A human rights group called on Thailand to fully investigate three soldiers for the "horrific" death of a Myanmar migrant on the border earlier this year, saying they had tortured and beaten the man.

Aung Ko Ko, 37, died after three soldiers and a Myanmar national brought him to an abandoned military bunker where they kicked and beat him with a bamboo stick for wearing the uniform of a neighbourhood watch group adorned with the Thai flag, Fortify Rights said, citing eyewitnesses and legal documents.

A Thai court convicted the Myanmar man, Sirachuch, in September to five years in prison for being an accomplice to Aung Ko Ko's death, according to Fortify Rights and the defendant's lawyer, who declined to comment further, citing the sensitivity of the case.

However, the police chief in Mae Sot, where Aung Ko Ko's body was found, told Reuters Sirachuch had not identified his accomplices.

“We have followed the legal process fully but he did not name others," Police Colonel Pittayakon Petcharat said.

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/mossad-confirms-terror-plot-to-target-israeli-tourists-in-thailand-775575">Also read:&nbsp;Thai police on high alert as Mossad confirms terror plot targeting Israeli tourists</a>

The case comes amid rising anti-migrant sentiment in Thailand since a coup in Myanmar in 2021 plunged the country into chaos and sent many people fleeing across the border.

The army and the defence ministry did not respond to a request for comment.

Reuters could not independently verify the claims or reach Sirachuch for comment. Reuters sent questions to him via his lawyer.

Watch |&nbsp;Myanmar: 11 Killed In Airstrike At Teashop

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In a statement, Fortify Rights’ Chief Executive Officer Matthew Smith said Thailand, as an incoming member of the United Nations Human Rights Council after it was elected in October, had a "heightened responsibility to protect human rights".

“The horrific torture and killing of Aung Ko Ko cannot be allowed to go unanswered,” he said.

Smith said he spoke to the country’s Department of Special Investigations in early November about the case. The DSI did not respond to a request for comment.

Anti-Myanmar migrant sentiment has been on the rise in Thailand, stoked by ultra-conservative political groups who say government regulation has been lax leading to a rising number of illegal Myanmar migrants who they say obtained social benefits meant for Thais.

Aung Ko Ko’s close relative said he was a construction worker and had left Myanmar to seek better healthcare.

"They didn’t have to kill him,” the relative said, through tears. "I feel very hurt. I want those culprits who killed to have suitable punishment."

Disclaimer: This story has been published from a news agency feed with minimal edits to adhere to WION's style guide. The headline may have been changed to better reflect the content of the story or to make it more suitable for WION&nbsp;audience.

A human rights group called on Thailand to fully investigate three soldiers for the "horrific" death of a Myanmar migrant on the border earlier this year, saying they had tortured and beaten the man.

A human rights group called on Thailand to fully investigate three soldiers for the "horrific" death of a Myanmar migrant on the border earlier this year, saying they had tortured and beaten the man. Aung Ko Ko, 37, died after three soldiers and a Myanmar national brought him to an abandoned military bunker where they kicked and beat him with a bamboo stick for wearing the uniform of a neighbourhood watch group adorned with the Thai flag, Fortify Rights said, citing eyewitnesses and legal documents. A Thai court convicted the Myanmar man, Sirachuch, in September to five years in prison for being an accomplice to Aung Ko Ko's death, according to Fortify Rights and the defendant's lawyer, who declined to comment further, citing the sensitivity of the case. However, the police chief in Mae Sot, where Aung Ko Ko's body was found, told Reuters Sirachuch had not identified his accomplices. “We have followed the legal process fully but he did not name others," Police Colonel Pittayakon Petcharat said. Also read: Thai police on high alert as Mossad confirms terror plot targeting Israeli tourists The case comes amid rising anti-migrant sentiment in Thailand since a coup in Myanmar in 2021 plunged the country into chaos and sent many people fleeing across the border. The army and the defence ministry did not respond to a request for comment. Reuters could not independently verify the claims or reach Sirachuch for comment. Reuters sent questions to him via his lawyer. Watch | Myanmar: 11 Killed In Airstrike At Teashop × In a statement, Fortify Rights’ Chief Executive Officer Matthew Smith said Thailand, as an incoming member of the United Nations Human Rights Council after it was elected in October, had a "heightened responsibility to protect human rights". “The horrific torture and killing of Aung Ko Ko cannot be allowed to go unanswered,” he said. Smith said he spoke to the country’s Department of Special Investigations in early November about the case. The DSI did not respond to a request for comment. Anti-Myanmar migrant sentiment has been on the rise in Thailand, stoked by ultra-conservative political groups who say government regulation has been lax leading to a rising number of illegal Myanmar migrants who they say obtained social benefits meant for Thais. Aung Ko Ko’s close relative said he was a construction worker and had left Myanmar to seek better healthcare. "They didn’t have to kill him,” the relative said, through tears. "I feel very hurt. I want those culprits who killed to have suitable punishment." Disclaimer: This story has been published from a news agency feed with minimal edits to adhere to WION's style guide. The headline may have been changed to better reflect the content of the story or to make it more suitable for WION audience.

Thailand soldiers tortured, killed Myanmar migrant, human rights group calls for probe

Myanmar`s Aung San Suu Kyi arrives today in Thailand where she is expected to be garlanded by her adoring compatriots, hundreds of thousands of whom have sought work and sanctuary from war across the border. 
 
It is Suu Kyi`s highest profile overseas visit since her pro-democracy party took power in April, ending nearly half a century of military domination. 
 
Her government has seeded hopes for a new era of prosperity that could eventually convince the army of low-paid Myanmar labourers in Thailand to return home. 
 
The two Southeast Asian neighbours have travelled in starkly different directions in recent years. 
 
While Myanmar`s junta has rolled back its chokehold on politics, last year allowing the freest elections in decades, Thailand remains in the grip of a military that seized power in 2014. 
 
As Myanmar`s democracy champion, Suu Kyi is expected to receive a rock star welcome during a visit to a fishing village in Samut Sakhon later Thursday. 
 
The port, just outside Bangkok, is the seat of Thailand`s huge seafood industry and home to more than 100,000 low-paid Myanmar labourers. 
 
The visit &quot;fills me with hope,&quot; Myanmar migrant Thon Barami, 50, told AFP at the scruffy port. 
 
&quot;We have problems here in Thailand. She might help us with labour rights... people all around the world will listen to her,&quot; she added. 
 
The fishing sector has been battered by revelations of the use of slave labour and the widespread exploitation of workers. 
 
The scandals have prompted threats of sanctions by the European Union -- a key market for the multi-billion-dollar Thai seafood 
industry. 
 
Seeking to escape poverty at home, some one million registered Myanmar migrant workers form the backbone of Thailand`s manual workforce. 
 
Tens of thousands of others work illegally, with some estimates putting the total number of Myanmar nationals in Thailand at three million. 
 
Rights groups say migrants -- legal and otherwise -- are vulnerable to unscrupulous officials, trafficking gangs and employment agencies who charge huge sums to get them poorly paid work. 
 
Their low status also sees them treated with scorn and mistrust by many Thais. 
 
&quot;They all want to go home, but they are just waiting for the economic situation (in Myanmar) to improve significantly,&quot; explained Andy Hall, a migrant rights activist with an office in the port town. 
 
The nemesis of Myanmar`s generals throughout a quarter-century of struggle for democracy, the Nobel laureate will meet with the leader of the Thai junta in Bangkok on Friday. 
 
But her schedule does not include a single press conference as Suu Kyi continues to fiercely control her government`s messaging. 
 
The 71-year-old is officially Myanmar`s foreign minister and state counsellor, but also the de facto leader of her country despite a military-era constitution that bars her from the presidency. 
 
It is unclear if she will make a scheduled trip to a refugee camp in Ratchaburi province on Saturday.&nbsp; 
 
It is one of nearly a dozen camps in Thailand holding more than 100,000 refugees who have fled conflict in Myanmar.&nbsp;Many are ethnic Karen displaced by war with Myanmar`s army. The violence abated following a 2012 ceasefire, but conflict with other ethnic rebel groups continues. 
 
Thailand, which does not accept refugees, wants to repatriate camp residents -- some of whom have been born on Thai soil but are barred from citizenship. 
 
Suu Kyi is also not scheduled to visit any of the Thai centres holding hundreds of Rohingya boat migrants, a Muslim group who have fled poverty and persecution in western Myanmar. 
 
Campaigners say her failure to throw her moral weight behind the stateless minority is a boon to Myanmar`s Buddhist hardliners who loathe the Rohingya and say they are illegal immigrants. 
 
In a sign of the sensitivity clouding the Rohingya question, a talk at the Foreign Correspondents` Club in Bangkok just ahead of Suu Kyi`s arrival was cancelled on military orders. 
 
(AFP)

Seeking to escape poverty at home, some one million registered Myanmar migrant workers form the backbone of Thailand's manual workforce

Myanmar`s Aung San Suu Kyi arrives today in Thailand where she is expected to be garlanded by her adoring compatriots, hundreds of thousands of whom have sought work and sanctuary from war across the border. It is Suu Kyi`s highest profile overseas visit since her pro-democracy party took power in April, ending nearly half a century of military domination. Her government has seeded hopes for a new era of prosperity that could eventually convince the army of low-paid Myanmar labourers in Thailand to return home. The two Southeast Asian neighbours have travelled in starkly different directions in recent years. While Myanmar`s junta has rolled back its chokehold on politics, last year allowing the freest elections in decades, Thailand remains in the grip of a military that seized power in 2014. As Myanmar`s democracy champion, Suu Kyi is expected to receive a rock star welcome during a visit to a fishing village in Samut Sakhon later Thursday. The port, just outside Bangkok, is the seat of Thailand`s huge seafood industry and home to more than 100,000 low-paid Myanmar labourers. The visit "fills me with hope," Myanmar migrant Thon Barami, 50, told AFP at the scruffy port. "We have problems here in Thailand. She might help us with labour rights... people all around the world will listen to her," she added. The fishing sector has been battered by revelations of the use of slave labour and the widespread exploitation of workers. The scandals have prompted threats of sanctions by the European Union -- a key market for the multi-billion-dollar Thai seafood industry. Seeking to escape poverty at home, some one million registered Myanmar migrant workers form the backbone of Thailand`s manual workforce. Tens of thousands of others work illegally, with some estimates putting the total number of Myanmar nationals in Thailand at three million. Rights groups say migrants -- legal and otherwise -- are vulnerable to unscrupulous officials, trafficking gangs and employment agencies who charge huge sums to get them poorly paid work. Their low status also sees them treated with scorn and mistrust by many Thais. "They all want to go home, but they are just waiting for the economic situation (in Myanmar) to improve significantly," explained Andy Hall, a migrant rights activist with an office in the port town. The nemesis of Myanmar`s generals throughout a quarter-century of struggle for democracy, the Nobel laureate will meet with the leader of the Thai junta in Bangkok on Friday. But her schedule does not include a single press conference as Suu Kyi continues to fiercely control her government`s messaging. The 71-year-old is officially Myanmar`s foreign minister and state counsellor, but also the de facto leader of her country despite a military-era constitution that bars her from the presidency. It is unclear if she will make a scheduled trip to a refugee camp in Ratchaburi province on Saturday. It is one of nearly a dozen camps in Thailand holding more than 100,000 refugees who have fled conflict in Myanmar. Many are ethnic Karen displaced by war with Myanmar`s army. The violence abated following a 2012 ceasefire, but conflict with other ethnic rebel groups continues. Thailand, which does not accept refugees, wants to repatriate camp residents -- some of whom have been born on Thai soil but are barred from citizenship. Suu Kyi is also not scheduled to visit any of the Thai centres holding hundreds of Rohingya boat migrants, a Muslim group who have fled poverty and persecution in western Myanmar. Campaigners say her failure to throw her moral weight behind the stateless minority is a boon to Myanmar`s Buddhist hardliners who loathe the Rohingya and say they are illegal immigrants. In a sign of the sensitivity clouding the Rohingya question, a talk at the Foreign Correspondents` Club in Bangkok just ahead of Suu Kyi`s arrival was cancelled on military orders. (AFP)

Myanmar's Suu Kyi visits troubled diaspora in Thailand

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Thailand soldiers tortured, killed Myanmar migrant, human rights group calls for probe

Myanmar's Suu Kyi visits troubled diaspora in Thailand