Migrants' arrest sparks concern
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MIGRANT ORGANISATIONS are pressing the Myanmar Embassy in Bangkok to protect the rights of young migrants arrested recently over the murder of a Thai girl.
Min Oo, a representative of the Foundation for Education and Development (FED), said there were questions concerning Thai police procedures. Thai police, meanwhile, insist they have found solid evidence against the suspects.
“The crime took place on September 28. Police have spent about 30 days tracking down the victim’s attackers,” Deputy National Police Commissioner Maj-General Chalermkiat Srivorakan said yesterday as he headed to Ranong province, where the brutal murder took place.
The girl died of multiple stab wounds. A re-enactment of the crime yesterday drew a crowd of angry locals, many of whom shouted abuse at the suspects.
The FED is now in the process of collecting details about the case and sending them to the Myanmar embassy.
“The deceased fought her attackers before being killed. The police found clues under her fingernails. They said the clues point to the two suspects and that their DNA matches the evidence. It is questionable that they completed the DNA tests in two days. Did they follow the rules of conducting DNA tests? Are Myanmar workers being exploited?” Min Oo asked.
Two migrant workers – Moe Zin Aung and Kyaw Ye Oo – were arrested on October 20 in connection with the murder in Ranong. Some other Myanmar workers were also taken into police custody.
Sein Htay, chairman of the Myanmar Migrant Worker Rights Network, raised concerns on the rights of the suspects. “The suspects are underage. The police have not let them see their parents since they were arrested. This is a violation of their human rights,” he said.
“The Myanmar government needs to talk to the Thai government about it. They have to pressure the Thai government to act in line with law, allow the suspects to meet their parents, let their lawyers see them and use proficient interpreters in the interrogations and in court.”
Earlier, two Myanmar workers were put on trial for the alleged killing of two British backpackers on Koh Tao. Their lawyers pointed to several problems in the case. The verdict will be heard on December 24.
