To: The Right Honourable Prime Minister of Canada Stephen Harper
On January 6, 2008, Canadian, Leo John Del Pinto was shot to death in Pai, Thailand, by officer Sgt. Uthai Daechawiwat of the Pai Police Department. Leo Del Pinto was shot once in the face and once in the chest and his Canadian travel companion Carly Reisig, was shot once in the chest and barely survived the incident. Sgt. Uthai Daechawiwat who was off duty at the time, claimed his gun went off accidentally three times, however all forensic information collected and analyzed by the Thai Department of Special Investigations and witness accounts of the incident contradicts an accidential shooting.
The Thai Ambassador to Canada, His Excellency Snanchart Devahastin indicated on January 22, 2008, that the investigation of the death of Leo Del Pinto would be speedy and transparent. To this date the investigation has been conducted by three seperate Thai Government organizations with still no answer.
We as Canadain citizens wish to express our deepest concern regarding the investigation and government response to Leo Del Pinto's death. We as Canadians expect our own governement to be our voice and express our concerns to the Thai government, not only for Leo Del Pinto, but for the safety of all Canadians travelling abroad.
Please do not let this investigation be brushed aside, show Canadians that the Canadian government cares for it's citizens regardless of where their tragedies occur.