Murderers of British tourist must be put to death: Thaksin
11/1/2006 11:33
Thailand's Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra has called for the
execution of two fishermen if they are convicted of the rape and murder of a
British tourist on Koh Samui, the Bangkok Post reported Wednesday.
"They must
be sentenced to the harshest possible punishment," Thaksin told reporters on
Tuesday in the northeastern town of Loei, where he was traveling.
"They have
caused serious damage to our country's reputation. By giving them the maximum
sentence, it will give remedy to the relatives and the British government and
show that we are taking the case seriously," he was quoted as saying.
The
prime minister expressed confidence the government's efforts to mete out justice
would soothe the victim's grief- stricken family.
Police prepared their case
for prosecutors after the two men were charged Monday with the Jan. 1 rape and
murder of 21-year-old Katherine Horton.
Horton's body was found on Jan. 2 in
the sea off Koh Samui in Surat Thani. She was visiting the country on a short
vacation before her final university exams in Britain.
Tuesday, police flew
the two suspects, Bualoi Phothisit, 23, and Wichai Somkhaoyai, 24, by helicopter
from Koh Samui to Surat Thani police station for interrogation.
"There were
hundreds of Samui residents who rallied and denounced the suspects, whom they
said had damaged the island's reputation," Pol Maj-Gen Santhan Chayanond, deputy
chief of Provincial Police Bureau 8, said.
Bualoi confessed to the murder and
rape charges but Wichai denied he had raped Horton, according to the Bangkok
Post report.
To prevent any more such cases, the police officer said he was
looking to the establishment of one more police station on Koh Samui to better
maintain peace and order.
Xinhua
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