Protesters Call for Fair Trial of Myanmar Suspects in Murder of British Tourists

Originally appeared in Mizzima

October 10, 2014

A small crowd of protesters took to the streets of Yangon on the occasion of the Thai premier’s visit to demonstrate on behalf of the two Myanmar migrant workers accused of murdering two British tourists on the Thai holiday island of Koh Tao.

Nay Myo Zin, a former military captain and political prisoner organized the demonstration in front of Yangon City Hall between 8 and 9 am October 10 to call for a free and fair trial by the Thai authorities of Myanmar nationals Zaw Lin and Win Zaw Htun, both 21.

The two are accused of murdering Hannah Witheridge, 23, and, David Miller, 24, on a beach on September 15. Concerns have been voiced by rights groups and in the media that the two suspects may have been coerced into confessing and questions have been raised about the method of investigation and the evidence.

The 10 demonstrators were refused a request by the local authorities to protest outside the Thai embassy but were allowed to gather outside Yangon City Hall.

The protest was timed to coincide with the two-day visit of Thai Prime Minister Prayuth Chan-ocha to Myanmar who arrived with his wife on October 9 in Nay Pyi Taw. On the Yangon leg of their visit, the Thai PM visited Shwedagon Pagoda and his wife went to Yangon University of Foreign Languages for the opening of a Thai Study Centre.

View the original article here.

Tags: Arrest, Burma Government, Justice, Migrant Workers, Nay Myo Zin, Royal Thai Government, Thai Prime Minister Prayuth Chan-ocha, UK

This post is in: People's Voices

Protesters Call for Fair Trial of Myanmar Suspects in Murder of British Tourists

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