore if I remember rightly.

The local headmen says that over the years he has personally pulled up a number of skulls and estimates that the total passed on to him and reported to him over the years is around a hundred. He claims that some of the skulls have been given to the local temple for religious rites, while others were handed to local police who sent them on to Bangkok. There is not necessarily any link between containers and skulls.

It seems like some people are not very enthusiastic about the search. It could just be because they don't want to be spending their budget on a wild goose chase - they'll probably get told to pay for the operation out of their own budgets first, which they'll be very reluctant to do. Remember we're talking government and military departments here.

[sriracha john]

Porntip seeks quick move on container

Forensics director offers two alternatives to check contents

Central Institute of Forensic Science Director Porntip Rojanasunan yesterday urged a quick decision from the government to ensure that the truth about a mysterious shipping container on the Chonburi seabed, rumoured to contain human skeletons, would be known this month.

Leading a team to inspect Samae San Bay in Chonburi's Sattahip district, Porntip said two methods of inspection were on the table.

One was to cut open the container, believed from the coral growth to have been lying there for 20 years, and use a camera to survey it. The other was to lift the container out of the water and then open it.

The latter method would cost at least 10 million baht and might destroy fertile corals covering the container, she said.

Porntip said they had not cut it open on Friday as they feared the container might have explosives in it and they would first use a GT 200 bomb-detecter to check it.

Meanwhile, Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva said he had assigned officials to assess the possibility of cutting open the container and using cameras to survey as it seemed on the face of it the more practicable way.

Regarding reports that many more containers were under the sea, Porntip said she could not confirm that. Villagers have confirmed the existence of this container.

Since this is not a normal sea-lane, it is impossible to assume that an accident led to the sinking of the container, she said. It is more likely that it was intentionally dumped, possibly for disposal of a dangerous substance, she added.

Regarding discovery of skulls, she said it was her personal view that they could be the remains of immigrant workers. The previous suspicion that they might be from the May 1992 incident is not totally ruled out yet, she added.

Porntip said that if the government made a quick decision, the truth should be known this month. As for the search for other containers, which the Navy minesweeper boats were asked to do, when to start should be known on Monday, she added.

Meanwhile, local residents, who asked not to be named, said seven containers had been detected by the radar of trawlers and urged the investigation to proceed without pleading budget restraints.

"If the government does not act, and soon, we, the people, will open the containers ourselves," they said.

They suspect that the container Porntip is working on contains dangerous substances or chemicals, as rumour has it that toxins from Rayong were regularly dumped.

But the other six containers remain a mystery because fat has reportedly leaked out of them and come to the surface, they said.


-- The Nation 2009-05-17

[sriracha john]

Probe into undersea container's mystery contents goes hi-tech

A cargo container retrieved from the sea off Juang island in Chonburi's Sattahip district could be drilled to see if human skeletons lie inside. Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva yesterday approved the drilling operation.

A small camera would be inserted through the hole to view the interior of the container. However, Mr Abhisit said an estimate of the cost involved should be made first to avoid burdening state coffers. Drilling the container was a cheaper option than salvaging it from the seabed.

Mr Abhisit said investigators were working on a theory about the human skeletons, but nothing was known for sure. On Friday, a joint undersea survey by the Navy and the Justice Ministry's Central Institute of Forensic Science (CIFS) started after claims that three to five containers stuffed with human skeletons had been found under the sea off Samaesarn.

Continued:

-- Bangkok Post 2009-05-17

[MyphuketLife]

gee it seams so simple...

1. get a underwater welder to the site
2. have camera crews join the dive so their is no second guessing
3. have wielder use his/her underwater tools to cut a whole in the container.
4. look inside.

Seems so simple, but TIT and simple stuff never gets done the simple way here.

[Thaifan2]

MyphuketLife, on 2009-05-18 14:08:20, said:

gee it seams so simple...

1. get a underwater welder to the site
2. have camera crews join the dive so their is no second guessing
3. have wielder use his/her underwater tools to cut a whole in the container.
4. look inside.

Seems so simple, but TIT and simple stuff never gets done the simple way here.

Its not so simple as there could be explosive or radio active substances in the container .

[sriracha john]

Container examination transparent  
  
BANGKOK, 18 May 2009 (NNT) – Justice Minister Pirapan Salirathavibhaga affirms container examination is transparent and accountable, but care has to be taken as poisonous substance may be found inside.

Mr.Pirapan said that the Forensic Science Institution was examining the container, which was found under the sea in Samaesan area, Chonburi, and he had been reported periodically.

Meanwhile the cousins of the missing people during the violent incident in May, 1992 believed that the container might be used to load bodies of those missing people, but the container had to be checked if there was poisonous substance inside before opening it. The government had no part in the event, therefore the examination would be transparent.

He noticed that the container had to be intentionally dropped there, because there were net and sling, which were possibly used for dropping the container from the ship, therefore if the container loading poisonous substance, the government had to investigate and apprehend the culprit.

But he confirmed that the container did not belong to any government units definitely. However he would like Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva to form a committee to directly take care of this problem.


-- NNT 2009-05-18

====================================================================

DSI: Coral samples may disconnect ties between submerged containers and Black May
  
BANGKOK, 18 May 2009 (NNT)-The Department of Special Investigations is awaiting test results of coral build up from the containers found in Samaesarn Bay to confirm initial speculations that they are over 20 years old, a fact that will disconnect ties between the discovery and the Black May incident.

Deputy Director of the DSI Pol. Gen. Narat Sawatanun, acting as the departments spokesman, stated that no orders had yet been made for the DSI to participate in inspections of the containers said to house tens of skeletons sunken off the coast of Chonburi province.

Authorities from the DSI have been dispatched to assist in efforts nonetheless, working in a supportive role to the well-known forensic expert Dr. Khunying Pornthip Rojanasunan.

Pol. Gen. Narat revealed that coral fragments from the containers had been sent for testing with early projections estimating the build up on the containers to be over 20 years, allaying suspicions that the skeletons were of missing persons from the Black May incident in 1992.

Secondary theories as to the origin of containers now point to possible human smuggling operations. Pol. Gen. Narat reminded that investigations at this time were very costly and potentially dangerous, prompting authorities to proceed carefully with the work.

The DSI Deputy Director said that meetings of the DSI on May 20 would not talk about the containers, as the collected evidence was still insufficient to form a solid opinion.


-- NNT 2009-05-18

====================================================================

Khunying Porntip: Container inspection method to be concluded tomorrow  
  
BANGKOK, 18 May 2009 (NNT) - Director of the Central Institute of Forensic Science (CIFS) Dr. Khunying Porntip Rojanasunan has announced to convene with relevant agencies tomorrow to pinpoint the method for inspection of sunken containers found offshore of Chonburi province.

After reporting to Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva on the latest development of the examination into the mysterious containers lying submerged in Samaesarn Bay in Sattahip district of Chonburi province, Dr. Khunying Porntip said the government was willing to give support to the operation, but suggested that the action be made prudently.

She said the government would also establish a special panel under the supervision of the Royal Thai Navy to help investigate the matter.

To reach a conclusion on the most suitable method for inspection inside the containers, Dr. Khunying Porntip will convene with relevant agencies at 1 pm tomorrow at the Ministry of Justice. She noted that one of the containers was reported to have an opening large enough for a fish to swim through, prompting a possibility for the insertion of a water-proof camera into its interior.

In response to news that some foreign agencies were willing to financially support the haul of the containers to be inspected onshore, the CIFS Director urged such agencies to contact her or the Institute directly in order for their assistance to be further considered by the Thai government.


-- NNT 2009-05-18

=====================================================================

Tiny camera to be used to see inside containers : Dr Pornthip

A tiny underwater camera may soon slip through a hole in a mysterious container on the seabed off Chonburi's Sattahip district to check what is inside.

"We have found a hole on the container through which groupers swim in and swim out," Central Institute of Forensic Science Director Khunying Porntip Rojanasunan revealed Monday.

She said she would have a meeting with representatives from the Customs Department, the Department of Special Investigation (DSI), marine archaeologists and noted marine biologist Dr Thon Thamrongnawasawat on Tuesday to discuss possible means of checking what's inside the container and where the container came from.

"Representatives from underwater camera companies will attend the meeting too," Porntip said.

Porntip has been assigned to look into the containers after they caught the media spotlight and rumours spread the bodies of those who died in the Black May incident were inside.

Porntip's team has already located one of the containers. Porntip has ruled out lifting the container from the sea for examination because the process would require a huge budget.

The Pollution Control Department (PCD), meanwhile, has voiced opposition against any plan to cut open the container underwater.

"If toxic waste is inside, cutting the container open in the sea would cause far flung environmental impacts," PCD Director-General Dr Supat Wangwongwattana said.

Nevertheless, he doubts the container harbours toxic waste because coral reefs and fishes would have been affected.

Officials have now suggested the container has rested on the seabed off Chonburi for more than 20 years, judging by the barnacles found on it.

Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva as well as many high profile figures have pointed out the mysterious container could not be related to the Black May incident, which took place 17 years ago.


-- The Nation 2009-05-18

====================================================================

Camera to peer into sunken container

A camera will be inserted through a small hole in a cargo container under the sea near Juang island, off Sattahip in Chonburi, to see if it really does contain human bones as rumoured, Central Institute of Forensic Science (CIFS) Director Porntip Rojanasunan said on Monday.

Divers had located the hole, which was being used by fish entering and leaving the container, Dr Porntip said.

She said a camera could be inserted through the hole to see what is inside.

Continued:

-- Bangkok Post 2009-05-18

Edited by sriracha john, 2009-05-18 21:20:05.

[crudy21]

How many people actually disapeared in 1992 and who made them disapear? Very interesting story, still quite amazed it isn't worlwide news yet.

[rott]

Nearly 2 weeks later, any further news?