One of Thailand's foremost scholars and social activists, Dr Gothom Arya, has urged Thais in Chiangmai to exercise reason and caution in dealing with the rape and murder case, which took place almost two weeks earlier.
"We want Thais to understand that this case involves only individual Shan criminals and other Shan migrants were not involved in this criminal act. We do not want this case to become a source of ill-will between nationalities," he said.
Dr. Gothom Arya, Director of Mahidol University Research Centre on Peace Building and Chairman of the Human Rights and Development Foundation (HRDF), added, "It should be remembered sometimes tourists visiting Thailand have been murdered or raped. Those found guilty were punished by Thai law, but we also did our best to explain to the foreigners from Europe, America, Australia and other countries that the crimes were committed by individuals. We, ourselves did not like or support the act and no other Thais were involved."
On February 7, two Shan migrants from Burma, Sai Beuk (22) and Sai Tun (21), raped and murdered a 22-year-old Thai student of Mae Jo University, in Sansai district, Chiangmai province. One of them was arrested the next day and the other a few days later.
The following day, many students from the Mae Jo University protested and demanded that the Chiangmai Governor force all migrants to leave the university campus and Chiangmai area.
Since then, the police have begun an active crackdown on several sites, where the migrant workers are based and employed. Hundreds of them were arrested and thousands were affected.
Editor of Chiangmai-based 'Salween Post', Thanwa Sirimethi, said, "I think rape cases have often appeared in the Thai media, but in this case, the murderers are Shans, who belong to the migrant workforce and since Thais already have a negative attitude (against the migrant workers), the report further inflamed their feelings against them."
She added that the murderers found guilty should face punishment by law. As for the other migrants, who are legally registered and living under the law of Thailand, their rights should not be abused.
"Some newspaper and TV reports are not fair. They appear to be suggesting that all Shans are guilty of the murder," said Maj-Gen Lao Hseng, spokesperson of the Shan State Army (SSA) South. "Those who have been found guilty should be punished according to the law of Thailand. It is an individual criminal case. Please do not include every Shan in this," he added.
"Most Shans, who come to Thailand are from rural areas and lack education. Some of them, working under pressure and unaccustomed surroundings could have gone out of their minds," the spokesperson added.
Meanwhile, Saengmuang Mangkorn, President of the Chiangmai Tai Literature and Culture Society, said he was planning with other Shans born in Thailand like himself, to set up a registered Shan association to help authorities in looking after Shan migrants.
Famous Shans in Thailand include Gen Pon Wanakamon, Boonchu Trithong and Nikom Traipitak.
In Chiang Mai, there are an estimated 80,000 Burmese migrants and the majority of them are Shan.
