Thai PM apologises for ‘bikini’ insult
Thailand’s Prime Minister Prayuth Chan-ocha has made an official apology for inappropriate remarks he made following the murders of two British tourists in Koh Tao.
He suggested that tourists in bikinis were vulnerable to attack, unless they were unattractive.
"They [tourists] think our country is beautiful and is safe so they can do whatever they want, they can wear bikinis and walk everywhere," he was quoted as saying to government officials.
"Can they be safe in bikinis … unless they are not beautiful?"
But at a press conference today he apologised for the remarks, saying: "I’m sorry that it hurt people."
Police now believe three people were involved in the murders of Hannah Witheridge, 23, and David Miller, 24, whose bodies were found on a beach in the early hours of Monday.
They said DNA evidence taken from items on the beach, including cigarette butts, suggested there were ‘more than two’ attackers.
Two British men, brothers Christopher and James Ware who were friends of the deceased, were questioned earlier this week but police said there was no evidence linking them to the murder.
They also said that there were no DNA matches for a group of Burmese suspects also being questioned.
Forensic tests carried out on Ms Witheridge’s body found traces of semen from two different men.
Post-mortem examinations showed she died from head wounds and Mr Miller from severe blows to the head and drowning. He also had wounds on his hands, which suggests a struggle had taken place.
Bev
Editor in chief Bev Fearis has been a travel journalist for 25 years. She started her career at Travel Weekly, where she became deputy news editor, before joining Business Traveller as deputy editor and launching the magazine’s website. She has also written travel features, news and expert comment for the Guardian, Observer, Times, Telegraph, Boundless and other consumer titles and was named one of the top 50 UK travel journalists by the Press Gazette.
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