Now we have a story about a team of lawyers being appointed to represent the accused Burmese guys. What these lawyers can do is not very clear, other than to advise them of their "rights" under Thai law and monitor things from here on.

What is totally bizarre is how the police could "question" and obtain confessions behind closed doors without any legal representation present on behalf of those accused.

In any civilized country that would render the whole process invalid. Nobody has advised these fellows of their rights, and nobody, apart from the BIB have been allowed anywhere near them.

In any proper court operating under any legitimate rules of law, a first year law student could have the case thrown out in five minutes. This is not the kind of stuff one should expect even from a "developing" country. It seems more in line with 1960ies Haiti under Papa Doc and the TonTon Macoute......