Cardinal Bo to Thai Church: Do what you can to save the two Burmese sentenced to death
Yangon (AsiaNews) – Protests are mounting in Myanmar over the death sentence, imposed in recent days in Thailand, against two Burmese migrant workers considered responsible for the murder of two British tourists in September 2014.
The Thai embassy in Naypyidaw has decided to remain closed throughout the week, in the context of "unexpected and prolonged" protests. Archbishop of Yangon, Card. Charles Maung Bo has also intervened writing a short letter to the Apostolic Nuncio in Thailand. In it the bishop asks the papal representative in Bangkok to get involved personally in the matter and find a solution to save the lives of two Burmese citizens.
A copy of the letter was sent to AsiaNews and in addition to the Apostolic Nuncio it is also addressed to the president of the Thai episcopal conference and the cardinal of Bangkok. In the letter the archbishop of Yangon addresses the "special request" to them to do "everything they can for this case ". "Many Burmese citizens - he adds - harbor a feeling of hatred and revenge".
The cardinal is concerned that the case could "lead to unfortunate consequences" in the context of good relations between the two countries and that there may be "better solutions". "It is my deep desire – he concludes - that there is peace, development and good relations" between Thailand and Myanmar.
Last week, in the days leading up to Christmas, Win Zaw Htun and Zaw Lin (pictured) were sentenced to death for the assassination last year of a British couple, David Miller and his girlfriend Hannah Witheridge.
The Thai police rejects charges of having forced a confession and guilty plea from the two defendants. However, dissatisfaction with the conduct of investigations and the related process is growing in Myanmar and many believe that the confession to the murder was not at all spontaneous and truthful, but the result of violence.
In addition, the two immigrant workers were used as scapegoats by the judiciary and prosecutors unable to identify the real culprits. The fact remains that after the initial (forced) of guilt admission, the two men have repeatedly denied any involvement in the murder and withdrew the confession.
Yesterday hundreds of Burmese citizens, including Buddhist monks took to the streets to protest against the sentence. Local sources say the Thai authorities have asked the Burmese government to "contain" the demonstrations. Events also took place along the border between the two countries, in the area of the three pagodas in Kanchanaburi province.
The first demonstrations were recorded in the hours following the publication of the judgment, before the Thai diplomatic consulate in Yangon and continued in the following days, later spreadng to other towns of Thailand held by migrant workers from Myanmar.
Recently, the powerful chief of the Burmese army, Gen. Min Aung Hlaing, called for a retrial; in response, the Thai prime minister, Gen. Prayuth Chan-ocha - former army chief and head of the junta that led the bloodless coup last year - says the trial meets the standards of international justice and the two accused have the right to appeal.
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24/11/2016 15:39
16/09/2017 10:37
