Cambodian worker shot dead in Thailand #UPDATED

[geovalin]

Chhay Channyda

A Cambodian migrant worker was allegedly shot dead on Thursday by his Thai supervisor in Thailand’s Chachoengsao province after an alcohol-fuelled argument with a Burmese co-worker, the victim’s family and a Cambodian border official said yesterday.

Victim Phat Sok In, 24, of Kampong Chhnang province, died instantly after being shot by a man identified only as Chin, according to Sok In’s brother-in-law Penh Sophal, 56.

Sophal said that Sok In and his co-workers were drinking after work when the argument broke out.

“Then the Burmese got on the phone with the boss. A supervisor who is Thai came to talk [to them] at the drinking table, but my brother left the place. Then, [the supervisor] called him back and took the gun and shot my brother-in-law six times in the chest and head,” Sophal said.

The suspect fled the scene in a car, he added. Sao Veasna, head of the Cambodia-Thailand border relations working group at the Poipet border checkpoint, said that his office had sent a report to higher authorities.

http://www.phnompenhpost.com/post-weekend/cambodian-worker-shot-dead-thailand

[geovalin]

Minister's help sought in migrant's death in Thailand

Fri, 1 May 2015

May Titthara

Rights group Adhoc has sent a letter to Foreign Minister Hor Namhong seeking his help in the case of a Cambodian migrant worker who was allegedly shot to death by his Thai supervisor in Thailand’s Chachoengsao province earlier this month.

“To protect the victim, Adhoc has sought intervention from institutions concerned, such as the Cambodian embassy in Thailand. It helped intervene, and sent the body to his homeland. As mentioned above, we would like to get help from Your Excellency to seek intervention and justice for the victim as well as his family,” reads the April 29 letter.

Khan Tho, the wife of victim Phat So In, said yesterday that her husband had been play-fighting with a Burmese co-worker’s son, which the boy’s father mistook for an actual beating. The co-worker called supervisor Ta Yai, who arrived on the scene and, without a word, shot So In six times.

“I would like the authorities to please render justice to our poor family,” Tho said.

Yai reportedly fled after the shooting, and it remained unclear yesterday whether Thai authorities had made an arrest. The Foreign Ministry could not be reached for comment.

http://www.phnompenhpost.com/national/ministers-help-sought-migrants-death-thailand