The parents’ visa application was delayed by the weekend, he said, adding that they applied on 20th October and will know whether they have received their visa or not at 3 pm. Visas typically take one day to process.

The air tickets have already been arranged.

U Htoo Chit and U Kyaw Thaung from the Foundation for Education and Development and U Tin Htoo Aung will accompany the three parents and one uncle.

The two suspects, Win Zaw Htun and Zaw Lin Oo, both 21, were born in Rakhine State. They were arrested on Koh Tao on October 3 in connection with the murders of British tourists Ms Hannah Witheridge, 23, and Mr David Miller, 24, on the island on 15th September.

Meanwhile, the National Human Rights Commission of Thailand plans to talk to the three Myanmar witnesses who have been released from prison.

Migrant rights activist Andy Hall says he has met and talked with the Myanmar suspects in prison, noting that they appeared to be in good spirits. Mr Hall appealed to the media to respect the confidentiality of discussions between the accused and lawyers and other officials.

He writes in a Facebook post that “the final verdict on the case and guilt or innocence of the two accused will rest with the court appointed judges and not the public or media, based on evaluation of all evidence at the trial.”

Mr Hall has expressed concern that the case has become a media circus, which could jeopardize a fair hearing of the case.