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