Zaw Bi finally listed as a Thai citizen
A Karen man acquitted in 2004 of shooting up a school bus in Ratchaburi has finally won his fight for Thai citizenship - after three years.
Zaw Bi had his name added to a house registration form in Kaeng Krachan district in Phetchaburi, an official said yesterday.Following evidence checks and witnesses interviews, Kaeng Krachan district chief Chuchat Petchprathumkamol yesterday added Zaw Bi to the household registration of Bang Klob villager Niran Pongthep, with whom he built a shared home, district clerk Mana Bannakan said. This automatically granted Thai citizenship to Zaw Bi, who was born on Thai soil to a Thai mother but had no documentary evidence to prove this. Zaw Bi, a father of four children, went to get his first Thai ID card made yesterday. The authorities would consider granting citizenship for his wife and children later on, the clerk said. The Phetchaburi Governor will hold a press conference on Zaw Bi's case on tomorrow at the City Hall. Zaw Bi became well-known after he was acquitted in March 2004 of controversial murder charges over the shooting of a school bus at Ratchaburi in 2002. Even parents of the victims had said he was innocent.
|
