Akha Chronicles - Chapter 33 The 1503 UN Filing

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

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:
1964 Thailand

Profession:
Farmer

Present Address or Whereabouts:
Soih Yah Kah Akha Village

Locations of Incident:
Soih Yah Kah Akha Village

Other Persons Involved - Witnesses:
Mr. Ah Peeh (younger brother)
Mr. Ah Nyoh

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 Ampur (Government Office)

Recourse to the courts or other public authorities:

When and with what results:
No investigation

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 Zeh ran from his home and was grabbed by soldiers and taken away.

Two other men were taken as well. His younger brother Mr. Ah Peeh and Mr. Ah Nyoh. (See separate report 721 and 723)

Mr. Ah Zeh 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 Zeh had been beaten and he said he had his head 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:
723

Brief Description of the nature of the incident:
Shooting and beating of Mr. Ah Nyoh

Police Army x Medical Other

Date Today:
10 Aug. 2002

Date of Incident:
Dec. 19, 2001

Name of Person Reporting:
Mr. Ah Nyoh

II. Information Concerning the Alleged Victim:

Name of Individual:
Mr. Ah Nyoh

ID Card Number:
Not available

Age: 42 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:
1960 Thailand

Profession:
Farmer, tender of water buffalo's

Present Address or Whereabouts:
Soih Yah Kah Akha Village

Locations of Incident:
Soih Yah Kah Akha Village

Other Persons Involved - Witnesses:
Mr. Ah Peeh
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 army, police and Ampur (Government Office) District officer

Recourse to the courts or other public authorities:

When and with what results:
No investigation

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 Nyoh, who was visiting, ran from the house and hid in the creek ditch behind the hut. In the darkness, soldiers began shooting into the ditch in the dark, unable to see Mr. Ah Nyoh, and finally grazed him in the back of the head and captured him, pulling him out of the brush and mud where he was hiding.

Two other men were taken as well, Mr. Ah Zeh and Mr. Ah Peeh. (See separate report 721 and 722)

Mr. Ah Nyoh 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 Nyoh had been shot in the head and was photographed. He said he was beaten 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.

He is a homeless man who watches people's buffalo for hire, making about 50 to 75 cents a day (20 to 30 baht)

Attachments:

Author's Signature:__________________________________________________

Human Rights Violations
Against the Akha People
Incident Report Form

Incident Number:
724

Brief Description of the nature of the incident:
The shooting death of Ms. Meeh Paw Seh Dooh

Police Army x Medical Other

Date Today:
Aug. 10, 2002

Date of Incident:
Feb 8, 2002 5am to 6 am

Name of Person Reporting:
Mr. Ah Doh Seh Dooh, older brother

II. Information Concerning the Alleged Victim:

Name of Individual:
Ms. Meeh Paw Seh Dooh

ID Card Number:
8-5710-84057-37-0

Age: 23 Male Female x

Race:
Akha Thailand

Address:
Loih Chang Akha Village

Ampur (Government Office):
Chiangrai

Province:
Chiangrai

Country:
Thailand

Contact Info:
Family at Loih Chang

Date and place of birth:
1979 Loih Chang Village

Profession:
Farmer

Present Address or Whereabouts:
Deceased, body in Burma

Locations of Incident:
Meh Joh Akha Village, Burma

Other Persons Involved - Witnesses:
Brother Ah Doh.
Ah Doh's Wife Meeh Eh

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 army

Recourse to the courts or other public authorities:

When and with what results:
No investigation

IV. Facts of the claim:
Detailed description of the facts of the alleged violation or violations (including relevant dates)
On the morning of Feb 8 troops from the Thai side, came into Burma from Thailand and attacked Meh Joh Akha Village in Burma. Meeh Paw was preparing the morning's rice when soldiers fired into the hut of her uncle where she was visiting for three days. She was shot through the chest.
Her brother Ah Doh, drug her from the hut back door and down the hill, worried that they would burn the hut. They did, but then when soldiers began coming towards him he fled into a ravine. The soldiers stripped her of her headdress, gold necklace, gold ear rings and watch and left.

Her brother returned and struggled to move her to a Burmese road. Two other Akha men helped him carry her. But after about 500 meters she died. It had now been three hours since the attack began. It was too dangerous to try and go to the Thai side where there was a clinic. Meeh Paw hoped for this. But her brother was afraid they would both be killed. There was a clinic at Bpah Mah Hahn District which was about 2 kilometers away.

The attackers drove motorbikes and two vehicles loaded with loot out of the village after it was burned, back to the Thai side. No one offered assistance to Meeh Paw to get her to a clinic.

She was buried on the Burma side, the family was too poor and did not know how to get the body back to Thailand.

Attachments:

Author's Signature:__________________________________________________

Human Rights Violations
Against the Akha People
Incident Report Form

Akha 1503 Cases Part II

Incident Number:
725

Brief Description of the nature of the incident:
Robbery and imprisonment of Mr. Ah Myah Cheh Muuh, Pah Luang.

Police Army x Medical Other

Date Today:
Aug. 10, 2002

Date of Incident:
Feb 21, 2002

Name of Person Reporting:
Mr. Ah Myah

II. Information Concerning the Alleged Victim:

Name of Individual:
Mr. Ah Myah Cheh Muuh

ID Card Number:
Not available

Age: 47 Male x Female

Race:
Akha

Address:
Loh Mah Cheh Akha Village
Gow Lang District

Ampur (Government Office):
Mae Faluang

Province:
Chiangrai

Country:
Thailand

Contact Info:
Loh Mah Cheh Akha Village

Date and place of birth:
1955 Thailand

Profession:
Farmer, regional headman

Present Address or Whereabouts:
Loh Mah Cheh Akha Village

Locations of Incident:
Loh Mah Cheh Akha Village and Bpeh Lang Army 514 (TF399?)

Other Persons Involved - Witnesses:
Family members

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:
Reported to army

Recourse to the courts or other public authorities:

When and with what results:
No investigation

IV. Facts of the claim:
Detailed description of the facts of the alleged violation or violations (including relevant dates)
On Feb 21, 2002 Army from the Gow Lang Bpeh Lang 514 unit caught a man in the village of Loh Mah Cheh with meth pills in his possesion. His name was Law Dteh. After the army soldiers beat him severely so that he could not walk well, they brought him back to the village while the headman was gone, undid the lock hasp on the hut door, and had Mr. Law Dteh dig up the floor of the hut. Nothing was found but the refrigerator, beer, silver and a motorbike as well as household items were taken.

Mr. Ah Myah Cheh Mooh went to the Bpeh Lang Army people and asked that his possesions be returned. They beat him and took him prisoner for three days until he signed a paper that they took nothing. They gave him back his motorbike but not anything else or his ID card.

Mr. Ah Myah lives in fear for his life.

Attachments:

Author's Signature:__________________________________________________

Human Rights Violations
Against the Akha People
Incident Report Form

Incident Number:
726

Brief Description of the nature of the incident:
Mr. Jaw Law Dteeh Lahu truck stolen by army

Police Army x Medical Other

Date Today:
Aug 10, 2002

Date of Incident:
June 27, 2002

Name of Person Reporting:
Mr. Jaw Law Dteeh Muser (Lahu)

II. Information Concerning the Alleged Victim:

Name of Individual:
Mr. Jaw Law Dteeh

ID Card Number:
Not available

Age: 45 Male x Female

Race:
Muser (Lahu)

Address:
Bpah Eh Muser Village above Booh Hah Akha
Mae Salong Nai
Ampur (Government Office):
Mae Faluang

Province:
Chiangrai

Country:
Thailand

Contact Info:
Bpah Eh Muser or headman Mr. Yah Tooh at Hooh Gah Akha
Date and place of birth:
1957 Thailand

Profession:
Farmer

Present Address or Whereabouts:
Bpah Eh Muser or in hiding

Locations of Incident:
Bpah Eh Muser and Hooh Maw Army Camp, Haen Taek, on road to Ampur (Government Office) Mae Faluang Office.

Other Persons Involved - Witnesses:
Mr. Yah Gooh
Mr. Jah Jay
Mr. Pah Seeh
Mr. Jah Uuh
Mr. Yah Tooh, regional headman for those villages

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:
Reported the incident to the Army at Hooh Maw, Som Yaek and the Ampur (Government Office) officer at Mae Faluang.

Recourse to the courts or other public authorities:

When and with what results:
No action taken, threats of retaliation

IV. Facts of the claim:
Detailed description of the facts of the alleged violation or violations (including relevant dates)
On June 27, 2002 five army vehicles with soldiers including Maj. Orachai from the Sam Yaek Army base and officers from Hooh Maw Army base in Haen Taek came into Bpah Eh Muser village at 6 AM and went into the hut of Jah Law Dteeh, one of the registered opium smokers, and caught him smoking opium. The arrested him with a small supply of personal opium for smoking. They then ordered everyone from their huts and began searching the huts of the entire village. In one hut they fired off an M-16 with at least one round going through the floor of the hut.

They took cash and gold from the huts. They took the truck of Mr. Jah Law Dteeh, the truck of Mr. Jah Uuh, and six men down to the army base.

They showed the villagers 7 kilos of opium they "found" in the village. The villagers asked them to show who's house they "found" it in. The Army would not say.

The Army took 1000 baht from Mr. Yah Gooh. 300 Baht from Mr. Jah Jay. 30,000 baht from Mr. Jah Law Dteeh. A one baht weight gold necklace was taken from Mr. Pah Seeh, value more than 10,000 baht.

The Army said that they could not afford to own the trucks without selling Methamphetamine. The villagers produced receipts for crops sold to show this was not true.

After the Army took the six men to the army base at Hooh Maw they released all six men.

Mr. Jah Law Dteeh returned to Hooh Maw Army camp to ask for his truck back, a white Toyota, with Mr. Jah Uuh who was also trying to get his black Isuzu 4 wheel drive truck back. While the two men were at the army base, the army said that they would not give the two trucks back. They were also already being used by the army to haul equipment.

The army said that Mr. Jah Uuh could go but that Mr. Jah Law Dteeh would stay for "detox". Both men were quite fearful. But then at this time other army (possibly from Bpeh Lang Army 514 at Gow Lang) brought in two Muser men from Loh Mah Ket Muser village and sat them down and shot both of them and killed them. The army told Mr. Jah Law Dteeh and Mr. Jah Uuh that this would happen to them too if they kept asking for their trucks. Both Mr. Jah Law Dteeh and Mr. Jah Uuh fled for their lives back to the village and hid.

Other Muser went to the Ampur (Government Office) office at Mae Faluang and told about what happened. There was no investigatin and soldiers told everyone not to talk about it.

See Reports 727, 728, 729, 730, 731

Attachments:

Author's Signature:__________________________________________________

Human Rights Violations
Against the Akha People
Incident Report Form

Incident Number:
727

Brief Description of the nature of the incident:
Robbery of Mr. Jah Uuh's truck by army

Police Army x Medical Other

Date Today:
Aug. 10, 2002

Date of Incident:
June 27, 2002

Name of Person Reporting:
Mr. Jah Uuh

II. Information Concerning the Alleged Victim:

Name of Individual:
Mr. Jah Uuh

ID Card Number:
Not available

Age: 25 Male x Female

Race:
Muser (Lahu)

Address:
Bpah Eh Muser
Mae Salong Nai

Ampur (Government Office):
Mae Faluang

Province:
Chiangrai

Country:
Thailand

Contact Info:
Bpah Eh Muser or Mr. Yah Tooh at Booh Hah Akha

Date and place of birth:
1978 Thailand

Profession:
Farmer

Present Address or Whereabouts:
Bpah Eh Muser or in hiding

Locations of Incident:
Bpah Eh Muser and Hooh Maw Army camp

Other Persons Involved - Witnesses:
Mr. Yah Gooh
Mr. Jah Jay
Mr. Pah Seeh
Mr. Jaw Law Dteeh
Mr. Yah Tooh, regional headman for those villages

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 army, Ampur (Government Office) District officer

Recourse to the courts or other public authorities:

When and with what results:
No investigation made

They took cash and gold from the huts. They took the truck of Mr. Jah Law Dteeh, the truck of Mr. Jah Uuh, and six men down to the army base.

They showed the villagers 7 kilos of opium they "found" in the village. The villagers asked them to show who's house they "found" it in. The Army would not say.

The Army took 1000 baht from Mr. Yah Gooh. 300 Baht from Mr. Jah Jay. 30,000 baht from Mr. Jah Law Dteeh. A one baht weight gold necklace was taken from Mr. Pah Seeh, value more than 10,000 baht.

The Army said that they could not afford to own the trucks without selling Methamphetamine. The villagers produced receipts for crops sold to show this was not true.

After the Army took the six men to the army base at Hooh Maw they released all six men.

Other Muser went to the Ampur (Government Office) office at Mae Faluang and told about what happened. There was no investigatin and soldiers told everyone not to talk about it.

See Reports 726, 728, 729, 730, 731

Attachments:

Author's Signature:__________________________________________________

Human Rights Violations
Against the Akha People
Incident Report Form

Incident Number:
728

Brief Description of the nature of the incident:
Robbery of Gold Necklace weighing one baht from Mr. Pah Seeh

Police Army x Medical Other

Date Today:
Aug 10, 2002

Date of Incident:
June 27, 2002

Name of Person Reporting:
Mr. Pah Seeh Muser

II. Information Concerning the Alleged Victim:

Name of Individual:
Mr. Pah Seeh Muser

ID Card Number:
Not available

Age: 72 Male x Female

Race:
Muser (Lahu)

Address:
Bpah Eh Muser Village
Mae Salong Noi

Ampur (Government Office):
Mae Faluang

Province:
Chiangrai

Country:
Thailand

Contact Info:
Bpah Eh Muser or Mr. Yah Tooh at Booh Hah Akha Village

Date and place of birth:
1930 Thailand

Profession:
Retired farmer

Present Address or Whereabouts:
Bpah Eh Muser

Locations of Incident:
Bpah Eh Muser

Other Persons Involved - Witnesses:
Mr. Yah Gooh
Mr. Jah Jay
Mr. Jah Uuh
Mr. Jaw Law Dteeh
Mr. Yah Tooh, regional headman for those villages

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:
Reported to army base and Ampur (Government Office) District

Recourse to the courts or other public authorities:

When and with what results:
No investigation

They took cash and gold from the huts. They took the truck of Mr. Jah Law Dteeh, the truck of Mr. Jah Uuh, and six men down to the army base.

They showed the villagers 7 kilos of opium they "found" in the village. The villagers asked them to show who's house they "found" it in. The Army would not say.

The Army took 1000 baht from Mr. Yah Gooh. 300 Baht from Mr. Jah Jay. 30,000 baht from Mr. Jah Law Dteeh. A one baht weight gold necklace was taken from Mr. Pah Seeh, value more than 10,000 baht.

The Army said that they could not afford to own the trucks without selling Methamphetamine. The villagers produced receipts for crops sold to show this was not true.

After the Army took the six men to the army base at Hooh Maw they released all six men.

Other Muser went to the Ampur (Government Office) office at Mae Faluang and told about what happened. There was no investigatin and soldiers told everyone not to talk about it.

See Reports 726, 727, 729, 730, 731

Attachments:

Author's Signature:__________________________________________________

Human Rights Violations
Against the Akha People
Incident Report Form

Incident Number:
729

Brief Description of the nature of the incident:
Robbery of 91,000 baht from headman Pah Luang Mr. Yah Tooh, Booh Hah Akha

Police Army x Medical Other

Date Today:
Aug 10, 2002

Date of Incident:
July 6, 2002

Name of Person Reporting:
Pah Luang Headman Mr. Yah Tooh

II. Information Concerning the Alleged Victim:

Name of Individual:
Mr. Yah Tooh

ID Card Number:
Not available

Age: 45 Male x Female

Race:
Akha

Address:
Booh Hah Akha Village
Mooh T 21
Mae Salong Nai

Ampur (Government Office):
Mae Faluang

Province:
Chiangrai

Country:
Thailand

Contact Info:
Booh Hah Akha at home

Date and place of birth:
1957 Thailand

Profession:
Farmer and headman, Pah Luang of that area.

Present Address or Whereabouts:
Booh Hah Akha, home, if not in hiding

Locations of Incident:
Booh Hah Akha

Other Persons Involved - Witnesses:
Family

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:
Reported to Ampur (Government Office) and army

Recourse to the courts or other public authorities:

When and with what results:
June 6, 2002, no investigation, money not returned

IV. Facts of the claim:
Detailed description of the facts of the alleged violation or violations (including relevant dates)
On July 6, 2002, about 5 pm when Mr. Yah Tooh was returning from an incident in another village (someone shot a neighbor's pig eating in their rice or corn field) he saw a black pickup truck with 4 soldiers talking to one of the residents of his village. He stopped to ask what was going on and the army asked him how this man could have enough money to build a block house. Mr. Yah Tooh explained that the Akha saved from crops enough to build a house and then built it. This house cost about 50,000 baht. He told the army that he was also saving, had 91,000 baht and when he got 100,000 baht saved he too would build.

Then the army asked him to prove it and went to his house. He had 91,000 baht plus a couple thousand baht extra. He offered the army as a gratuity (common) the smaller cash for drinks and cigarettes to appease them but they took the 91,000 baht instead and left him the couple thousand baht.

After many trips to the army they did not return it. They said it was drug money but Mr. Yah Tooh had receipts for cattle, pigs, corn and ginger crops sold in excess of that amount.

See cases 726, 727, 728, 730, 731

Attachments:

Author's Signature:__________________________________________________

Human Rights Violations
Against the Akha People
Incident Report Form

Incident Number:
730

Brief Description of the nature of the incident:
The disappearance and presumed execution or death of Mr. Ah Tsah Say Yah Muser (Lahu)

Police Army x Medical Other

Date Today:
Aug 10, 2002

Date of Incident:
June 26-27, 2002

Name of Person Reporting:
Mr. Ah Tsah Say Yah's older brother Mr. Ah Dteeh, Obothor

II. Information Concerning the Alleged Victim:

Name of Individual:
Mr. Ah Tsah Say Yah

ID Card Number:
8-5715-84108-78-0

Age: 48 Male x Female

Race:
Muser (Lahu)

Address:
Loh Mah Ket Muser Village
Gow Lang District

Ampur (Government Office):
Mae Faluang

Province:
Chiangrai

Country:
Thailand

Contact Info:
Wife or older brother at Loh Mah Ket Muser village.

Date and place of birth:
1954 Thailand

Profession:
Rice farmer

Present Address or Whereabouts:
Presumed deceased

Locations of Incident:
Gow Lang, Hooh Maw Army base, Haen Taek

Other Persons Involved - Witnesses:
Mr. Leeh Cheeh Bpow Sheh Leeh
Mr. Jah Law Dteeh Muser, Bpah Eh Muser Village
Mr. Jah Uuh Muser, Bpah Eh Muser 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:
Family inquired with army who claimed that first they never saw the two men. Then later said the two men went to Chiangrai, got drunk, didn't come back. Was reported to Ampur (Government Office) Mae Faluang District officer.

Recourse to the courts or other public authorities:

When and with what results:
Repeatedly since June 27, 2002 with no investigation being made

IV. Facts of the claim:
Detailed description of the facts of the alleged violation or violations (including relevant dates)
On June 26, 2002 Mr. Ah Tsah Say Yah and Mr. Leeh Cheeh Bpow Sheh Leeh, both Muser men, left their village Loh Mah Ket to drive a car, purchased by a man from Burma, across the border road that used to lead to Meh Joh Akha village inside Burma which was burned six months before. To their knowledge the vehicle, a small black pickup like car, was not stolen. They needed money to pay workers to help finish planting their rice crop and the man offered to pay them 1500 baht each. (about $60 US) The road across the border is one of two at that location, very bad condition, would require at least two men to make sure they could keep going if they got stuck. The men figured the effort would take them one day and one night, returning the next day.

They delivered the car and then on their return the Bpeh Lang army 514 at Gow Lang caught them at Gow Lang Akha village and took them away.

They were late seen by Chinese at Hooh Maw Army base near Haen Taek.

Mr. Jah Law Dteeh and Mr. Jah Uuh from Bpah Eh Muser, who were there at the camp to get their trucks back, claim to have seen these two men brought in blindfolded and shot in the chest with a handgun and killed. Rumor is that they were buried near to Hooh Maw Army base in the jungle on the side of the southern hill.

As of Aug 10, 2002 the family has still not heard from these two men. The army first claimed they did not ever see them, then changed that to yes, they saw them but the men were released and went to Chiangrai and got drunk and did not come back.

Mr. Ah Tsah has seven children.
Mr. Leeh Cheeh Bpow has three children.

Both are presumed dead.

Attachments:

Author's Signature:__________________________________________________

Human Rights Violations
Against the Akha People
Incident Report Form

Incident Number:
731

Brief Description of the nature of the incident:
The disappearance of Mr. Leeh Cheeh Bpow Sheh Leeh Muser

Police Army x Medical Other

Date Today:
Aug 10, 2002

Date of Incident:
June 26-27, 2002

Name of Person Reporting:
Wife of Mr. Leeh Cheeh Bpow

II. Information Concerning the Alleged Victim:

Name of Individual:
Mr. Leeh Cheeh Bpow Sheh Leeh

ID Card Number:
6-5715-50025-15-0

Age: 37 Male x Female

Race:
Muser (Lahu)

Address:
Loh Mah Ket Muser Village
Gow Lang District

Ampur (Government Office):
Mae Faluang

Province:
Chiangrai

Country:
Thailand

Contact Info:
Wife at Loh Mah Ket Muser

Date and place of birth:
1965 Thailand

Profession:
Rice farmer

Present Address or Whereabouts:
Presumed deceased

Locations of Incident:
Gow Lang Akha Village, Hooh Maw Army Base, Haen Taek

Other Persons Involved - Witnesses:
Mr. Ah Tsah Say Yah Muser
Mr. Jah Law Dteeh Muser, Bpah Eh Muser Village
Mr. Jah Uuh Muser, Bpah Eh Muser 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 army and Ampur (Government Office) district officer

Recourse to the courts or other public authorities:

When and with what results:
Since June 27, 2002 repeatedly, no investigation

They delivered the car and then on their return the Bpeh Lang army 514 at Gow Lang caught them at Gow Lang Akha village and took them away.

They were late seen by Chinese at Hooh Maw Army base near Haen Taek.

Mr. Ah Tsah has seven children.
Mr. Leeh Cheeh Bpow has three children.

Both are presumed dead.

See Reports 726, 727, 730

Attachments:

Author's Signature:__________________________________________________

Human Rights Violations
Against the Akha People
Incident Report Form

Incident Number:
732

Brief Description of the nature of the incident:
The disappearance of Pooh Yai Mr. Ah Aw, Meh Maw Akha Village

Police Army x Medical Other

Date Today:
Aug 10, 2002

Date of Incident:
Two weeks after Feb 9, 2002

Name of Person Reporting:
Wife of Mr. Ah Aw

II. Information Concerning the Alleged Victim:

Name of Individual:
Mr. Ah Aw

ID Card Number:
Not available

Age: 55 over Male x Female

Race:
Not known

Address:
Meh Maw Akha Village
Near Pai Ah Prai Village

Ampur (Government Office):
Mae Faluang

Province:
Chiangrai

Country:
Thailand

Contact Info:
Wife at Meh Maw Akha

Date and place of birth:
1947 Thailand

Profession:
Minor Headman, or headman's Lt.

Present Address or Whereabouts:
Presumed dead

Locations of Incident:
Near Bpah Cheeh Muser Village

Other Persons Involved - Witnesses:
Bpah Cheeh Muser village residents

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:
Reported to army

Recourse to the courts or other public authorities:

When and with what results:
In February, no investigation

IV. Facts of the claim:
Detailed description of the facts of the alleged violation or violations (including relevant dates)
On Feb 9, 2002 Meh Joh Akha Village in Burma was attacked. A channel 5 TV reporter from Maesai is married to Mr. Ah Aw's daughter and it is said that the two of them went to film the attack in the early ours of the morning.

After return from that attack, Mr. Ah Aw was seen to be riding a motorcycle taken from Meh Joh.

Within two weeks of the attack, Mr. Ah Aw was seen riding with a Thai man on the motorbike going into Bpah Cheeh Muser village near Bpah Cheeh Akha, and he was captured by the army there. His shirt was taken off, he was put blindfolded in an army truck and taken away, according to witnesses.

Reporters from the Bangkok Post inquired as to his where abouts and the army confirmed that "he is dead".
No explanation.

It is believed by family that he was executed by the army.
His body was never found.

Attachments:

Author's Signature:__________________________________________________

Human Rights Violations
Against the Akha People
Incident Report Form

Incident Number:
733

Brief Description of the nature of the incident:
Robbery of Mr. Yah Goh, Yah Tooh and Ah Dauh from Meh Maw Akha

Police Army x Medical Other

Date Today:
Aug 11, 2002

Date of Incident:
July 20, 2002

Name of Person Reporting:
Mr. Yah Goh

II. Information Concerning the Alleged Victim:

Name of Individual:
Mr. Yah Goh, Mr. Ah Tooh, Mr. Ah Dauh

ID Card Number:
na

Age: Male Female
65   x
45   x
40   x

Race:
Akha

Address:
Meh Maw Akha Village

Ampur:
Mae Faluang

Province:
Chiangrai

Country:
Thailand

Contact Info:
Meh Maw Akha Village

Date and place of birth:
1938 Thailand

Profession:
Mountain farmers

Present Address or Whereabouts:
Meh Maw Akha Village

Locations of Incident:
Mr. Ah Tooh and Mr. Yah Goh's homes (adjacent to each other)
Meh Maw Akha Village

Other Persons Involved - Witnesses:
Village residents

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:
Reported to Army and Ampur

Recourse to the courts or other public authorities:
Same as above

When and with what results:
Month of July and August and September
Money not returned from the army

IV. Facts of the claim:
Detailed description of the facts of the alleged violation or violations (including relevant dates)
On July 20 th at Meh Maw village Mr. Ah Dauh went to work in the fields and left his wallet at Mr. Yah Goh's house with 45,000 baht in it. While he was away three army soldiers from Meh Maw Army base some 300 meters from the village, came to the adjacent house of Mr. Ah Tooh and asked for money, he did not have any so they drug him next door to Mr. Yah Goh's hut and left him on the ground outside. They went inside and Mr. Yah Goh was sleeping and had a fever. He woke up with the soldiers searching through his hut and they found both his wallet and Mr. Ah Dauh's wallet. They took both wallets. Mr. Yah Goh lost more than 32,000 baht and Mr. Ah Dauh lost 45,000 baht. The men had saved the money for over two years from selling ginger crops. As a result of the hardship that this imposed Mr. Ah Dauh and his wife immediately split up over the incident.

Attatchments:

Author's Signature:__________________________________________________

Part II
Here is VERY basic information on 26 more cases. I have very specific information on each one of these if needed, plus some photos.

1. Mr. Ah Kurh Wurh Churh, Akha Man, 40 years. Feb 2003 Doi Chang, Chiangrai.
False arrest. 7 months imprisonment, no charge. Released. Police.

2. Mr. Yah Pooh, Lahu Man, 33 years. Mae Kah Noi, Chiangrai 28 Oct 2003
Shot three times through the back, deprived of medical care for one hour. Died. Army case.

3. Mr. Leeh Huuh. Akha Man. 40 years. July 2003 Joh Hoh Akha Phrao, Chiangmai
Ambushed by police. Shot many times. Died.

4. Mr. Loh Pah. Akha man. 32. July 2003 Joh Hoh Akha, Phrao, Chiangmai
Ambushed. Shot many times by police, died.

5. Mr. Ah Yeh. Akha man. 35. Joh Hoh Akha, Phrao, Chiangmai. July 2003
Shot in home, police implicated. Died.

6. Mr. Ah Yeh, Akha Man. 40, Feb. 2003, Phrao, Chiangmai.
Ambushed by police/forestry. Shot in head and back, died instantly in truck.

7. Ms. Ah Yeh, Akha Woman, wife of #6. Shot 6 times in chest, left for dead. Feb. 2003
Phrao, Chiangmai.

8. Mr. Ah Zeh, Akha man, 21 years. Feb. 2003
Loh Sah village, Phrao, Chiangmai.
Shot in face and back by police, died.

9. Mr. Eh Dturh, Lahu Man, 43, Feb 2003
Phrao, Chiangmai. Chased by police, shot and killed, thrown off a cliff. Not found for three days.

10. Head Man Hua Mae Kom village, Lisu Male, 37 Ampur Mae Faluang, Chiangrai. April 2003
Ambushed. Shot. Killed.
Police.

11. Lt. Head Man Hua Mae Kom village, Lisu male, 50, Ampur Mae Fahluang, Chiangrai.
April 2003. Ambushed by police, shot, killed.

12. Second Head man, Hua Mae Kom Village, Lisu Male, 40. Ampur Mae Fahluang, Chiangrai, ambushed by police, shot, killed. April 2003

13. Second Head Man Lt., Hua Mae Kom Village, Ampur Mae Fahluang, 30. April 2003.
Ambushed by police, shot, killed.

14. Mr. Boon Mah Sae Pahn, Yao Male. 29. Chiangrai. Shot by police, killed. March 2003

15. Mr. Geh Dteeh Sap Sak See Chompoo, Yao Male, 44, Chiangrai, March 2003. Shot by police, killed.

16. Mr. Gow gkway Sai Tuin, Yao Male, 44, Chiangrai, March 2003. Shot by police, killed.

17. Mr. Nai Sahn Sai Tuin, Yao Male, 29, Chiangrai, March 2003, Shot by police, killed.

18. Mr. Ooh Gkway Sai Tuin, Yao Male, 29, Chiangrai, March 2003, Shot by police, killed.

19. Yao Man, same ambush, Chiangrai, March 2003, shot by police, killed.

20. Mr. Ah Buuh Cheh Muuh, Akha, 35, Feb 2003. Ah Churh Akha, Chiangrai, Ambushed, shot while sleeping, died. Police

21. Mrs. Meeh Nay Cheh Muuh, Akha, wife of Mr. Ah Buuh. 32. shot while sleeping in police ambush. Survived. Police Feb 2003

22. Mr. Ah Bah, Akha, 45 yr. Gowland, Chiangrai, Shot 3 times while sitting in front of house, died. Police or Army. March 2003

23. Mrs. Booh Saw. Bpah Cheeh Akha village. 45 years. Nov. 2002
False drug arrest, imprisoned. Remains in prison.

24. Mr. Ah Turh, Akha, 35, Pah Nmm Village, Mae Faluang, Chiangrai. Aug 2003
Beaten. Army

25. Mr. Ah Nay, Akha, 40, Soi Yah Akha, Mae Fahluang, Chiangrai, Aug 2003
Beaten, Army.

26. Mr. Law Urh, Akha, 37, Aug 2003, Hua Mae Kom Village. Ampur Mae Fah Luang, beaten, tortured by army, released. Bruises and injuries to face, ribs, skin missing from wrists and ankles, left hanging for days in a tree. Abused 10 days.

End