Govt told to transfer officials suspected in Lahu teen’s killing

SEVERAL organisations yesterday demanded that officials involved in the alleged extrajudicial killing of a young Lahu activist be immediately transferred out of the area to prevent any intimidation of witnesses.
The demand was made via a joint statement released by the Cross-Cultural Foundation, the Centre for Protection and Revival of Community Rights, and the Human Rights Lawyers Association.
The statement added that either the Rights and Liberties Protection Department or the National Human Rights Commission should ensure the protection of witnesses so that they can testify without fear about what actually happened.
In addition, the statement emphasised that senior officials should not interfere in the investigation into the extrajudicial killing either openly or secretly.
Chaiyapoom Pasae, a “role-model” teenager, was shot dead at a military checkpoint in Chiang Mai’s Chiang Dao district on March 17 under murky circumstances. Witnesses and soldiers have given conflicting information on what actually happened.
Preeda Nakpiew, a lawyer from the Cross-Cultural Foundation, told The Nation yesterday that at this point his team had difficulty accessing some information related to the case, especially as some witnesses were worried about speaking about local officials.
“So, we now have to focus on hard evidence,” he said.
Chaiyapoom was the second hilltribe victim of extrajudicial killings in the North since the middle of last month.
Sumitchai Hattasarn, who heads the legal team for Chaiyapoom’s family, emphasised yesterday that Chaiyapoom – just like Abe sae Moo, a Lisu man – was accused of trying to hurl a hand grenade against officials to resist arrest.
“And just like Abe, he is accused of drug offences,” he said.
Abe’s family has already lodged a complaint with the government’s complaint receiving centre in Chiang Mai and is waiting for justice.
“Now, my team will look into the extrajudicial killing of Chaiyapoom. We will examine autopsy results and we will consult experts to determine whether the projectile trajectory and other evidence matched what the soldiers claimed,” Sumitchai said. Preeda is in his team.
The team is seeking justice for Chaiyapoom, who was accused by soldiers of resisting their operation at a checkpoint with a knife and hand grenade and of engaging in illicit drug trade. People in Chaiyapoom’s close circle described him as a role-model teenager and a young activist for good causes.
Preeda said state officials should stop defaming Chaiyapoom.
“Police had better check as to whether the shooting of Chaiyapoom was reasonable,” he said.
His team has not been able to meet Phongsanai Saengtala who has been in custody and is a key witness in the Chaiyapoom case.
Chaiyapoom was with Phongsanai when his car was stopped at the military checkpoint on March 17. It is believed Phongsanai knows what really happened.
According to Sumitchai, lawyers for Chaiyapoom could not reach Phongsanai because his family |was still reluctant to grant |access.
“We have been trying to reach him all along but his family has still not given the authorisation,” Sumitchai said.
Phongsanai and Chaiyapoom were school friends.
National police commissioner Pol General Chakthip Chaijinda said he had not given any special instructions in the Chaiyapoom case, because officials involved would proceed in line with the legal process.
“There were many similar cases before too,” he added.
Chakthip said he had not yet watched the CCTV footage about Chaiyapoom’s killing.
On Tuesday, Army chief General Chalermchai Sittisart said he had watched the clip but did not think it provided clear answers to questions that the public might have about Chaiyapoom’s death.