28 December 2015•Update: 28 December 2015
By CS Thana
BANGKOK
Thai officials refused to budge as protests continued Monday over the death sentence handed to two Myanmar migrant workers found guilty of murdering two British tourists after a widely criticized investigation.
Junta leader-cum-Prime Minister Prayuth Chan-Ocha told reporters that all actions must go through proper legal channels.
"They can still appeal the sentence, can't they?" he said. "Why don't you [reporters] raise this much fuss about other cases?"
Police also held a separate conference to reject calls to review investigations into the murder.
Police spokesperson Piyaphan Pingmuang reiterated previous statements and said investigations into the case were carried out professionally and transparently.
He also maintained the integrity of the DNA evidence that led to the convictions, dismissing allegations about its mishandling.
In Myanmar, protests that began after Thursday’s verdict continued with around 400 people congregating at the Three Pagoda Pass on the Thai border.
Thais were warned by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs to avoid all but essential travel to Myanmar.
The Thai embassy in Yangon released a statement saying that its consular section would remain closed Monday through Wednesday due to protests outside the mission, but would continue providing service in emergency cases.
Zaw Lin and Wai Phyo, both 22, were arrested for the killings of David Miller and Hannah Witheridge on the island of Koh Tao last year.
Although both men initially confessed to the crime, they later recanted alleging they had been tortured during interrogation.
Commentators and legal experts have noted discrepancies in the investigation with both the British and Myanmar mission raising questions over the investigation process.
Hundreds of people - including monks and artists - gathered Friday outside the Thai embassy to protest the sentencing.
Among the 500 people present, some lifted signs saying “We ask for justice”, “Stop discrimination against Myanmar nationals” and “Free our citizens”, while others held pictures of Zaw Lin and Wai Phyo.
“We are here just to ask justice for our fellow countrymen,” Khin Hlaing, a famous comedian who joined the protest, told Anadolu Agency.
“The Thai nationals here don’t need to worry about anything as we are just protesting the Thai government and the failure of the Thai judiciary system.”
On Saturday, Myanmar's army chief made a plea on behalf of the men calling for Thais to show clemency as the evidence had not proved beyond reasonable doubt that the men were guilty.
Rights group Amnesty International has expressed it is “deeply concerned” by Thursday’s death sentence while human rights activists have underlined the prejudices they say the case illustrates against migrant workers, who make up the bulk of the workforce in the resorts of southern Thailand.
