Heartbroken and powerless, the mothers of the two migrant workers who were convicted and sentenced to death by the Thai court for the murder of two British tourists have submitted a petition to State Counselor Aung San Suu Kyi, pleading for her help in saving their sons.
“My son is innocent. The real culprits weren’t apprehended, but they gave my innocent son the death penalty — please help me with this. I would be able to handle it [the sentence] if he actually were guilty. They submitted an appeal but it was rejected. My dear son is about to die, so I would like to ask for an intervention as quickly as possible,” said Win Zaw Tun’s mother May Thein, as quoted by 7Day.
Zaw Lin’s mother Phyu Shwe Nu reiterated, “I want to ask your assistance in freeing them.”
Kyaw Aye Maung, an aide in the case, explained, “This latest appeal [in the case] will be submitted to the highest court. The [Myanmar] government needs to step in because the situation is urgent. The kids’ mothers are incredibly distraught, which is why we’ve submitted this petition.”
An Irrawaddy article from last Friday quoted Presidential spokesperson Zaw Htay as saying that the government was “worried about them [Win Zaw Tun and Zaw Lin]” and that they would “do everything in our power to help.” He also added that Suu Kyi was “saddened by the news…of the appeal court’s rejection.”
According to Zaw Htay, local government authorities have reached out to the Myanmar Embassy in Thailand, and representatives from the embassy are scheduled to visit the men this coming Friday (March 10).
Win Zaw Tun and Zaw Lin were accused and convicted of the murder of two British backpackers on the island of Koh Tao. However, the “bungled” handling of the case has received international criticism as investigators have been accused of overlooking and improperly handling key pieces of evidence.
Following the appeal court’s decision on March 1 to uphold the death sentence, the men’s lawyers filed another appeal with Thailand’s highest court, the Supreme Court. Should their appeal fail in the Supreme Court as well, the team is planning to submit a petition arguing the men’s innocence to the King of Thailand.
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