Refugee

ွSaw Ru, 27-year-old son of Saw Po Lu and New Ahku were shot by the Thai security guard and hit gunshot at his leg while he was trying to exit from the No Pho camp with other refugees on the night of January 12, 1998. No Pho is situated in Omphum district, Tak province. (Source: HRDU)

Nyan Lin, age 32 was killed on March 15, 1998 by Thai soldiers guarding Mawker refugee camp in Tak Provine, western Thailand, which houses Karen refugees. He returned to the camp after the 6 p.m. curfew established by the Thai authorities, and was beaten to death. Three refugees, including Nyan Lin, tried to enter the camp at 6:30 p.m. after finishing work outside when they saw a group of Thai security forces coming towards them. Two of them escaped, but Nyan Lin hid in the bushes. Thai forces initially left the scene, but they returned, and one discovering Nyan Lin, beat him with theirrifle butts. They reported this to the camp leader, who found Nyan Lin unable to walk or talk. He was then carried back to the camp on a stretcher, and eventually taken to the local hospital, where he was pronounced dead on arrival. A Thai military officer paid Nyan Lin's wife, Cherry 20,000 baht as compensation, but no criminal action was taken against the soldiers. The camp has been under curfew from dusk to dawn, since Huay Kaloke refugee camp came under attack on the morning of March 11, 1998.