Hacker group Anonymous has released a blistering video scolding Thai authorities over death sentences handed down to two Burmese migrant workers convicted of murdering British tourists Hannah Witheridge and David Miller on Koh Tao island in September 2014.
In the 40-minute video posted on Sunday, the group accuses the Thai police of “scapegoating” 22-year-old Zaw Lin and Win Zaw Htun [they used his alias Wai Phyo] in an attempt to protect the country’s lucrative tourism industry. The authorities have consistently denied any wrongdoing.
The two Myanmar nationals were found guilty of the murders on Christmas Eve after a trial riddled with accusations of incompetence and interference. They were also both convicted of raping Witheridge.
Anonymous, known for cyber attacks on governments and corporations, called on tourists to boycott Thailand until changes are made to the way local authorities handle the deaths of foreigners.
“Anonymous has been watching this case because of the large amount of online supporters for two Burmese migrants over social media, with many users and bloggers all suggesting on blogs and forums that they have been used by the Thai police as scapegoats,” the video says.
Hundreds of Myanmar nationals have protested outside the Thai embassy in Yangon and the defendants’ lawyers said they would appeal the verdict. Relations between the two countries have appeared tense but no serious fallout has occurred.
The trial and investigation raised numerous concerns cited in Anonymous’ video. There were claims the defendants were tortured into confessing. Thailand’s top forensic investigator said DNA evidence on a garden hoe said to have been used in the murders did not match the migrant workers’.
See the video below:
