Relatives of Myanmar migrant worker filing petition with Royal Thai Police Asking for investigation and legal action against people concerned with the death in custody of a migrant worker at Pak Nam Ranong Police Station
4 November 2022
Relatives of Myanmar migrant worker filing petition with Royal Thai Police
Asking for investigation and legal action against people concerned with the death in custody of a migrant worker at Pak Nam Ranong Police Station
Today, Ms. Nay Nay Soe, Myanmar migrant worker, has gone to Ranong to hand a letter of petition to a representative of Pol Lt-General Surachate Hakparn aka “Big Joke”, Deputy National Police Chief, demanding justice, and an investigation as well as legal action against the people involved with the death of Mr. Thant Zin Oo who died during his custody at the Pak Nam Ranong Police Station.
The case stems from an incidence on 13 October 20 October 2022 around 3pm when Mr. Thant Zin Oo was brought from his home to the police station for drug urine test. His mother and relatives have followed Mr. Thant Zin Oo to the Pak Nam Ranong Police Station. They were later told to return home since the investigation was yet finished. The relatives insisted on waiting at the police station. At 5.30pm, Ms. Nay Nay Soe, Mr. Thant Zin Oo’s mother, has returned to her home as she was informed by her relatives there that the police pulled over their car waiting for her at home. Upon encountering about four or five police officials, they immediately put her and husband under arrest with handcuff and took them on the back of their pickup truck. When she arrived at the police truck, she saw her son was sitting head down on the truck’s tray. After the vehicle has moved away from her home for a while, she observed that Mr. Thant Zin Oo has passed out with foaming at the mouth. Upon arrival at the police station, the police performed CPR and later transferred Mr. Thant Zin Oo to hospital. On 16 October 2022, the officer at the Ranong Hospital informed her that her son had died.
Following the death of Mr. Thant Zin Oo, his mother suspected that it could have resulted from an act of torture since she found bruises all over his body and prior to his custody, Mr. Thant Zin Oo was physically strong and sustained no bruises. The Ranong Hospital then transferred his body for autopsy by the Central Institute of Forensic Science, the Ministry of Justice. Apart from petitioning to demand justice from the Royal Thai Police, Ms. Nay Nay Soe also wanted to sign her name to collect the body for funeral service in Ranong,
On 24 October 2022, the Act on Prevention and Suppression of Torture and Enforced Disappearance 2022 was published in the Royal Gazette. After 120 days, it will come into force. The Cross Cultural Foundation (CrCF) and Human Rights and Development Foundation (HRDF) opines that concerned authorities should apply the principle of the Act as guidance for their investigation in this case to fathom the truth and ensure justice is served and remedy is offered to the persons affected from the acts of public officials.
For more information, please contact
Human Rights and Development Foundation (HRDF) 02 277 6882, Cross Cultural Foundation (CrCF) 096 756 9169