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Thailand deaths torture probe call

Hannah Witheridge was brutally murdered together with a fellow tourist in Thailand
08 OCTOBER 2014

A human rights charity has called for an investigation into allegations of torture by police of two men suspected of killing British tourists in Thailand.

The two Burmese workers, whose names were given only as Saw and Win, have been charged with the murder and rape of Hannah Witheridge, 23, and killing David Miller, 24 on the island of Koh Tao on September 15.

They have already been paraded by police at a news conference, which also featured a re-enactment of the brutal crime on the beach where the Britons' bodies were found, and now Amnesty International said a lawyer acting for the accused had been told by one suspect police had tortured him.

The UK-based charity cited the lawyer, from the Burmese embassy legal team, who said he had been told that police had beaten the suspect and "threatened him with electrocution".

The Foreign and Commonwealth Office said it was concerned about the reports and expected a fair investigation.

Thai police, who have come under domestic political pressure to solve the case, deny the allegations and have said they have DNA and CCTV evidence to back up the confessions.

An Amnesty statement also said: "Numerous sources have also reported further acts of torture and other cruel, inhuman and degrading treatment of other migrant workersfrom Burma arrested by police in connection with the investigation. According to reports, police officers poured boiling water over some of the Burmese migrant workers they were questioning. Others were also beaten and threatened."

Richard Bennett, Amnesty International's Asia-Pacific programme director, said: " The Thai authorities must initiate an independent, effective and transparent investigation into mounting allegations of torture and other ill-treatment by police.

"The pressure to be seen to be solving an appalling crime that has garnered considerable attention should not result in the violation of rights, including to a fair trial.

"Authorities should provide protection from threats and acts of retaliation to anyone, regardless of their immigration status, reporting or speaking about torture or ill-treatment, and full redress to victims.

http://www.belfasttelegraph.co.uk/news/local-national/uk/thailand-deaths-torture-probe-call-30647766.html
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