The parents of the two Myanmar suspects in the murders of two British tourists on the Thai island of Koh Tao are being helped by the Myanmar government to obtain passports and visas for a trip to Thailand to visit their sons.
The parents of the two suspects are currently in Yangon and the Myanmar Embassy in Thailand will handle security matters for them, said U Htoo Chit, chairman of the Foundation for Education and Development on October 14.
U Tun Tun Htike and Daw May Thein, parents of suspect Ko Win Zaw Htun, 21, and Daw Phyu Shwe Nu, the mother and U Thein Shwe Aung, the uncle of suspect Ko Zaw Lin Oo, 21, will visit Thailand for a month with the help of the Myanmar embassy, the Foundation for Education and Development (FED) and the Myanmar Association Thailand.
Rakhine Ethnic Affairs Minister U Zaw Aye Maung said at a press conference held in the Myanmar Journalist Network office in Yangon that the Myanmar government was helping with passports and visas for the parents of the men.
"They are at the passport office and as soon as they obtain the visa they will go to Thailand,” said U Zaw Aye Maung October 14. He said he had called on the government office to provide passports within a day and he was hopeful that this would be possible.
On arrival in Bangkok, the parents will stay at the Myanmar Embassy and all related travel plans are the responsibility of the embassy, U Htoo Chit said.
We are working at helping the parents meet their sons at court and at any other venue that can be arranged, he said.
Britons Ms Hannah Witheridge, 23, and Mr David Miller, 24, were found murdered on a beach on Koh Tao September 15.
The Thai police have interviewed and interrogated several suspects in the case. Myanmar suspects Ko Win Zaw Tun and Ko Zaw Lin Oo were arrested on October 3. Questions have been raised by rights groups over the handling of the case.
U Tun Tun Hteik, the father of Ko Win Zaw Htun, earlier told Mizzima that he did not believe his son would commit murder.
