BANGKOK (DPA) — Thailand deported 90 ethnic Uighurs to China, officials said Thursday, amid a spat between Turkey and China over where they should be sent and their treatment by Chinese authorities.

The Uighurs were deported "as per protocol" after Thai authorities identified their country of origin, government spokesman Weerachon Sukondhapatipak told reporters.

The spokesman confirmed that 173 Uighurs were deported to Turkey a week ago, and that after the latest deportation a few more remained in custody as their country of origin had not yet been determined.

The Uighurs, previously held in Thai immigration detention centres for illegally entering the country, have been at the centre of a tug of war between China and Turkey who both claim to be their country of origin. 

Turkey's Foreign Minstry welcomed the Muslim Uighur arrivals as "brothers," while Uighurs say they face discrimination and persecution by the authorities in China.

The Thai consulate in Istanbul was attacked late Wednesday by groups protesting the Uighur's possible deportation to China, the Thai Ministry of Foreign Affairs said.

Protesters broke into the consulate building, smashed windows and lowered the Thai flag before being dispersed by police.

The ministry released a statement on Thursday on Twitter warning Thais in Turkey to be on alert after the attacks. 

Earlier this week, Beijing issued a travel warning for Turkey after a string of xenophobic incidents against Chinese targets.

The World Uighur Congress, an umbrella organization for the Uighur diaspora, criticized the "covert, and indeed heinous, operation" by Thailand.

The group had warned that the ethnic Muslim Uighurs would face "criminal allegations" and "heavy-handed" punishment in China.

SURAT THANI — The two Burmese men accused of brutally murdering two British tourists on the island of Koh Tao last year insisted on their innocence in letters written to the public on the first day of their highly anticipated trial.

Zaw Lin and Wai Phyo, both 22, have been charged with murder, rape, and theft over the deaths of British travelers David Miller, 24, and Hannah Witheridge, 23, on Haat Sai Ri beach in the early morning of 15 September 2014.

According to police, the two suspects raped Witheridge, killed her and Miller, and stole one of their mobile phones. They have been held in prison since their arrest, and face the death penalty if convicted. 

The trial began today with a cross-examination of four witnesses, including a policeman who was among the first to find the bodies, and a doctor who reportedly examined the victims soon after they were found.

Outside of the courtroom, a representative from the Migrant Worker Rights Network (MWRN), one of the NGOs assisting the two Burmese suspects, read a letter written in Burmese by Wai Phyo in which he described his year in prison as "torture."

"I thank people around the world for donating their money to help us fight this case," the letter said. "I insist that I did not kill or rape the British tourists, and I am not involved in what happened. So, I very much hope that I will have justice. Putting me in prison even though I did not do anything wrong is torture, and it is restriction of my freedom. Right now I miss my parents in Myanmar a lot. I thank everyone who has been helping my parents." 

"I am not involved in this case or what has happened. I would like to thank those who support us and care for us. I very much hope that I will have justice. God knows what the truth is. I hope I will be freed soon."

Letters written in Burmese by Zaw Lin and Wai Phyo and read to reporters on the first day of their trial, 8 July 2015.

The two men initially confessed to the crime after they were arrested and interrogated by police without a lawyer in October 2014, but later retracted their confessions and accused police of torture. Rights groups also expressed concern that the pair was used as scapegoats after a clumsy police investigation appeared to reach a dead end. Police have vehemently denied both allegations, and insisted that they have convincing forensic evidence that implicates the two suspects. 

Speaking outside the court today, Nakhon Chomphuchat, the suspects' lawyer, said his legal team believes there is a "disparity" between the evidence the prosecutors are presenting in the court and the evidence that his team has obtained from the UK. He declined to provide further details.

"I aim to bring fairness to all sides, and to reveal the truth," Nakhon said, adding that he has full confidence in the Thai court's ability to oversee a fair trial in this case. 

At the trial today, a representative from the British Embassy in Thailand distributed statements written by relatives of Miller and Witheridge.

"Over the coming weeks we hope to gain a better understanding as to how such a wonderful young man lost his life in such idyllic surroundings in such a horrible way," the statement from Miller's family said.

Witheridge's relatives wrote, "Hannah was a beautiful person, inside and out, she brought a room alive just being there. She was fun, honest and loved life. Her bright future was brutally ended, leaving those who loved her broken with no answers. We ask that the media treat Hannah with dignity in their reporting of the trial."

CORRECTION: The defendants' lawyer, Nakhon Chomphuchat, told reporters his team acquired new evidence from the United Kingdom, but did not specify that the evidence was provided by British police, as was originally reported.

BANGKOK — Speaking to a group of young Thais who were raised abroad, junta chairman Gen. Prayuth Chan-ocha stressed the importance of revering the Thai king, who he described as a "deity" that never interferes in politics.

Gen. Prayuth was speaking to 37 children and teenagers who were raised in America and invited by the government to visit Thailand and learn about its culture.

In the speech, the general explained that the Thai monarchy is "unique" and needs the special protection of the Kingdom’s lese majeste law, Section 112 of the Thai Criminal Codes, which punishes criticism of the royal family with up to 15 years in prison.

Gen. Prayuth, who came to power by staging a coup d'etat against an elected government on 22 May 2014, also told his young audience that he would return democracy to Thailand after a new constitution is approved in a referendum, which is set to take place in January of next year. 

The following is an excerpt from his speech, which he delivered at the Government House this morning during an event titled "Young Thais in America Visiting the Motherland":

"I want you, young people, to think about the monarchy of Thailand, which has provided spiritual guidance for the entire nation for a long time, unlike any other nation. In the past, everything was initiated by the monarchs, be it railways, waterworks, or other things. And then, a government was set up to continue the works. But an important thing that many groups try to do is to compare our monarchy with other nations. This cannot be done, because our [monarchy] has a long, ancient history. They [Thai monarchs] are like deities. Our King is not involved with anyone. He is above all disputes. 

When someone violates him, we need to use Section 112 of the Criminal Codes, which is like a libel law, because whenever someone insults us, we can sue them, but if it's the monarchy, [the royal family] cannot sue them. This is because His Majesty is not involved with anyone, and he is under the constitution, and under every law that the government has created to protect him. Yet, people see it as human rights issue. 

Let me ask you: if someone insults your father, would you give in? We wouldn't. But if it happens to our parents, they can sue. But since His Majesty the King is not involved, he cannot sue, and who would take care of him? Thai people have to. Whoever doesn't understand this is not a Thai. They are awful. This is a sensitive matter. I would like to ask the audience to explain that the monarchy of Thailand is not like the monarchy in any other country. 

It's like our democracy. It's kind of hard to achieve, so it will be hard for people to forget about it, too. If it could be achieved too easily, it wouldn’t work because people wouldn't know what the laws are. That cannot be done. I ask you, are we going to be American model [of democracy]? No. Let's take a look at America … Their [democracy] was born before ours. They reformed their country before we did. They abolished slavery many years ago. I am not saying anything bad about them, because I believe that our country is our country. We have to respect each other. 

Today they don't touch me much. They only want us to have an election, which I already explained would follow the road map. The [interim] constitution explains the timeline, and I will not amend it. Anything [the people] want me to fix or do for them, I do for them. If they want a referendum, I let them have it. Elections will be held only if the [new] constitution passes the NRC [National Reform Council] and then the referendum. And the time will be extended for two months, and we will need to write organic laws for the constitution. This is all in accordance with normal procedures. Yet they accuse me of wanting to stay in power. I ask you, can it be done? Whatever the law and the rules say, it has to be that way."

The junta chairman also asked the children to be careful when they read news on social media, and urged them to be special ambassadors who spread goodwill and understanding about Thailand among foreigners.