SURAT THANI — Police have closed down all piers on the island of Koh Tao as they search for the suspect behind the brutal murder of two British tourists on the island.

The 24-year-old man and the 23-year-old woman were found dead near Hat Sai Ri Beach early this morning. The female tourist was partially naked and "slashed" to death, police say, while the naked male tourist had a serious wound on the back of his neck.

Police believe the suspect may have attempted to sexually assault the female victim before she was killed.

The two bodies were found 20 metres apart from each other, and approximately 30 metres away from a resort on the beach. A bloody hoe was also found in the area, leading police to suspect that it was the weapon used in the gruesome murders.

Police say that they have closed down all piers on the island to prevent the suspect from fleeing the area.

 "I believe the perpetrator is still on the island," said Pol.Maj.Gen. Kiattipong Khaosam-ang, a commander of Surat Thani police.

Witnesses said they saw the pair drinking and dancing with other party-goers on the beach in front of their resort on the previous night. The pair then left the party, presumably to take a stroll, witnesses said.

According to Pol.Maj.Gen. Kiattipong, the man arrived in Thailand with "2-3" male friends while the woman came with four female friends. They met at Ocean View Bungalow, where they were both staying, the officer said. 

The bodies were found at around 6.20 am by a group of Burmese workers who were cleaning the beach, Pol.Maj.Gen. Kiattipong said.

A friend of the male victim, who also had wounds on his body, was initially being considered as a suspect in the case, but police say he is no longer being treated as a suspect because it has been established that his injuries date back to a recent Full Moon Party.

Khaosod English is witholding the identities of the victims until it's confirmed that their families have been notified. 

CORRECTION: The female victim's age is 23, not 24 as was originally reported.

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BANGKOK — Thailand’s chief of police has scaled back his claim that a 26-year-old Redshirt activist provided weapons to militants who fought with security officers during the 2010 unrest.

Pol.Gen. Somyot Pumpanmuang previously suggested that Kritsuda Kunasen, who is currently living in exile, supplied military-grade weapons to the suspected "Blackshirt" militants who were arrested last week. He claimed police found pay slips and money transfer records in Ms. Kritsuda's home. 

But Pol.Gen. Somyot said yesterday that police have not established a clear link between the 26-year-old activist and the armed militants. 

"Ms. Kritsuda may be involved with the case, but we cannot yet determine clearly what the money [Ms. Kritsuda] transferred to those accounts was for," Pol.Gen. Somyot said. "We do not know the purpose of the money."

In May, the military detained Ms. Kritsuda without charges for 27 days, exceeding the seven-day limit on arbitrary detention that authorities respected for the majority of other detainees. After being released, Ms. Kritsuda fled to Europe and accused soldiers of torturing her during the detention – an allegation the military has vehemently denied.

Shortly after Ms. Kritsuda spoke out about her experience in military custody, Pol.Gen. Somyot accused her of engineering gunfire and grenade attacks on anti-government protesters who took to the streets in December 2013 – May 2014. 

Last week, Pol.Gen. Somyot also accused Mr. Kritsuda of supplying weapons to Redshirt-allied militants in 2010, following the arrest of five suspected “Blackshirts” on Thursday. The “Blackshirts” is a name given to the masked gunmen who were seen exchanging fire with security forces during the military crackdown on Redshirt protesters around Ratchadamnoen Avenue on 10 April 2010.

Twenty civilians and five soldiers, including the commander of the operation, were killed in the clashes.

Yesterday, Pol.Gen. Somyot insisted that police’s ongoing effort to extradite Ms. Kritsuda is needed to question her about the Blackshirts.

"The police have to arrest Ms. Kritsuda first, so that we can know what the money was for," Pol.Gen. Somyot said, adding that the police still do not know in which country the activist is currently residing.

It’s unclear why the military let Mr. Kritsuda walk free after her detainment. Some Redshirt supporters suspect authorities fabricated the charges against Ms. Kritsuda – which came after her allegations of torture – in an attempt to discredit the activist.

BANGKOK — Junta chairman turned Prime Minister Prayuth Chan-ocha has asked the government to keep his face off of public posters and banners, drawing a distinction between himself and other military strongman around the world.

Gen. Prayuth told his rubber stamp parliament yesterday that he would like to see more promotion of the Twelve Values he penned for Thai youth, but discouraged the lawmakers from using his portrait in the PR effort.

"Schools and state agencies should display the Twelve Values, but without my photos," Gen. Prayuth said in an address to the National Legislative Assembly, whose members were handpicked by Gen. Prayuth and other junta leaders last month. "You must refrain from putting my photo on the streets."

The Twelve Values, bestowed by Gen. Prayuth to Thai children in July, are the following: 

1. Loyalty to the Nation, the Religion, and the Monarchy

2. Honesty, sacrifice, endurance, and noble ideology for the greater good

3. Gratitude for parents, guardians, and teachers

4. Diligence in acquiring knowledge, via school studies and other methods

5. Preserving the Thai customs and tradition

6. Morality and good will for others

7. Correct understanding of democracy with the King as Head of State

8. Discipline, respect for law, and obedience to the older citizens

9. Constant consciousness to practice good deeds all the time, as taught by His Majesty the King

10. Practice of Self-Sufficient Economy in accordance with the teaching of His Majesty the King

11. Physical and mental strength. Refusal to surrender to religious sins.

12. Uphold the interest of the nation over oneself.

Gen. Prayuth's request came amid a spike in foreign media reports  painting the junta chairman as an increasingly idiosyncratic and authoritarian ruler. 

Gen. Prayuth, who is also commander-in-chief of the Thai army, led the coup on 22 May and was chosen as Prime Minister – he was the sole candidate – by a puppet parliament last month. He also retained his seat as chairman of the junta's governing body, the National Council for Peace and Order (NCPO), which grants him supreme power over the interim government. 

Banners and posters bearing Gen. Prayuth's image have been placed around public places in Thailand since the military junta took power on 22 May. Photos of Gen. Prayuth and other members of the NCPO are also depicted on state-owned TV channels whenever the junta leader makes a televised speech. 

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BANGKOK — Thai authorities are in the early stages of producing a film that will lure tourists to Thailand, following the recommendation of junta chairman and Prime Minister Prayuth Chan-ocha.

"We are going to produce a film,” Gen. Prayuth told told the National Legislative Assembly (NLA) in a speech yesterday. “The Ministry of Social Development and Human Security will make a film like Lost in Bangkok.”

Gen. Prayuth appeared to be referencing Lost in Thailand, a Chinese comedy that was filmed in northern Thailand and reportedly attracted a significant number of Chinese tourists to the region. 

"The film will lead tourists to visit Thailand," Gen. Prayuth said. "They will fall in love and have a crush on each other during their travel [in Thailand]."

He added, "Right now we already have the main actor and the main actress. We are still looking for the father of the main actor, and the uncle. Please send your applications to the Ministry of SDHS."

Observers were initially uncertain whether Gen. Prayuth was making a friendly joke; the general frequently veers off official transcripts during his speeches. 

Gen. Prayuth, who also serves as the head of the junta's National Council for Peace and Order (NCPO), added that he wants Thai people to watch less soap operas and read more in order to increase their knowledge and "vision."

Pol.Gen. Adul Saengsingkaew, Minister of Social Development and Human Security, confirmed yesterday that officials have already started a discussion about Gen. Prayuth's film proposal. 

The movie will likely be co-produced by the SDHS and Ministry of Culture, Pol.Gen. Adul said. He gave no other information, but mentioned that the working title of the film is "Lost in Bangkok."

Last month, Gen. Prayuth urged the Ministry of Culture to make a film that will "inspire" foreign tourists to visit Thailand. 

He said hoped the the movie would reinvigorate the Kingdom's tourism industry, which was devastated by six months of deadly political protests prior to the military takeover on 22 May.

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