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Published on November 29, 2007

Yasuaki, Kawashita's father, said his daughter loved Thailand but had died undeservedly in a country where the people were nice and held the same Buddhist belief as his daughter did.

Speaking through translators, he said: "I cannot comprehend why such a thing has happened to my daughter."

The father pleaded with those who had clues to the murder to come forward and called for speedy action by Thai police to arrest those responsible.

Yasuaki, his wife Eko and son Hiroshi conducted a Buddhist ceremony at the scene where Tomoko's body was found. Escorted by tourist police, they later went to the Old City Guest House where the victim check-ed in when she first arrived in the province, and the Lampang Elephants Conversation Cen-tre, which she visited afterwards.

Police called a meeting of the owners of all guesthouses and tourist lodging services in Sukhothai province to sift through information for possible clues leading to Sunday's murder of the Japanese tourist.

Investigators are also looking for a Japanese man seen together with Kawashita in the Sukhothai Historical Park during a Loy Krathong festival on Saturday to interview him.

A senior police officer had earlier dismissed the unidentified Japanese as a suspect, but sources familiar with the investigation said the man was still being sought.

A Bt10,000 reward has been offered by a senior officer to any policemen who uncovers clues to the murder or arrests the suspect. A thorough search was earlier conducted by a 250-strong force in a 2-km radius around Wat Taphan Hin where Kawashita's body was found on Sunday.

 The Nation