Anonymous hackers bring down Thai websites over death sentences handed to ‘killers’ of British tourists
Hacking group shut down Thai judicial websites in protest over the verdicts
Anonymous hackers have attacked hundreds of Thai government websites on Wednesday over death sentences handed down to two migrant workers for the murder of two British tourists.
A court sentenced Myanmar migrant workers Zaw Lin and Win Zaw Htun, both 22, to death on Dec. 24 after finding them guilty of murdering tourists Hannah Witheridge, 23, and David Miller, 24, on a beach on the island of Koh Tao in 2014.
But the investigation drew allegations of police incompetence, torture and mishandling of evidence.
Police rejected the complaints but protests erupted in neighbouring Myanmar after the verdict, with many people there believing the two workers, who denied killing the tourists, were scapegoats.
READ MORE: Myanmar’s army chief asks Thailand to review death sentence for pair accused of murdering British tourists
Some rights workers say they believe police forced the two into confessing under duress. Police denied that.
“Anonymous shuts down all Thai Court of Justice website in protest over the Koh Tao murder verdict. Anonymous is supporting the campaign to ask tourists to boycott Thailand,” the group said.
It also posted a black and white graphic of a man wearing a Guy Fawkes mask, an image associated with the Anonymous movement, with a blindfold over his eyes and the words: “Failed Law. We Want Justice!”
The group listed more than 200 websites it said it shut down.
READ MORE: Thai police hunt British man after backpackers murdered with hoe and left naked on beach
The Civil Court of Thailand’s main website was not immediately accessible but the Courts of Justice website, which the group said it had hacked, was running as normal late on Wednesday.
In an emotionally charged Facebook post on Tuesday, Witheridge’s sister criticised the investigation and the police.
Miller’s family has said it supported the court verdict and the work of the police.
This month, Anonymous, a loose-knit international network of activist hackers, said it was responsible for cyber attacks on Thai police websites in protest against the Koh Tao verdict.
Police confirmed the attacks but said they were not on confidential data. Reuters was unable to verify who carried out the attacks.