" Death Penalty " Given To Five For Stealing Corn

[sriracha john]

Two charged with killing and burning 5 Burmese farmhands

Tak - Police have arrested two Thai corn farmers who were alleged to have colluded to kill and burn five Burmese migrant workers after finding they stole their corn. The owners of a corn farm in Mae Sot district, Prayoon Wiradet, 38, and Somboon Pengin, 33, were arrested on Sunday night after a witness told police she saw them drive the five victims out of the farm before they were killed. All the Burmese were workers at the farm. The wife of a victim, identified only as Arthong, said Prayoon, Somboon, and an unidentified man went to the farm and drank liquor at a shelter for the Burmese workers. Her husband and four Burmese were called to join the group but when they came out, she said, they were forced to get in a vehicle. According to the police investigation, the victims were driven to a farm where Prayoon and his friends shot dead Arthong and the other Burmese before burning their bodies with tyres. Police said their motive was to take revenge on the Burmese who allegedly stole corn from their farm and sold it to other traders. Police are searching for the other suspect in the murders.

Continued here:

http://www.bangkokpost.com/News/20Nov2007_news15.php

[seonai]

Bas***** the Burmese have enough problems without this. Treated as second class again

[Scott]

Not that it matters or makes it right, but just how much corn did they steal?

[sriracha john]

They stole the "death penalty" minimum of a grand total of 5 sacks, Scott.......1 sack of corn each... and for that they were all handcuffed, shot in the head, and then burned.

Police Arrest Thai Plantation Owner On Murder Charges In Slayings Of Five Myanmar Employees

BANGKOK, THAILAND: Police have arrested a corn plantation owner for the execution-style slayings of five of his workers from neighboring Myanmar, authorities said Monday (19 Nov).

Prayoon Kareeradej, 37, owner of the plantation, and a Thai employee were arrested Sunday (18 Nov) after police found the burned remains of five bodies, and surviving Myanmar workers identified them as the attackers, said Police Lt. Col. Teng Boonsong in Mae Sot, 380 kilometers (240 miles) northwest of Bangkok on the Myanmar border.

The wives of the five victims reported to police that their husbands had disappeared after being taken away from the plantation last 9 Sept.

Police said that Prayoon and two other Thai men seized the five because they were angry that they had stolen five sacks of corn. They were handcuffed and shot execution-style in their heads, and two other Myanmar laborers were forced to burn their bodies at the site, Teng said.

Police said the third suspect was still being sought. The three could face the death penalty if found guilty.

More than 1 million Myanmar workers are employed in fishing, agriculture and other industries in Thailand, many of them living in substandard conditions and subject to abuse by employers.

- Associated Press

Edited November 20, 2007 by sriracha john

[Scott]

Thanks SJ, now I feel a whole lot better about this situation!

Seriously, it's very, very sad, especially since this guy is an employer.

My condolences to the families of the victims.

[seonai]

These people are desperate ... how can anyone shoot them... It's been on the BBC today, all day that the situation in Burma is desperate. I despise some Thai b******* who do this kind of thing

And now it's become so bad that the BBC are talking about Thai electricity being provided by Burma... so everyone in Thailand is now going to have to rethink boycotting

[jts-khorat]

These people are desperate ... how can anyone shoot them... It's been on the BBC today, all day that the situation in Burma is desperate. I despise some Thai b******* who do this kind of thing

quite frankly I find it weird that some posters here connect the political situation in the home country of the victims with the fact that they did steal corn.

Stealing was not a politically motivated crime, difficult to suppose otherwise. In the same way I would not think that the thieves were executed because the farm owners were for the junta in Yangon.

And finally I would conclude that being employed for a salary within Thailand would have made them a lot less desperate than the starving people back home. So who thinks they planned to drag those sacks of corn back to their homes in Burma?

A little bit less sensationalism here, please...

[Scott]

It was bound to happen. People will often mix the whole business of politics, the military, poverty and good vs. evil into one giant tangled web.

It is sad that up to a million people have to leave their home country to work for poor wages.

It is sad that employers take advantage of employees.

It is extremely sad that any employer would kill any employee for any reason, but especially for theft. I believe that most countries have police, courts and immigration officials who could deal with this is a much more civil manner.

My guess is that this employer and his accomplises aren't very nice people regardless of anyones race or nationality.

[jts-khorat]

It was bound to happen. People will often mix the whole business of politics, the military, poverty and good vs. evil into one giant tangled web.

It is sad that up to a million people have to leave their home country to work for poor wages.

It is sad that employers take advantage of employees.

It is extremely sad that any employer would kill any employee for any reason, but especially for theft. I believe that most countries have police, courts and immigration officials who could deal with this is a much more civil manner.

My guess is that this employer and his accomplices aren't very nice people regardless of anyones race or nationality.

<< The three could face the death penalty if found guilty. >>

which shows that you get harsh treatment if you commit a horrible crime, even in Thailand. Just as it should be (and in this case it does not even seem to matter that the workers were not Thai).

Little place for politics in this scenario.

[LoveDaBlues]

That must be some really tasty corn!

[thaigene2]

<< The three could face the death penalty if found guilty. >>

which shows that you get harsh treatment if you commit a horrible crime, even in Thailand. Just as it should be (and in this case it does not even seem to matter that the workers were not Thai).

Little place for politics in this scenario.

I'm sure you'll be following this up to confirm that the Thai employers are sent to prison. Tell me you'll do that ok? Because the next step will be to deport the witnesses back to Burma before the trial.

You think the Thai authorities are going to go to the wall over this when they don't do it for their own disenfranchised people? What about the people at that BKK bustop killed by the little rich pr+ck? What happened to him? And what about the cop who allegedly hacked off the arm of that girl? Oh look - today the police paraded her on TV and made her WAI TO THEM for giving her a 'FREE' artificial arm. What about the cop? Is he going to trial? Is he going to jail? Check on that too ok? Good bloody grief..

Edited November 20, 2007 by thaigene2

[kat]

Unfortunately, this is not the first case of this kind. Groups of Burmese have been burned on tires in Mae Sot, for much less, such as demanding back wages owed them. And, these are only the cases we hear about.

[thaigene2]

Unfortunately, this is not the first case of this kind. Groups of Burmese have been burned on tires in Mae Sot, for much less, such as demanding back wages owed them. And, these are only the cases we hear about.

I think this is, sadly, very true.

[kat]

Yes, thaigene, it is not only sadly true, but a verifiable, historic fact, and part of the long, ugly tapestry of brutality against helpless Burmese migrants in this country.

[thaigene2]

Yes, thaigene, it is not only sadly true, but a verifiable, historic fact, and part of the long, ugly tapestry of brutality against helpless Burmese migrants in this country.

Preaching to the converted Kat. My point was that it's part of a bigger picture of neglect and dismissiveness in a society that cares little for poor or disenfranchised, but falls over itself chasing the Pooyais - but you're right the Burmese are at the bottom of the totem pole.

[kat]

No, not preaching to you; I am in total agreement with you.

[sriracha john]

Miraculously, it wasn't five given the "death penalty"... one survived...

Burmese man survived brutal Mae Sot attack

A Burmese migrant worker thought to have died along with four other Burmese men who were shot dead in Tak's Mae Sot district has survived the killing and is now under police protection as a key witness. The survivor, U Thein Aung, 55, told police he pretended to be dead. Thein Aung and the other four Burmese were gunned down in a corn farm where they worked as farm hands by three Thai men, according to Mae Sot police chief Pol Col Pasawat Daengjui. Once the gunmen left the murder scene, Thein Aung, who was injured, managed to escape and seek help from other Burmese workers who rushed him to a local hospital, said Pasawat. The bodies of the four dead Burmese were burned with tyres, he said. Police believe one of the gunmen was the victims' employer, Prayoon Wiradet, 38. The other two suspects are Somboon Pengin, 33, and Suthas Singla, 37. Prayoon and Somboon were arrested on murder charges on Sunday. Suthas was still at large and police yesterday asked the Mae Sot district court to issue a warrant for his arrest. Police said the Burmese workers were shot because they were believed to have stolen some corn

Continued here:

http://www.bangkokpost.com/News/21Nov2007_news06.php

[OlRedEyes]

I'd hate to be a Burmese 'under police protection'.....

[Tony Clifton]

I'd hate to be a Burmese 'under police protection'.....

I wonder if he will also swallow his socks while handcuffed in a cell?

Edited November 21, 2007 by Tony Clifton

[jts-khorat]

<< The three could face the death penalty if found guilty. >>

which shows that you get harsh treatment if you commit a horrible crime, even in Thailand. Just as it should be (and in this case it does not even seem to matter that the workers were not Thai).

Little place for politics in this scenario.

I'm sure you'll be following this up to confirm that the Thai employers are sent to prison. Tell me you'll do that ok? Because the next step will be to deport the witnesses back to Burma before the trial.

You think the Thai authorities are going to go to the wall over this when they don't do it for their own disenfranchised people? What about the people at that BKK bustop killed by the little rich pr+ck? What happened to him? And what about the cop who allegedly hacked off the arm of that girl? Oh look - today the police paraded her on TV and made her WAI TO THEM for giving her a 'FREE' artificial arm. What about the cop? Is he going to trial? Is he going to jail? Check on that too ok? Good bloody grief..

'Good grief', harsh words indeed. So you might quickly then also point out, how this crime is somehow related to the current junta in Burma (not at all), or the general dislike of between Thai and Burmese (not at all).

thaigene2, enrich us with your wisdom...

Even less I can see how this particular crime is related to incidences where Thais mistreated other Thais in Bangkok. Lots of generalizations here on Thai Visa, that all to often do not even hit close to any sense.

And call me a cynic, actually I will not follow this or other cases up, as the Thai people get pretty much the kind of treatment from the authorities they deserve; in another thread here, the majority of Thais thinks vote buying is more or less ok. You think like a third world population, you get third world politics and corruption; If the Thais think it is ok, who am I to argue them?

Still, has nothing to do with burning Burmese or other foreigners.

[thaigene2]

<< The three could face the death penalty if found guilty. >>

which shows that you get harsh treatment if you commit a horrible crime, even in Thailand. Just as it should be (and in this case it does not even seem to matter that the workers were not Thai).

Little place for politics in this scenario.

I'm sure you'll be following this up to confirm that the Thai employers are sent to prison. Tell me you'll do that ok? Because the next step will be to deport the witnesses back to Burma before the trial.

You think the Thai authorities are going to go to the wall over this when they don't do it for their own disenfranchised people? What about the people at that BKK bustop killed by the little rich pr+ck? What happened to him? And what about the cop who allegedly hacked off the arm of that girl? Oh look - today the police paraded her on TV and made her WAI TO THEM for giving her a 'FREE' artificial arm. What about the cop? Is he going to trial? Is he going to jail? Check on that too ok? Good bloody grief..

'Good grief', harsh words indeed. So you might quickly then also point out, how this crime is somehow related to the current junta in Burma (not at all), or the general dislike of between Thai and Burmese (not at all).

thaigene2, enrich us with your wisdom...

Even less I can see how this particular crime is related to incidences where Thais mistreated other Thais in Bangkok. Lots of generalizations here on Thai Visa, that all to often do not even hit close to any sense.

And call me a cynic, actually I will not follow this or other cases up, as the Thai people get pretty much the kind of treatment from the authorities they deserve; in another thread here, the majority of Thais thinks vote buying is more or less ok. You think like a third world population, you get third world politics and corruption; If the Thais think it is ok, who am I to argue them?

Still, has nothing to do with burning Burmese or other foreigners.

Look - you said that this "shows that you get harsh treatment if you commit a horrible crime, even in Thailand. Just as it should be"

Well, only if they get convicted and actually go to jail. There are at least 7 or 8 cases with which I am very familiar (inc. the 2 or 3 that I mentioned above) where the newspapers talked about the maximum penalty - but what ever happened?? Now, anyone who reads the papers here in LOS will know that these things get reproted and then it all goes quiet.

Nothing to do with Burmese eh??

Well let me ask you this then - what ever happened to the Thai woman who bashed in her maid's head, broke her spine, and left her for dead at the side of a Bangkok suburban road? Big splashy story a year or so ago - shaved headed girl with a plate in her skull is paraded across TV screens. She was taken to a hospital by a taxi driver - same hospital as where the King and his sister stayed by the way - for nearly three months recovering. Now then, we know who did this, so do the police, who charged the Thai woman with various serious offences, also note she never paid the girl for her six months at work (a child technically -17 y.o from Burma - and so also a human trafficking case and worst form of child labour - all SERIOUS offences) and I ask you - did SHE GO TO F+CKING JAIL..Why don't these things ever get followed up? Did she? I don't know do you?

But no - you say we should be glad that the authorities have "charged" someone and they COULD get 50 years in jail. Like I said, let me know what happens ok?

YOU SAID: "'Good grief', harsh words indeed. So you might quickly then also point out, how this crime is somehow related to the current junta in Burma (not at all), or the general dislike of between Thai and Burmese (not at all)."

Who said anything about the Junta in Burma? - of course not, they don;t give a sh+t about their people either - just like here..poor means nothing - nationality just one notch further down the periscope.

[thaigene2]

Oh and let's not forget the bigger picture...as horrrible as this is.

Where are the Western media in this horrible story?

Anyone seen this appearing in BBC, FT, and (ohh.... forget the US media - hopeless..)

If these were five WHITE farmhands executed in Zimbabwe or even five MEXICAN farmhands in the US - WHOAA NELLY!

[sriracha john]

Police Arrest Thai Plantation Owner On Murder Charges In Slayings Of Five Myanmar Employees

BANGKOK, THAILAND: Police have arrested a corn plantation owner for the execution-style slayings of five of his workers from neighboring Myanmar, authorities said Monday

- Associated Press

Oh and let's not forget the bigger picture...as horrrible as this is.

Where are the Western media in this horrible story?

Anyone seen this appearing in BBC, FT, and (ohh.... forget the US media - hopeless..)

If these were five WHITE farmhands executed in Zimbabwe or even five MEXICAN farmhands in the US - WHOAA NELLY!

The Associated Press Headquarters

450 W. 33rd St.

New York, NY 10001

and that would be US of A

[thaigene2]

Police Arrest Thai Plantation Owner On Murder Charges In Slayings Of Five Myanmar Employees

BANGKOK, THAILAND: Police have arrested a corn plantation owner for the execution-style slayings of five of his workers from neighboring Myanmar, authorities said Monday

- Associated Press

Oh and let's not forget the bigger picture...as horrrible as this is.

Where are the Western media in this horrible story?

Anyone seen this appearing in BBC, FT, and (ohh.... forget the US media - hopeless..)

If these were five WHITE farmhands executed in Zimbabwe or even five MEXICAN farmhands in the US - WHOAA NELLY!

The Associated Press Headquarters

450 W. 33rd St.

New York, NY 10001

and that would be US of A

NOT SO FAST...

Just did a Google News Search on this and used the following quote

"Police have arrested a corn plantation owner"

It appears in the Int'l Herald Tribune ONLY...which you may think is a big deal, BUT of course is only read by english-language natives starved for english-language texts OUTSIDE of their own countries..

The AP has its Asia Desk here in BKK which means they filter all this stuff - hundreds of stories a day - back to NYC. But the editors there kill most of it...It's mainly aimed at the English-language papers in Asia that take the AP syndication..It won't see the light of day in "US of A" as you said nor Europe most likely..

TG2

[sriracha john]

Never said it was going to reported in the USA... simply that the story was generated and is owned by AP, which is headquartered in the US of A.

News, anywhere, tends to focus on the area it is covering.... which is why Bangkok Post/Nation et al don't print up news of the daily murders in the West for the most part...

and by the way, the International Herald Tribune was not the only one carrying the Associated Press article:

The China Post in Taiwan:

http://www.chinapost.com.tw/asia/2007/11/2...-plantation.htm

The Inquirer in the Philippines:

http://newsinfo.inquirer.net/breakingnews/...ticle_id=101875

The Pressemitteilung in Austria:

http://www.pr-inside.com/police-arrest-tha...-on-r307075.htm

[thaigene2]

My main point was that it won't be reported in journals in the West. That's all.

AP's raison-d'etre for having an Asia Desk here is to provide this kind of thing to Asian subscribers...But I agree with you, the more it's reported the better..wherever.

Edited November 22, 2007 by thaigene2

[sriracha john]

Oh and let's not forget the bigger picture...as horrrible as this is.

Where are the Western media in this horrible story?

Anyone seen this appearing in BBC, FT, and (ohh.... forget the US media - hopeless..)

If these were five WHITE farmhands executed in Zimbabwe or even five MEXICAN farmhands in the US - WHOAA NELLY!

My main point was that it won't be reported in journals in the West. That's all.

AP's raison-d'etre for having an Asia Desk here is to provide this kind of thing to Asian subscribers...But I agree with you, the more it's reported the better..wherever.

I agree it is better... My post was in response to your first post above in that it was at least generated by a news agency headquartered in the West...

As well as saying in my subsequent post that one shouldn't expect "the Western media in this horrible story" at all, as they got plenty of their own.

[distortedlink]

These people are desperate ... how can anyone shoot them... It's been on the BBC today, all day that the situation in Burma is desperate. I despise some Thai b******* who do this kind of thing

And now it's become so bad that the BBC are talking about Thai electricity being provided by Burma... so everyone in Thailand is now going to have to rethink boycotting

A reasonable question to ask: Why do you refer to Thais as bastards?