Containers full of bodies reportedly found off Sattahip

[Spitfire]

Found this report,

Friday 8th May 2009
The mystery of the undersea containers in Sattahip continues.

We are closely following report of around 20 containers situated on the sea-bed which are thought to contain the skeletal remains of humans. Although the presence of the containers has been confirmed after a dive team took pictures of them earlier this week, reports claiming that at least one of the containers which was surrounded by skeletons after it had been opened is only a rumor for now. We have spoken with a number of local fishermen who confirm the discovery of many skeletons over the years; however an association with the containers cannot be proven. We understand that a government team have now been assigned to the case and are expected to investigate the contents of the containers shortly. We will of course bring the results of their findings to you as soon as we receive them.

Pattaya One News

This story was on Thai news channel 3 last week from what I've read and these containers were discovered about 2 months ago but was kept all hushed up until leaked to the press recently. Some people think the containers have been in the water for 20 years.

[margaretcarnes]

A very disturbing report, and thanks Spitfire for noticing it. 20 years maybe? So around 1989. Too late for the Vietnam war on the face of it, although figures/timelines can be tweaked.
Forensic tests would of course show ethnic origin of the victims and it will be interesting to see how this goes. So far there seems to be nothing on international news so lets hope there won't be any attempts at a cover up.
But what is the source of the report?

[margaretcarnes]

Sorry Spitfire - you did state the news source. My apologies! Also it does seem possible that those containers could have been down there and unnoticed for much more than 20 years.

[Spitfire]

Yes Margaret, mere speculation what follows, but just short of 20 years could cover 1991-92, remember all those people that just "disappeared".

Not beyond the realms of possibility. Fishermen finding skeletons often, big armed services area where people generally don't go, doesn't look good.

Hmmmm, bit sinister if it proves to be the case.

[STEVE G]

There are plenty of rumours about lots of bodies disappearing after the May 1992 crack-down on demonstrations in Bangkok. It’s not difficult to find stories of numbers of over a thousand deaths.

[PeteC]

This story was on Thai news channel 3 last week from what I've read and these containers were discovered about 2 months ago but was kept all hushed up until leaked to the press recently. Some people think the containers have been in the water for 20 years.

OK, this is the business I've been in since 1972, containers, not bones. The period 1985 onwards was the introduction of Corten steel to make your normal dry freight containers. Corten is a mix of mild steel, nickel and copper to stop corrosion.

Corten units at the bottom of the sea would be gone within 6-8 years, mild steel units within 3-4 years. The panels are only 1.6-2.0mm thick and the frames 4-6mm. The stainless steel ID plates should have survived. If one of those can be found, or the serial number stamped into one of the corner castings, the unit can be traced as to owner and last location before it disappeared. That's what the divers should be looking for.

If the containers are indeed still intact, my hunch is human trafficking gone bad up to 6-8 years ago, or the remnants of Thaksin's war on drugs just a few years ago. Pete

[margaretcarnes]

Thanks for that Pete. Yes if Steve Gs comments about rumours of over a thousand unaccounted for following the 92 crackdown have some foundation in truth (which rumours often have) the containers could have rotted open by 2000 easily. Add some time for fishermen to recognise the scale of the problem....
But if government officials are investigating what might have been Government action in the first place it seems unlikely anything more will be heard of this.
What is strange is that nothing about the finds seems to have yet reached even that other forum, let alone international news agencies. And a thousand is an awful lot of people, whether dead or alive at the time, to go missing - even in South east Asia.

[Roel]

Well it made the news in The Netherlands although not the established "serious quality" press but merely the alternative (internet) news circuit. There seems to be no official confirmation coming forward from Thai authorities. Also Pattaya One News (well known from daily reports on fatal accidents, robberies and suicides) seems to be the one and only source of information quoted by everyone else and they are not Reuters are they? Could it be a hoax maybe?
As always I stand corrected.

[margaretcarnes]

If it's made the news in the Netherlands Roel that at least is a start. I'm not surprised that there is no official confirmation from Thai authorities, given that this may have been a cover up in the first place. And yes, I know what you are saying about the Pattaya news.
But all major news stories have to start somewhere, and I think you would agree that this one warrants some investigation.

[STEVE G]

Forensic expert Pornthip Rojanasunant will lead the expedition with logistical support, including equipment, vessels and aircraft, mainly from the Navy.
The operation, under direct orders from Deputy Prime Minister Suthep Thuagsuban, has also enlisted manpower from several civilian organisations.
The eight freight containers have been resting on the seabed since 1993. Fishermen have reportedly netted human skulls and skeletons from time to time. (The Nation)



http://www.nationmultimedia.com/topstor ... -Chon-Buri

[sandman67]

s'funny because today they say that this is totally made up and a false story.....

I met a man upon the stair
I looked again he wasn't there.......

[STEVE G]

There are certainly a few ‘influential’ people still in positions of power from that period who would like it to be a made up story.
If it is true, as Pete has told us that a standard freight container would have corroded away by now, it occurs to me that someone who may have known that they were dumped there could have brought this up to stir up trouble, not realizing that the containers would have decayed away.

[Nereus]

Another conflicting report:
Firsttly they say it was retreived, follwed by it is still on the seabed!

Bangkok Post Published: 17/05/2009 at 12:00 AM

A cargo container retrieved from the sea off Juang island in Chon Buri'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.

Earlier, scuba divers claimed to have come across a large number of skulls on the seabed during a coral reef adventure dive, and reported the find to the media.

The reports have renewed hopes of relatives of those who went missing during the 1992 Black May uprising, that the skeletons may belong to them.

They have been searching for the remains of their loved ones for 17 years and suggested the skeletons could be those of their missing kin.

Porntip Rojanasunan, director of the CIFS, said the 3m x 6m cargo container was discovered about seven metres under the sea and about 16 kilometres off the coast.

It was also covered in coral growth aged more than 20 years.

She said salvaging the container was an option, but would hurt the marine environment,

A private company had offered to loan her advanced camera technology, which allows a tiny application to produce images inside the container through a drill hole.

Khunying Porntip said she was talking to the company but could not tell when a second undersea survey would be carried out.

She will report her findings to the government today.

[Nereus]

And then this. How they make such assumptions is beyond me.

PM: Container not linked to Black May

By: BangkokPost.com
Published: 17/05/2009 at 10:39 AM

The 3m x 6m cargo container under the sea off Juang island in the Gulf of Thailand off Chon Buri's Sattahip district is over 20 years old, and a large number of skulls found on the seabed should not be related to the victims of the 1992 Black May uprising, Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva said on Sunday.

To make all concerned parties satisfied, the container would have to be salvaged from the sea for officials to inspect it thoroughly, the premier said.

He said people also asked them to inspect the coral reefs around the area.

Earlier, relatives of those who went missing during the political uprising 17 years ago suggested the skeletons could belong to their loved ones.

[STEVE G]

Another conflicting report:
Firsttly they say it was retreived, follwed by it is still on the seabed!

It is a curious story as two days ago another report said they couldn't even find any containers, even though a few days before they had found eight of them.