Indigenous advocacy groups pledge to take action after Lahu activist killed by soldiers

Chaiyapoom Pasae, a 21-year-old civil rights activist from the Lahu ethnic minority, died at the hands of soldiers during a drug-related operation last Friday. 
“We have already appointed a lawyer for this case. We will fight to the end,” Panachai Janta, a coordinator for health security for indigenous people in Thailand, said on Monday. 
Soldiers claimed that Chaiyapoom had refused to stop at a military checkpoint and tried to fight with officials, leading to his shooting. 
The checkpoint was manned as parts of efforts to eradicate the spread of drugs in the area. 
People who knew Chaiyapoom have said there was no reason to suspect that he was involved in illicit activities because he had campaigned against drug use since his childhood. 
Although the activist was stateless, he had a permit to live in Chiang Mai province.