Containers full of bodies reportedly found off Sattahip

[Wanderlust]

kendo,
I would imagine two reasons; firstly because they do not want to disturb the marine life that has grown and lives there now, and secondly, if there are bodies there they will want to be careful in case it is decided to make it a maritime grave (as they often do with sunken ships or airplanes). However if the material of the containers would have rotted away, what would they have to drill through?

[kendo]

I think an investigation into this is more important than the marine life that has grown on this site, after all this is no accident and the facts are more important to all the people that have missing loved one's.

The drill holes and special camera's quote came from The Nation and as it has allready been said that these containers have rotted away it dont make sence.

Kendo.

[STEVE G]

It seems to me that it would be a good idea to recover the containers anyway, whatever they contain.
They must have been dumped as it is unlikely that they got there any other way and if they were dumped it is surely because they contain something that someone wanted to get rid of that shouldn’t be sat around on the bottom of the sea.
If they happen to be full of something like industrial waste instead of bodies that would be an even better reason for recovering them.

[kendo]

It seems to me that it would be a good idea to recover the containers anyway, whatever they contain.
They must have been dumped as it is unlikely that they got there any other way and if they were dumped it is surely because they contain something that someone wanted to get rid of that shouldn’t be sat around on the bottom of the sea.
If they happen to be full of something like industrial waste instead of bodies that would be an even better reason for recovering them.

Very good point Steve, if you go on board any ship they have to have color coded waste bins for different waste and its against international martime law to dump any waste at sea.
kendo.

[kendo]

Further update on the Containers situated off the coast of Sattahip.

We can now update you once again on the fast moving case relating to mysterious containers which have been located on the sea bed off the coast of Sattahip. The latest information we have for you suggests the containers were dumped in the location at least 20 years ago according to forensic officials at the scene. The investigation is led by Dr. Porntip, a renowned forensic doctor who has promised to unravel the mystery behind the containers. Initially it was thought the containers were full of skeletal remains of those who were killed during the violent and deadly uprising which took place in May 1992. This allegation has been refuted by Prime Minister Abhisit who suggests that the containers were dumped at least 20 years ago. It appears now that complete removal of the containers will not be possible but they will in fact be opened undersea after checks are undertaken to ensure that no harmful chemicals are inside. The containers are now thought to contain chemicals which were ordered to be removed from Thailand around 30 years ago. The Port Authority of Thailand is now investigating the link with a company which is suspected of dumping the containers illegally instead of shipping them out of Thailand. At this time we are no closer to finding out what is really inside the containers as we wait for the all clear to begin closer investigation of the contents.

These containers have not been there for that length of time, i think some high ranking politician or company boss or share holder has taken a big fat bribe and turned a blind eye and dumped waste on there own door step and now its come back to haunt them.

Kendo.

[Spitfire]

It's a strange one this,

Why is it taking so long to open them? I find it hard to imagine that these containers could have been dumped there without the collusion of or tacit approval of, the navy. Ironically, the navy is "assisting" in the search of the area and I'm not sure if the truth will come out here, could be a conflict of interests with having the armed services investigate.

There will not be an anouncement that the containers are full of bodies, regardless of whether it's true or not. If it is true then it may well be a case of those that did the deed are investigating. The area could be being cleaned up first 'on the quiet'.

Maybe they(containers) are full of dangerous chemicals, but then, what about all the skeletons that have been caught in fishermans nets?

Might just all be clever mis-direction on the part of the authorities but then we are drifting into conspiracy/conjecture and speculation here.

I doubt we will get the truth here because the whole story and sequence of events are somewhat "irregular".

It seems to be turning into a "don't know what to believe" case. There is much that does not add up.

[sandman67]

while there are few immutable laws in this universe one that still stands is this:

If there is an easy way of doing things and a hard way, Thais will ALWAYS choose the latter and turn a simple problem into a three ring circus.

1) Marine biologist visits site and assesses coral growth ..... gives an age for the container dumping.

Coral, and barnacles, being extremely sensitive to marine conditions, tend NOT to grow where there are toxins in the sea, like all over a container full of toxic waste.

Similarly, if this was leaking waste or toxins, dont you think the fishermen would have found out the hard way by now.....dead customers and family and all that.......

2) ROV is sent down, drills hole, inserts keyhole camera. while there takes images of container and ID plates. ROV carries out full site survey and logs results evidentially.

3) Team of divers sweep surrounding area to look for these skulls and bones....which, if they are scattered about, would surely mean the container is actually open. If its too deep use the ROV.

Given this is a country who has, other than navy and government teams, more diving schools than soft mick and a shed load of rig divers and rig firms in residence round Patayya who will have the equipment needed, all this buggering about seems.....well......suspicious.

Unless you figure in the usual levels of Thai idiocy, then it all makes sense.

OR

option B

do it the Thai way....screw around for months till someone gives in and makes a decision as to what to do while issuing rumor and gossip to the press. Allow these unfounded rumors and idle press speculation to fester. Fuel these with visible incompetence and lack of progress.T

Most importantly to preserve face turn down any and all offers of outside help....so far 3 western states and Japan have had offers of specialist material and logistical assistance refused.

heres the real skinny....

Elsewhere in the real world......discovery to recovery maximum two weeks...in the UK this would be over in days.

Here in La La Land.......see you next year for the results.

[hhfarang]

Yep, we'll have the story along about the same time that ferry starts running to Pattaya!

[Nereus]

Now the "Container" has a "hole" in it, and is buried anyway!

By: BangkokPost.com
Published: 24/05/2009 at 02:45 PM

Central Institute of Forensic Science (CIFS) director Porntip Rojanasunan said she will send a report on the process of unlocking the 3m x 6m cargo container on the seabed off Chon BuriBuri's Sattahip district to Justice Minister Pirapan Salirathavibhaga on Monday.

Human remains were reportedly found along the container, and many victims of the Black May 1992 were rumoured to be inside it.

Dr Porntip said the task was not easy since the container was buried deep in the seabed, and it would require many divers and tools which would be provided by the Royal Thai Navy.

She said private companies also offered to provide underwater cameras and other gears for this operation.

"It can be carried out in June if everything goes according to plan," the CIFS chief said.

Officials were also checking whether human skulls and other objects can pass through the hole found in the container, she said.

Just a thought:
Maybe Khunying Porntip should restrict her comments to her area of expertise.
Having spent many years working offshore, including recovering equipment from the seabed, if she has access to the equipment that she quotes, it is not that difficult, or time consuming, to come up with a result.
I think that it is becoming more and more obvious that there is some "cover up" involved with this.

[margaretcarnes]

I can't understand why there still hasn't been coverage of this by the UK media - at least nothing I've seen. An international focus on it might be what is needed to get things done.

Maybe the Telegraph could stir some s..t as they have with MPs' expenses

[STEVE G]

There does seem to be something suspicious about this story; a couple of days ago there were eight containers and now they only seem to be looking at one.
I really can’t see what is so difficult about opening the things and having a look inside.

[Khundon1975]

There does seem to be something suspicious about this story; a couple of days ago there were eight containers and now they only seem to be looking at one.
I really can’t see what is so difficult about opening the things and having a look inside.

SG

Maybe it will be like the "Illegally logged teak trees" found on a national park in 2000-2001.

When they were found by the army, the count was around 18,000 trees.

They were taken to an army camp "for safe keeping" and 2 months later when a recount was carried out, only 13,000 were there and another count taken a month later this was reduced to 11,000.

I don't know if it was a reflection on the level of math education in Thailand or the brazen theft by those in positions of power, maybe it was a bit of both.
As for the 1 or 8 containers found, SM67 had it right, in the UK they would all be sat on the dockside 2 days after they were discovered.

All together now TIT.

[Nereus]

More conflicting reports: now the "container" has a wooden base, although it is buried in the seabed and cannot be seen!

Investigators could start looking inside
Published: 25/05/2009 at 12:00 AM
Newspaper section: Bangkok Post

NewsTests for radioactive substances in sea sponge samples taken from a cargo container found on the seabed off Chon Buri's Sattahip district have returned negative results.

The results suggest it is probably safe to open the container to see if there are human skeletons inside as suspected.

The tests were implemented by the Justice Ministry team investigating the containers.

The sea sponge samples were tested by the Office of Atoms for Peace in response to concerns the container - and others in surrounding waters - might be filled with toxic substances that could cause serious damage if opened.

The tests found no radioactive substances, Thai News Agency quoted Central Institute of Forensic Science director Khunying Porntip Rojanasunan as saying.

The samples were taken from a container dropped into the sea off Juang island in tambon Samaesarn. Divers found it on May 15 after local fishermen reported to authorities they had discovered containers in the area and also human skulls.

Their discovery prompted families of those who disappeared during the 1992 Black May bloody street protests to call for the containers to be investigated to see if they contain human remains of the missing protesters.

Earlier tests of the sponge on the first container revealed it had been in the water about 20 years, or before the protests demanding the resignation of then prime minister Suchinda Kraprayoon.

The government decided not to open the container until it has enough information from experts to ensure the researchers' safety.

The Pollution Control Department has opposed opening it under water as it fears hazardous chemicals inside could damage the marine environment.

Khunying Porntip said the team had found the container's base was made of rotted wood, which made a safe salvage impractical.

The best option would be to insert a device equipped with a camera into the container to see what it was holding, she said.

[PeteC]

They all have wooden floors except refrigerated containers. Usually about 1 1/2" 21 ply, supported by C channel crossmembers. Indeed the flooring would be the first to rot. Almost sounds is if they're digging around the outside edge. Pete

[kendo]

Wooden floor on the inside, corten steel on the outside base of the floor, does not add up.
Kendo.