The
Thai charge d’affaires has been summoned to the UK Foreign Office over
concerns about the inquiry into the murders of two British tourists.
Hannah Witheridge, 23, and 24-year-old David Miller were killed in an attack on the island of Koh Tao last month.
Foreign Office minister Hugo Swire told the diplomat there was “concern” about how the investigation had been handled.
Two Burmese workers are said to have confessed to killing the pair, who were discovered on a beach on 15 September.
Police in Thailand have denied subsequent reports that the two men had withdrawn their confessions.
Post-mortem
examinations found Mr Miller, from Jersey, died from drowning and a
blow to the head, while Miss Witheridge, from Great Yarmouth, died from
head wounds.
The Foreign and Commonwealth Office (FCO) said the
summons of Nadhavathna Krishnamra on Monday followed a call made by Mr
Swire to Thailand’s deputy prime minister and foreign minister earlier
this month.In a statement, the FCO said: “Mr Swire stressed that there was a real concern in the UK about how the investigation has been handled by the Thai authorities.
“He said that it was crucial for the investigation to be conducted in a fair and transparent way.”
