Luxon won’t intervene in prison case

Jailed Kiwi brothers subject to Thai process

Prime Minister Christopher Luxon said there was “a process that needs to play out here”, regarding his decision not to intervene in the case of two Kiwi brothers imprisoned in Thailand.

Hamish and Oscar Day were arrested in Phuket last month while on holiday after fighting with a police officer and taking his gun.

He said the case was before the courts in Thailand.

Luxon spoke to media from Bangkok, where he touched down for the first dedicated visit to Thailand by a New Zealand Prime Minister since 2013.

He also again defended hosting Myanmar officials in New Zealand for an Asean conference, ahead of his meeting with his Thai counterpart.

Thailand has had many thousands of people fleeing from Myanmar cross the border since Myanmar’s Tatmadaw military carried out a coup in February 2021.

Luxon told reporters the government condemned outright the Myanmar coup and New Zealand was simply following the policy set by Asean.

He said the Asean position was to ensure no political leadership from Myanmar was involved in the conversations “but it is a belief that there is value in having constructive dialogue with officials in particular”, he said.

It was put to him that Australia had refused to allow Myanmar officials at similar Asean meetings.

“Yes, and that’s why I’m saying it’s different, the position within Asean is that the political leadership is not participating,” Luxon said.

He expected the coup and the effects on Thailand would be raised in his discussions with Thai Prime Minister Srettha Thavisin.

“As you know Thailand has a very long border with Myanmar, there’s hundreds of thousands, if not millions, of people that have come into Thailand as a consequence of that. Thailand is managing what is a very difficult situation and I look forward to talking to the prime minister about that.”

Thailand is Southeast Asia’s second largest economy and a manufacturing powerhouse with plenty of opportunity for trade, and New Zealand’s 10th-largest trading partner.

Luxon is hoping to “raise the energy” and reboot an international relationship as part of his trade and tourism-focused charm offensive throughout the region.