Some residents of Umphiem Mai refugee camp, near Mae Sot, on the Thai-Burma border, are wondering if the mysterious death of a 63 year old man on February 13th is related to an altercation with security officers the day before.
Tun Kyaing, who had refugee status recognized by the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees(UNHCR) , had lived in the camp for over 10 years.
The dead man’s wife, Daw Wet, told Burma News International (BNI), he was stopped and arrested by camp security staff, Myo Lwin and three other people when he tried to set fire to the roof of the family home, after quarreling with his family because he was drunk.
She said he was not allowed to meet with his family members on evening while he was locked in the camp cell. But on the morning of the next day, camp security officials said the family must pay a fee of 600 bhat to have him escorted home.
She said her husband had injuries to his face, arms and feet when he returned home.
She said he told her, “I will die from these injuries”.
He ate some rice soup and was sent to the camp hospital as soon as possible. The doctor told family members his condition was not good. He said the man was feeling liver pain and his urine was red in color.
He died at the camp hospital that evening.
“I felt so sorry for my husband. I was afraid to ask the camp security officers to tell me what caused his death,” she said during an interview.
Two eyewitnesses , who also live in the camp, told BNI they saw the handcuffed man being escorted by four security staff in front of Kaw Moo Ra School. They said he was punched in the chest and back side several times by security officer Myo Lwin.
They said the man fell down after being punched. And, he was dragged by his longyi (Burmese traditional bottom dress, called Pa-Soe).
Both eyewitnesses said they feared for their safety if they revealed their identity.
One witness said he tried to see the man in the hospital, but, left after he saw Myo Lwin (camp security officer) there.
The eyewitness also said, “I found him with brown marks on his face. In my opinion this situation (in the refugee camp) is worse than in Burma. People are blind, even though they can see. I would like to identify myself, but, I have nowhere to hide. I will be killed if I mention my name.”
But, camp official Maung Wet, said in an interview he believed the victim died because he drank too much. He said he did not know if the man was punched by the security officers. He said he would enquire about the event.
The woman was interviewed by BNI on March 6th.
She said she was called the next day by camp official, Tun Naung, who asked her to sign a document saying she believed her husband had not died as a result of injuries from being punched. She said she signed the document.
The camp doctors on duty when the man was hospitalized said they would not be interviewed without permission from their employer, Aid Medical International.
When contacted by telephone, a representative for Aid Medical International declined to be interviewed.
Over 30,000 refugees are living in Umphiem Mai camp and 10,000 are recognized as refugees by the UNHCR.
