Thai Prime Minister Prayuth Chan-ocha yesterday apologized for comments suggesting tourists in bikinis could be more vulnerable to attack, just days after the murder of two British holidaymakers.
“I’m sorry that it hurt people,” Prayuth said at a hastily convened press conference in Bangkok after Britain raised concerns about the remarks, which have drawn wide condemnation.
“I didn’t intend to insult or criticize anyone. I just warned that sometimes people have to be careful ... today Thailand is safe except there are some bad guys — like anywhere in the world,” he said.
Photo: AFP
The battered bodies of David Miller, 24, and Hannah Witheridge, 23, were found on Koh Tao on Monday.
Distraught relatives of Witheridge broke down in tears and hugged each other ahead of a police briefing in Bangkok yesterday, as the investigation continued to draw a blank.
“They think our country is beautiful and is safe so they can do whatever they want, they can wear bikinis and walk everywhere,” Prayuth told government officials on Wednesday.
However, “can they be safe in bikinis ... unless they are not beautiful?” he said.
The British embassy in Bangkok said it had contacted the Thai Ministry of Foreign Affairs to ask “for clarification,” according to an embassy statement.
Prayuth’s off-the-cuff comments echoed others made to reporters on Tuesday questioning the behavior of the murdered Britons as well as the perpetrators.
John Sifton, Asia Advocacy director at Human Rights Watch, branded the comments “demeaning.”
Speaking before Prayuth issued his apology, Sifton said: “Prime Minister Prayuth’s off the cuff remark unfortunately implies that women victims of violent crimes are somehow responsible for the abuse they suffered because of what they were wearing.”
“This sort of statement demeans women — and if that was not his intent, then he should issue a statement clarifying matters,” Sifton said.
Police yesterday continued their hunt for clues on the small, normally laid-back diving island of Koh Tao as post-mortem examinations of the victims’ bodies in Bangkok did not find any DNA links to 12 people they have questioned so far.
Those include two of Miller’s British friends who were asked to stay in Bangkok pending the forensic results — and several Burmese migrant workers.
The British men were now “free to return home,” regional police commander Panya Maman said.
Experts tested traces of semen and a hair found at the crime scene but could not find a match.
With no arrests and an apparent lack of new leads, it is unclear where the police investigation can turn after nearly four days scouring sparsely populated Koh Tao.
The governor of Surat Thani Province — which covers Koh Tao — said the island would no longer host spin-off parties of the “full moon” beach raves that draw backpacking hordes to Koh Phangan.
“We don’t want any more crimes,” Governor Chatpong Chatraphuti said, adding hotels and resorts would have to install new security cameras and lighting.
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