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Akha Chronicles
Book 1: Maesai
Chapter 33: The 1503 UN Filing
The 1503 cases which we filed
with the UN.
These cases were filed on the
behalf of families which requested the assistance.
Over the years I
did all in my power to try and figure out how to help and protect the Akha from
exploitation and abuse. In the case of severe abuse I looked for ways in
which I could involve the international community.
With the help of
legal advice I was able to file a 1503 Human Rights complaint with the
UNOHCHR in Geneva.
I downloaded their
form off the internet and filled in the required details carefully. In my
truck I carried logs where I recorded all the crucial details that families
gave me of the beatings, torture or killing of their family members by the
police or army. In some cases the family member disappeared, in other cases a
body was found.
However it was
only in the last of my years in Thailand where the Akha began telling me of
these cases as the abuse appeared on one hand to be getting worse under the
US mandated and funded drug war and on the other hand the increasing
mobilization of the Akhas.
Had I access to
all the villages, known the language earlier, since the early 90’s, the
number of cases would have been much higher that I would have been able to
record. I had become an activist and documenter of these events, and once I
learned the process and realized how wide
spread they were, the
numbers added up quickly. As well the Akha increasingly came to my house and requested
that I make out a report on their behalf and document the events that had
occurred in their village.
These are some of
the cases I filed and I will add to them the background and stories that go
along.
These cases were
accepted at the UN. The officers in charge stated that it was a very serious
case. The Thais were notified and due to the detail I provided could not deny
that these cases existed.
I was deported
from Thailand
within a couple of months of filing these cases. I followed up on these cases
by going to the UNOHCHR office at Palais Wilson in Geneva and discussing the case.
If it is a drug
war, then these are war crimes, and the US for one, should not escape
guilt any more than The Thais in that they funded the drug war.
Note:
Josh Cooper is very knowledgeable about this and other docs with the
UN, etc
We have filed a number of 1503 cases with the UN.
Press
Release:
Contact:
Matthew McDaniel
akhalife@gmail.com
For Immediate
Release
January 24, 2002
Akha Hill
Tribe Alleges Human Rights Violation by Thailand in UN Petition
A petition has been
filed with the United Nations Human Rights Commission on behalf of a
Southeast Asian
hill tribe, the Akha, detailing repeated incidences of summary execution by
Thai military and police, torture,
denial of due process, and discrimination. The Akha who are generally looked
down upon by Thais have been
caught up in cross border warfare on the Thai-Burmese frontier between
various political factions, drug gangs
and the military.
The Akha who are
facing grave challenges due to forced village relocation policy by the Thai
government and
depredations by Christian missionaries are in danger of losing their culture,
way of life, and ultimately their
identity. The Akha are scattered through out Thailand,
Burma, China, and Laos
and have been credited with
saving the lives of downed US
airman during the Vietnam
conflict. Ironically, the United
States has paid back
their help by pouring money into the Thai drug war in which corrupt police
officials shake down, rob, and
murder Akha villagers under guise of the ‘War on Drugs.’
According to the
petitioners, tribal advocate, Matthew McDaniel and attorney Jonathan Levy,
the UN petition
is just the beginning of a last ditch effort by the Akha to assert themselves
in their struggle to survive. An action
against Christian missionaries who remove Akha children from their families
is planned.
Letter of
Petition:
37 Royal Pointe Dr.
Hilton Head Island, SC
29926 USA
Tel/Fax 202-318-2406
December 26, 2002
The Human
Rights Commission
c/o Centre for Human Rights
United Nations Office
8-14 avenue de la Paix
1211 Geneva 10, Switzerland
Re: Akha
People v. Thailand,
Resolution 1235 Petition
Dear Sir/Madam:
Enclosed please find
our petition and supporting reports.
Respectfully yours,
Jonathan Levy
Attorney for the Petitioners
PETITION
CONCERNING THE AKHA PEOPLE
VS. THAILAND
PRESENTED TO
THE UNITED NATIONS
HURMAN RIGHTS COMMISSION
PURSUANT TO RESOLUTION 1235
ON BEHALF OF THE AKHA PEOPLE
BY
MATTHEW MCDANIEL
TRIBAL ADVOCATE
JONATHAN LEVY
ATTORNEY
Address response to:
JONATHAN LEVY, ESQ.
37 Royal Pointe Dr.
Hilton Head Island, SC 29926 USA
TEL 202-318-2406
FAX 202-318-2406
INTRODUCTION
TO PETITION
The Akha are a
Southeast Asian hilltribe of Tibetan origin now scattered through Myanmar, Thailand,
Laos and China. The
Akha are relative newcomers to Thailand,
many having fled the perpetual unrest and
decades long civil war in Myanmar. They make up a unique
racial, linguistic, religious, and cultural nationality
within Thailand.
Few have been granted Thai citizenship, and most are registered aliens. In
Thailand the Akha
have been caught up in a low level internal conflict involving the drug trade
in which they are victimized by both
police and armed gangs. In addition, a cross border conflict between Myanmar, Thailand and various insurgent
groups i.e. Wa Army, have produced further bloodshed. The Thai government in
particular through a policy of
village relocation and cultural destruction has decimated the Akha people. Routine
and pervasive violations of
human rights by the Thai authorities are documented in the attached report by
Matthew McDaniel, an on the
site advocate for the Akha people, with both official and tribal ties to
them.
The Akha have been
unable to meaningfully address their issues with the Thai government due to
their
second-class political status. The situation is both extreme and serious and
without UN intervention, the Akha
as a people may cease to exist.
Serious violations of
the Universal Declaration of Human Rights and International Covenant on Civil
and
Political Rights documented in the attached reports include:
UDHR
Article III ? Deprivations of life, liberty and
security
The Akha have been
summarily executed by Thai authorities for minor crimes. They are often
jailed under
appalling conditions for minor crimes, status crimes, or for the purpose of
extortion and interrogation. The Thai
authorities instead of protecting the Akha from the perditions of cross
border insurgent groups have actually
either placed them in harms way or left them to their own devices.
Article V ? Torture
Akha in the custody
of Thai authorities have been tortured, treated cruelly and inhumanely.
Articles VI, VIII,
IX, X ? The Akha have been denied due process for
their alleged crimes due to their tribal
status. They have been arrested without cause and jailed. The Akha are often
denied access to civil authorities
and their cases dealt with by the military.
Violations of the
ICCPR documented in the attached reports include:
Article VI ? Summary execution of Akha by the military.
Article VII ? Torture
Article IX ? Numerous violations of due process and arbitrary
arrest.
Article X ? Inhumane treatment while in Thai custody.
Only the most serious
violations have been documented and the submitted reports can be considered
representative of a pervasive situation not addressable through other means. The
Akha are a politically
defenseless tribal unit in a notoriously unstable region, the so-called ‘Gold
Triangle’. They are caught between a
drug war and ongoing insurgencies in Myanmar without international
intervention; the prognosis for the Akha is
poor.
The petitioner
requests that this matter be referred to the Sub-Commission on the Promotion
and
Protection of Human Rights for further study and other appropriate action.
Respectfully
submitted,
Jonathan Levy, Esq.
The Petition:
Human Rights
Violations
Against The Akha People
2001- 2002
Thailand
Contents
Case Number
Case Name Page Number
Introduction
Page 1
714 Torture
of Mr. Dah Gkeh Dah Deeh Dvak Dah Veeh Page 3
715 Killing of Mr. Ah Juuh Cheh Mooh Pgae 6
716 Torture of Mr. Ah Dtay Ah Maw Page 9
717 Beating death of Mr. Ah Bah Rgoeuh Zurh Page 12
718 Shooting death of Mr. Loh Guuh Zurh Shaw Page 15
719 Torture and death of Mr. Ah Byeh Page 18
720 Beating and torture of Mr. Ah Dteeh Page 21
721 Beating, burning with fire of Mr. Ah Peeh Page 24
722 Beating of Mr. Ah Zeh Page 27
723 Shooting and beating of Mr. Ah Nyoh Page 30
724 Shooting death of Ms. Meeh Paw Seh Dooh Page 33
725 Robbery and imprisonmentof Mr. Ah Myah Page 36
726 Mr. Jaw Law Dteeh Lahu truck stolen by army Page 39
727 Robbery of Mr. Jah Uuh's truck by army Page 42
728 Robbery of Gold from Mr. Pah Seeh Page 45
729 Robbery of 91,000 baht from Mr. Yah Tooh Page 48
730 Disappearance and execution of Mr. Ah Tsah Page 51
731 Disappearance and execution of Mr. Leeh Cheeh Page 54
732 Disappearance of Pooh Yai Mr. Ah Aw Page 57
733 Robbery of Mr. Yah Goh, Yah Tooh and Ah Dauh Page 60
Note:
In many of
these cases the individuals involved have received death threats, including
the author, from Thai Military Personell for discussing or persuing justice
in these cases.
The Cases
Introduction
and Background
Human Rights Violations
Against The Akha People
I. Information
concerning the author of the communication:
Name:
Matthew Duncan McDaniel
Nationality:
USA
Profession:
Administrator
Date and place of
birth:
April 3, 1958 Ypsilanti, Michigan, USA
Present Address:
Postal Restante
Maesai, Chiangrai 57130
Thailand
Address for exchange
of confidential correspondence:
c/o Jonathan Levy, Esq.
574 Clairmont Woods Dr,
Cincinnati OH 45244
Submitting the
communication as:
(a) Victim of the violation or violations set forth below:
(b) Appointed
representative / legal counsel of the alleged victim(s):
Appointed Representative and family friend of victims.
(c) Other:
If box (c) is marked,
the author should explain:
(i) In what capacity
he is acting on behalf of the victim(s) (e.g. family relationship or other
personal links with the alleged victim(s)):
Family representative and family friend by marriage.
(ii) Why the
victim(s) is (are) unable to submit the communication himself (themselves)
They are either unable to write or dead or missing.
An unrelated third
party having no link to the victim(s) cannot submit a communication on his
(their) behalf.
Akha 1503 Combined Cases
Part I
Human Rights Violations
Against The Akha People
I. Information concerning the author of the communication:
Name:
Matthew Duncan McDaniel
Nationality:
USA
Profession:
Administrator
Date and place of birth:
April 3, 1958 Ypsilanti, Michigan, USA
Present Address:
Postal Restante
Maesai, Chiangrai 57130
Thailand
Address for exchange of confidential correspondence:
c/o Jonathan Levy, Esq.
574 Clairmont Woods Dr,
Cincinnati OH 45244
Submitting the communication as:
(a) Victim of the violation or violations set forth below:
(b) Appointed representative / legal counsel of the alleged victim(s):
Appointed Representative and family friend of victims.
(c) Other:
If box (c) is marked, the author should explain:
(i) In what capacity he is acting on behalf of the victim(s) (e.g.
family relationship or other personal links with the alleged victim(s)):
Family representative and family friend by marriage.
(ii) Why the victim(s) is (are) unable to submit the communication
himself (themselves)
They are either unable to write or dead or missing.
An unrelated third party having no link to the victim(s) cannot submit
a communication on his (their) behalf.
Human Rights Violations
Against the Akha People
Incident Report Form
Incident Number:
714
Brief Description of the nature of the incident:
Beating, imprisonment, torture, electrocution
Police________Army____X____Medical________Other________
Date Today:
Aug 10, 2002
Date of Incident:
Nov 5-7, 2001
II. Information Concerning the Alleged Victim:
Name of Individual:
Dah Gkeh Dah Deeh Dvak Dah Veeh - Father
Laoh Urh Dah Gkeh Dvak Dah Veeh - Son
ID Card Number:
Father: 5-5715-00021-47-1 - Thai Citizen
Age: 50 years Male____x___Female________
Address:
Wan Soh Jah Lit
Mooh T 9, house 4,
Haen Taek, Mae Salong Nai
Ampur (Government Office):
Mae Faluang
Province:
Chiangrai
Country:
Thailand
Contact Info:
At village
Date and place of birth:
1953, Haen Taek, Thailand
Profession:
Mountain farmer
Present Address or Whereabouts:
Same as above.
Locations of Incident:
Maesalong, Chiangrai
At lychee orchard owned by said person.
Som Yaek Army Base, Som Yaek Jct.
Cavalry Unit 241, 4th Army Thai
Other Persons Involved - Witnesses:
Son.
III. State Concerned / Articles Violated / Domestic Remedies
Name of the State party (country) against which the communication is
directed:
Thailand
Steps taken by or on behalf of the alleged victim(s) to exhaust
domestic remedies:
Made case known to local officers of the government, further appeal is futile
and will result in retaliation.
Recourse to the courts or other public authorities:
When and with what results:
There was no investigation
IV. Facts of the claim:
Detailed description of the facts of the alleged violation or violations
(including relevant dates)
On Nov 5 Dah Gkeh and Laoh Urh were clearing weeds in their lychee
orchard at Maesalong and were approached by 20 Thai army soldiers from Som
Yaek 241 unit of the 4th Army. They were taken into custody and accused
of trafficking in speed pills though they had no pills in their possession.
They were taken to Som Yaek Army base.
They were tied and beaten, kicked in the ribs.
They were electrocuted by the ears in order to extract a confession.
Their father was repeatedly beaten with a club on the back of the neck when
his head was pushed forward.
He was kicked in ribs under left up, entire side.
He could speak Thai and was sure if neither he nor his son could speak enough
Thai they both would surely have died.
After three days they were both released and returned to their village.
Author's Signature:__________________________________________________
Human Rights Violations
Against the Akha People
Incident Report Form
Incident Number:
715
Brief Description of the nature of the incident:
Killing of Mr. Ah Juuh Cheh Mooh
Police Army x Medical Other
Date Today:
Aug 10, 2002
Date of Incident:
Dec. 7-9, 2001
Name of Person Reporting:
Mrs. Ah Pyurh Cheh Mooh, wife of deceased.
II. Information Concerning the Alleged Victim:
Name of Individual:
Mr. Ah Juuh Cheh Mooh
ID Card Number:
Hill tribe card (blue) 6-5715-50209-50-1
Age: 37 Male x Female
Address:
Mooh T7
House 29/W
Meh Maw Akha Village (Meh Moh)
Haen Taek District
Ampur (Government Office):
Mae Faluang
Province:
Chiangrai
Country:
Thailand
Contact Info:
Family at Meh Maw Village.
Date and place of birth:
1965, Thailand
Profession:
Mountain Farmer
Present Address or Whereabouts:
Deceased
Locations of Incident:
Meh Maw Army Camp adjacent to Meh Maw village
Other Persons Involved - Witnesses:
Ah Dtay Ah Maw, Meh Maw Akha Village
Arrested same time, also beaten
Was there when Mr. Ah Juuh died
III. State Concerned / Articles Violated / Domestic Remedies
Name of the State party (country) against which the communication is
directed:
Thailand
Steps taken by or on behalf of the alleged victim(s) to exhaust
domestic remedies:
Reported to police and army
Recourse to the courts or other public authorities:
When and with what results:
Army officers were implicated in "wrong doing" for his death,
transferred but not arrested or charged.
IV. Facts of the claim:
Detailed description of the facts of the alleged violation or violations
(including relevant dates)
On Dec 9, 2001 Mr. Ah Juuh Cheh Mooh, an Akha man at Meh Maw Akha village,
was taken by the army along with a number of other Akha men from that village
and from the neighboring village of Bpah Cheeh Akha, to an army base near Meh
Maw (500 meters away) for "voluntary detox" from opium smoking.
They were all thrown in a pit in the ground and had ashes and water poured on
them.
The next day they were taken for interrogation, not detox, and beaten with
fists, boots and rifle butts.
That evening one of the older Akha men was afraid that he would die and
escaped. The next day when this was discovered the army blamed the remaining
Akhas for the escape and badly beat Mr. Ah Juuh and Mr. Ah Dtay.
Mr. Ah Juuh was beaten with rifle butts while blindfolded, his teeth were
knocked out. He was electrocuted all over the body by pressing electric
wires. He began to urinate blood and pass blood from
his anus.
In the early hours of the morning Mr. Ah Juuh who was standing in the pit
began crying out for his mother and fell down dead.
The army soldiers took him out of the pit to Haen Taek
Hospital where an
autopsy was performed.
An hour later, Mr. Ah Dtay was taken to the hospital and a unit of blood
drained out of his lungs.
The army took action on this case only after an article ran in the
Bangkok Post Feb. 21, 2002.
The officers involved were transferred but no criminal charges were
filed.
The officers were from Som Yaek Army Base 4th army battalion 241 Cavalry
Survived by wife and 8 children.
Attachments:
Author's Signature:__________________________________________________
Human Rights Violations
Against the Akha People
Incident Report Form
Incident Number:
716
Brief Description of the nature of the incident:
Beating and electrocution of Mr. Ah Dtay Ah Maw
Police Army x Medical Other
Date Today:
Aug 10, 2002
Date of Incident:
Dec 7-9, 2001
Name of Person Reporting:
Mr. Ah Dtay Ah Maw
II. Information Concerning the Alleged Victim:
Name of Individual:
Mr. Ah Dtay Ah Maw
ID Card Number:
Hill tribe blue card # 6-5715-50236-55-0
Age: 35 Male x Female
Address:
Mooh T 7
Meh Maw Akha (Meh Moh)
Haen Taek District
Ampur (Government Office):
Ampur (Government Office) Mae Faluang
Province:
Chiangrai
Country:
Thailand
Contact Info:
At village Meh Maw
Date and place of birth:
1968 Thailand
Profession:
Mountain farmer
Present Address or Whereabouts:
At village Meh Maw
Locations of Incident:
Meh Maw army camp
(500 meter adjacent to Meh Maw Akha)
Other Persons Involved - Witnesses:
Villagers from Bpah
Jeeh Akha
Village nearby.
III. State Concerned / Articles Violated / Domestic Remedies
Name of the State party (country) against which the communication is
directed:
Thailand
Steps taken by or on behalf of the alleged victim(s) to exhaust
domestic remedies:
Army commanding officers, Ampur (Government Office) Mae Faluang District
officer, Bangkok Police
Recourse to the courts or other public authorities:
When and with what results:
Army transferred officers involved.
IV. Facts of the claim:
Detailed description of the facts of the alleged violation or violations
(including relevant dates)
On Dec 7 Mr. Ah Dtay and Mr. Ah Juuh were taken to Meh Maw Army camp near Meh
Maw Akha village with several other Akhas. They were thrown in a pit in
the ground and hot ashes and water were poured over them.
They were taken out of the pit the next day and beaten and interrogated to
see if they would confess to selling drugs or know who was. During the
interrogation Mr. Ah Dtay was electrocuted also.
That night one Akha escaped. The others were beaten and Mr. Ah
Juuh Cheh Mooh died around 6am.
Ah Dtay suffered great pain in the chest and one hour after Mr. Ah
Juuh died, now 7 Am, Dec 9, he was taken to Haen Taek hospital where blood
was drained from a ruptured lung due to damaged ribs from his being beaten
and kicked.
Attachments:
Author's Signature:__________________________________________________
Human Rights Violations
Against the Akha People
Incident Report Form
Incident Number:
717
Brief Description of the nature of the incident:
Beating death of Mr. Ah Bah Rgoeuh Zurh - Mae Salep
Police x Army Medical Other
Date Today:
Aug 10, 2002
Date of Incident:
17 May 2001
Name of Person Reporting:
Mrs. Booh Shurh Rgoeuh Zurh, wife of deceased.
II. Information Concerning the Alleged Victim:
Name of Individual:
Mr. Ah Bah Rgoeuh Zurh
ID Card Number:
6-5707-91065-99-0
Age: 56 Male x Female
Address:
Mae Salep Akha on highway part of village.
Mooh T 19
Ampur (Government Office):
Mae Faluang
Province:
Chiangrai
Country:
Thailand
Contact Info:
Wife at home
Date and place of birth:
1946 Thailand
Profession:
Retired farmer
Present Address or Whereabouts:
Deceased
Locations of Incident:
At home in Mae Salep village and at Som Yaek Village Jct, and on highway to east.
Other Persons Involved - Witnesses:
Many Akha of Mae Salep village, Som Yaek Akha village, wife
III. State Concerned / Articles Violated / Domestic Remedies
Name of the State party (country) against which the communication is
directed:
Thailand
Steps taken by or on behalf of the alleged victim(s) to exhaust
domestic remedies:
Filed complaint with Mae Faluang police and tried with Chiangrai police but
they would not accept it.
Recourse to the courts or other public authorities:
When and with what results:
No one was prosecuted. Wife was given money by Mae Fahluang police and
told to keep quiet.
IV. Facts of the claim:
Detailed description of the facts of the alleged violation or violations
(including relevant dates)
On May 17, 2001 at 5 pm one policeman from Som Yaek and one unnamed informant
believed to be Akha came to the house of Mr. Ah Bah and tied him with rope
and drug him from the house. They both beat him on the head and body
with a club. His wife was present. They did not search the
house. They took him by motorbike to Som Yaek jct. There they
beat him further and his wife pleaded that they stop. Mr. Ah Bah told
his wife that he "felt he was dying".
He was put in a truck driven by a police officer and taken toward the
Mae Faluang police station.
Later 10 minutes his body was found 3 kilometers east, laying
in the road in a sleeping position, a small amount of blood running from his
ear. Approx. 7 Pm.
Police removed his body for an autopsy at Haen Taek
Hospital.
Other police went to the family house of Mr. Ah Bah and asked the
daughter living next door who was married to a man from Germany, to
pay money to get her father out of jail, even though he was already dead.
A radio call came and the police left.
The daughter, wife and son in law went to the Haen Taek hospital and
asked that the body be moved to Chiangrai for autopsy. This was 11 PM.
The body was not moved until the 20th or later.
Autopsy By Dr. Sukrachet, Chiangrai
Provincial Hospital,
May 24th, 2001
Entry 204. Number 204/44 -
Fracture to base of skull, death from brain stem hemorrhage
Dr. Sukrachet stated that there could have been an
"accident" that was the cause of this injury.
He stated that the police delivered and picked up the body to return it to
the wife, and were very involved in the case.
Attachments:
Finally:
Author's Signature:__________________________________________________
Human Rights Violations
Against the Akha People
Incident Report Form
Incident Number:
718
Brief Description of the nature of the incident:
Shooting of Mr. Loh Guuh Zurh Shaw by Mae Chan Police
Police x Army Medical Other
Date Today:
Aug 10, 2002
Date of Incident:
July 30, 2001
Name of Person Reporting:
Mrs. Booh Nmm Jay Byah, wife of deceased
II. Information Concerning the Alleged Victim:
Name of Individual:
Mr. Loh Guuh Zurh Shaw
ID Card Number:
6-5707-00300-90-7
Age: 30 Male x Female
Address:
Bah Doh Akha, Huai Krai
Ampur (Government Office):
Mae Chan
Province:
Chiangrai
Country:
Thailand
Contact Info:
Wife at Bah Doh Akha
Date and place of birth:
1971 Thailand
Profession:
Farmer
Present Address or Whereabouts:
Deceased
Locations of Incident:
Bah Doh Akha Village
Other Persons Involved - Witnesses:
Sister, same village
III. State Concerned / Articles Violated / Domestic Remedies
Name of the State party (country) against which the communication is
directed:
Thailand
Steps taken by or on behalf of the alleged victim(s) to exhaust
domestic remedies:
Reported to Chiangrai Police
Recourse to the courts or other public authorities:
When and with what results:
No criminal charges were filed against the officer involved.
IV. Facts of the claim:
Detailed description of the facts of the alleged violation or violations
(including relevant dates)
On July 30, after three consecutive contacts by undercover police through an
old Thai man to buy speed pills, a villager tried to locate speed pills
for this Thai man. Loh Guuh was asked to go to a corn field near
his sisters hut and be a "lookout". While
he was waiting a plain cloths police man walked up behind.
His sister who was sitting at her hut saw this and called out.
Loh Guuh did not respond.
The plain clothed policeman said "now I kill you drug dealer" and
shot Loh Guuh three times, hitting him the back of the head, the side of the
head and the low kidney area as his sister watched. He apparently did
not have drugs with him. He was not armed. He was not facing the
officer. He was shot from about 1.5 meters away with a handgun.
Loh Guuh died immediately.
He is survived by 4 children.
Attachments:
Finally:
Author's Signature:__________________________________________________
Human Rights Violations
Against the Akha People
Incident Report Form
Incident Number:
719
Brief Description of the nature of the incident:
Torture and death of Mr. Ah Byeh - last name ?
Police x Army Medical Other
Date Today:
Aug 10, 2002
Date of Incident:
Nov 2000 - Aug 9, 2001
Name of Person Reporting:
wife
II. Information Concerning the Alleged Victim:
Name of Individual:
Mr. Ah Byeh
ID Card Number:
Age: 33 Male x Female
Address:
Aih Oh Mai Akha Village
Near San Chai
Ampur (Government Office):
Mae Chan or Mae Faluang
Province:
Chiangrai
Country:
Thailand
Contact Info:
Wife, Aih Oh Mai
Date and place of birth:
1968 Thailand
Profession:
Farmer
Present Address or Whereabouts:
Deceased
Locations of Incident:
Lopburi, Thailand
(near Bangkok)
Other Persons Involved - Witnesses:
III. State Concerned / Articles Violated / Domestic Remedies
Name of the State party (country) against which the communicatin is
directed:
Thailand
Steps taken by or on behalf of the alleged victim(s) to exhaust
domestic remedies:
Spoke with prison staff and police
Recourse to the courts or other public authorities:
When and with what results:
No action taken
IV. Facts of the claim:
Detailed description of the facts of the alleged violation or violations
(including relevant dates)
In November of 2000 while traveling in Lopburi area Mr. Ah Byeh was taken
into custody by police.
He was told that because he was hilltribe he must have been dealing with drugs
and his pickup truck was searched. No drugs were found.
He was tortured by burning with something similar to cigarettes and
electricity to make him confess.
After seven months his condition became so bad that he was moved back to the
Chiangrai Prison from the Lopburi Prison.
His wife was notified. She went to see him at the Chiangrai prison and
he told her what they did to him.
He died after two weeks with blood coming from his mouth.
Examination of his corpse showed burn marks and scars all over his
chest and hands and bruises to his ribs. He was very emaciated.
Police authorities told the wife "he wasn't feeling well".
Attachments:
Author's Signature:__________________________________________________
Human Rights Violations
Against the Akha People
Incident Report Form
Incident Number:
720
Brief Description of the nature of the incident:
Beating and torture of Mr. Ah Dteeh
Police Army x Medical Other
Date Today:
Aug 10, 2002
Date of Incident:
Dec 18-21, 2001
Name of Person Reporting:
Mr. Ah Dteeh
II. Information Concerning the Alleged Victim:
Name of Individual:
Mr. Ah Dteeh
ID Card Number:
Not shown
Age: app 40 Male Female
Address:
Meh Maw Akha
Ampur (Government Office):
Mae Faluang
Province:
Chiangrai
Country:
Thailand
Contact Info:
Not known
Date and place of birth:
1962 Thailand
Profession:
Not known
Present Address or Whereabouts:
In hiding
Locations of Incident:
Gow Lang Village,
Som Yaek Army Base
Other Persons Involved - Witnesses:
III. State Concerned / Articles Violated / Domestic Remedies
Name of the State party (country) against which the communication is
directed:
Thailand
Steps taken by or on behalf of the alleged victim(s) to exhaust
domestic remedies:
Was reported to Ampur (Government Office) Mae Faluang District Officer
Recourse to the courts or other public authorities:
When and with what results:
Jan - Feb 2002, no action taken
IV. Facts of the claim:
Detailed description of the facts of the alleged violation or violations
(including relevant dates)
On the 18th of Dec, 2001, Mr. Ah Dteeh was arrested by army at Gow Lang Akha
village and taken to Som Yaek Army Base.
He was tied and beaten and electrocuted and kicked in the ribs. Ribs
were broken. The army asked him if he knew about gun sales to the
Shans.
On the 21 of Dec. 2001, fearing that he would be beaten to death, he escaped
his ropes and crawled out of the army base, unable to walk and went into
hiding.
Viewing his body showed burns, bruises, fractured ribs.
Officers Col. Apisit and Maj. Orachai and Lt. Dumrong were present at
the Sam Yaek Army base during his time as a prisoner there.
Attachments:
Author's Signature:__________________________________________________
Human Rights Violations
Against the Akha People
Incident Report Form
Incident Number:
721
Brief Description of the nature of the incident:
Arrest, beating, burning with fire of Mr. Ah Peeh
Police Army x Medical Other
Date Today:
Aug 10, 2002
Date of Incident:
Dec 19, 2001
Name of Person Reporting:
Ah Peeh
II. Information Concerning the Alleged Victim:
Name of Individual:
Mr. Ah Peeh
ID Card Number:
Not available
Age: 30? Male x Female
Address:
Soih Yah Kah Akha Village
Bpah Mah Hahn District
Ampur (Government Office):
Mae Faluang
Province:
Chiangrai
Country:
Thailand
Contact Info:
Soih Yah Kah Akha Village
Date and place of birth:
1971 Thailand
Profession:
Farmer
Present Address or Whereabouts:
Soih Yah Kah Akha
Locations of Incident:
Soih Yah Kah Akha
Other Persons Involved - Witnesses:
Mr. Ah Nyoh
Mr. Ah Zeh
III. State Concerned / Articles Violated / Domestic Remedies
Name of the State party (country) against which the communication is
directed:
Thailand
Steps taken by or on behalf of the alleged victim(s) to exhaust
domestic remedies:
Reported to Ampur (Government Office) and Police and Army
Recourse to the courts or other public authorities:
When and with what results:
No action taken
IV. Facts of the claim:
Detailed description of the facts of the alleged violation or violations
(including relevant dates)
On the evening of Dec. 19, 2001 around 7:30 pm M-16 gunshots were heard in
rapid succession followed by handgun shots at Soih Yah Kah Akha village. Investigation
found bullet casings from these weapons on the ground around the hut of Mr.
Ah Peeh. Family members say that the 514 Task Force (TF 399?) from Bpeh
Lang base near Gow
Lang Village
had come into the village, about five men, began shooting into the house,
shot out the light, and at this time Mr. Ah Peeh ran from his home and was
grabbed by soldiers and taken away.
Two other men were taken as well. His older brother Mr. Ah Zeh and Mr.
Ah Nyoh. (See separate report 722 and 723)
Mr. Ah Peeh could not be found by search for three hours at any of the
army bases but was found being unloaded from a Bpeh Lang Army Pick Up truck
in front of the Haen Taek Police Station at about 11PM.
At first soldiers denied that they held Akha prisoners, but then the
Akha prisoners called out in Akha language. Dumped off at the jail,
they were photographed by witnesses.
Mr. Ah Peeh had been burned with fire on the back of the neck, all the
skin was gone. He said he was beaten and his head was held under water
for long periods of time in order to get him to confess information he did
not know about drug dealing in the village.
He was taken to prison for more than 2 months.
Attachments:
Author's Signature:__________________________________________________
Human Rights Violations
Against the Akha People
Incident Report Form
Incident Number:
722
Brief Description of the nature of the incident:
Beating of Mr. Ah Zeh
Police Army x Medical Other
Date Today:
Aug. 10, 2002
Date of Incident:
Dec. 19, 2001
Name of Person Reporting:
Mr. Ah Zeh
II. Information Concerning the Alleged Victim:
Name of Individual:
Mr. Ah Zeh
ID Card Number:
Not available
Age: 38 Male x Female
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