Myanmar leader asks Thai PM for ‘fair’ investigation into tourist murders
Thein Sein has asked the visiting Thai premier General Prayuth Chan-ocha to ensure two suspects from Myanmar in the murder investigation of two British tourists receive a fair trial
Myanmar’s president has asked Thailand’s visiting premier to ensure a “clean and fair” investigation for a pair of Myanmar nationals charged with murdering two British tourists, an official said on Friday.
The comments came after reports the accused were tortured into confessing – an allegation Thailand has strongly denied.
The high-profile murder case was discussed during talks between President Thein Sein and Thai Prime Minister General Prayuth Chan-ocha, who is visiting Myanmar on his first overseas foray since seizing power in a coup.
The charges of murder and rape against the two Myanmar men were filed last week after police said the undocumented migrant workers had confessed to killing the British holidaymakers on the southern Thai island of Koh Tao in September.
But reports in Myanmar and Thai media have said the accused told a lawyer that they confessed to the crime after being tortured, prompting rights groups to demand a probe into their treatment.
“If they are guilty, action should be taken according to the law. However, the investigation needs to be clean and fair,” said Thein Sein during talks with Prayuth in Myanmar’s capital Naypyidaw on Thursday, according to a senior source at the president’s office.
