Thais in Myanmar warned to take precautions, keep low profile

BANGKOK, December 25 (TNA) - The Thai Embassy in Yangon advises Thai people to take precautions and keep a low profile not to show publicly their Thai identity, as the death sentence of two Myanmar migrant workers on the murder of two British tourists by a Thai court on December 24 has caused local frustration. The repercussion of Thursday's ruling by the Samui provincial court in Thailand's southern resort Surat Thani Province has grown through social media among Myanmar people and a demonstration was set in front of the Thai Embassy to Myanmar on December 25. Therefore, the Thai Embassy in Yangon has issued a statement, warning Thai people in Myanmar to keep a low profile and take precautions during their trips, stressing that it will keep informing Thais of updates. Thai Ambassador to Myanmar Chainarong Keratiyutwong told Thai News Agency (TNA) on phone that the warning was a safety-first measure, but he did not think there would be any violent incident. The top Thai envoy assessed that a demonstration in front of the Thai Embassy in Yangon should only be a symbolic movement, as Myanmar people appear to call for fair trial and have no ill intention towards Thai people. "There are now about 1,200 Thai people in Myanmar and there has been no sign of any untoward incident. It is also the high tourism season in Myanmar and Thai tourists are arriving there as usual", said the Thai ambassador. The Samui provincial court sentenced the two Myanmar migrant workers, Zaw Lin and Win Zaw Tun, both aged 22, to death for murdering two British tourists, David Miller and Hannah Witheridge, both 24 years old, on Sai Ree Beach of Tao Island in Surat Thani's Koh Pha-ngan District on September 15, 2014. Win Zaw Tun was also found guilty of illegal immigration. (TNA)