selected articles from dawn JULY/Au

[caroline@xxxxxxxxxxxx]

Subject: selected articles from dawn JULY/August

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Death rate of Burmese Inmates in Thai Detention High

	Due to continued political repression and extreme economic hardship inside Burma, thousands of Burmese flee to neighboring countries with hope for survival and the dream of a better life.  Although they have managed to escaped from the terror of their home country, they still have to face new
problems as illegal immigrants in foreign lands. 
	As illegal immigrants, they are subjected to arrest, harassment and deportation under the immigration laws of foreign countries. They face many social and labor problems since they do not have legal status or work authorization.  Various forms of labor discrimination including low pay, harsh and dangerous working conditions, threats and force,  are frequent. Abuse and unlawful treatment after their detention or during the deportation period, especially against women and children are frequent. 
	In July, Ko Thaung (not his real name), formerly an inmate in Thom Pha Phom, Kanchanaburi Province in Thailand claimed four Burmese inmates (two men and two women) died in detention center during the 36 days he was detained during May and June 1996.
	Ko Thaung is 31-year-old Karen originally from Kyar Ein Seik Kyi township, Karen State. He came to Thailand three years ago due to the economic hardship, the constant threat of forced labor, and the incessant demands for taxes by the local Slorc authorities in Burma drove him to escape to Thailand.  "I have worked at so many odd jobs in Thailand.  The money I earn here is not very attractive, but it's much better than staying in Burma." he said. 
	In mid-May, while he was working at an illegal logging operation run by a local Thai business man, he was arrested near Thom Pha Phom for cutting wood unlawfully and also charged under the immigration act. He spent 36 days in jail. 
	According to his account of conditions in Thom Pha Phom Detention Center, there are two big halls with bars on one side while the other three sides are walls without windows.  The ceiling is zinc. One hall is for male prisoners and other is for females.  Each hall is 18' x 18' wide where the bathroom and toilet is annexed. There are always at least 40 men but sometimes male prisoners number over 200.
	Beatings in the detention center were common.  Inmates were sometimes beaten by the Thai prison officers over small matters, according to him. He said "once while I was in detention, two inmates fought over money matters and an officer came and asked the problem. The two were singled out and handcuffed; then they were taken outside the room and forced to lay down on the floor with their faces down, while the officer and three policemen beat them with batons. After their injuries healed, they had scares on their backs from that beating." he said. 
	Health problems were rampant in the cells. Most of the inmates were Burmese and suffered from malaria and malnutrition even on their way to Thailand. When they got sick in jail, they suffered more severely than other prisoners. No proper treatment was ever given nor were regular medical examinations conducted. "I did not see any sick people sent to hospital even when they were critically ill." he said. The prisoners informed the authorities about the ailing people and requested they be sent to the hospital, but no action was taken.  The Thai policemen always said, "You aliens had better die; we will burn your body,", Ko Thaung reported.  
	Due to the lack of proper medical care,  Ko Thaung claimed that he himself witnessed four people died in prison.  He saw three people's death within two day. The first one was 24-year-old man from Kaw Bein, Karen state. He died at 2:00 am on the 1st or 2nd of June. His body was taken to the
hospital in the morning and the other dying man was also taken to hospital. "We did not hear anything about him, so all of his friends believe that he was also dead." 
	The next day, one women, about 24 years old died in the women prisoners' room. The three of them who died were from the same region. " The had been sick for at least one week and their friends had informed the police several times." he said.  Prison officials also saw their condition, but they did not send them to the hospital while they were still alive, said Ko Thaung. When people died, hospital staff came and took photos and then the bodies were taken away. Nobody knew what happened after that. The officials later told the inmates that the bodies were cremated, but no one knew if it was true.
	Another death was Ni Ni Win, 16-year-old single girl from Moulmein. She came to Thailand with a group of sixty-one men and women who were all arrested on 18 June. They were apprehended in Sankhlaburi while waiting to go into Thailand. About five days after their arrest, many of them got sick
including  the girl, said Ko Thaung. In the evening, the girl began vomiting blood and then she suffered convulsions. An official came but did nothing. She died about 1:30 am of 24, June.  The other women covered her body with a blanket until the medical staff came and took away her body. 
	Similar stories are heard about other local police cells, lock-ups, detention centers and jails.  Because Burmese are aliens in Thailand, no proper action is taken nor are they accorded any protection whatsoever.  






































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