March 1, 2002

Beatings and Torture Continue - Akha Hilltribe, Thailand

Dear Friends:

Five days ago Mr. Ah Dteh of Loh Mah Cheh Akha was arrested and accused of possesing methamphetamine tablets and a gun.

He was beaten and had his testicles repeatedly electrocuted, then taken in chains back to Loh Mah Cheh Akha Village by 4th army Unit 514 of Gow Lang Village (Meh Joh Border Check Point). He said the headman was his supplier and the army broke into the headman's house, had Mr. Ah Dteh dig up the floor of the house, but they could find nothing.

The army then stole two hunting rifles, 7,000 baht in cash, silver coins, and all the drinks from the store inside the house. They also took the headman's motorcycle. The headman was in the fields at the time working.

Mr. Ah Dteh told the villagers what had happened to him while he was tortured, communicating in Akha language. He described being beaten repeatedly on the back of the neck as had happened to other Akha captured by Gow Lang unit 514.

Gow Lang Unit 514 is at the access road to Meh Joh Akha.

Army unit 514 is under the control of 4th army Lt-Col Apisit also known for his permission to beat Akha villagers from other villages including the death of Mr. Ah Juuh Cheh Muuh.

Consulting the Military Attache of your Thai Embassy brings results, so please do so.

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Investigation into the burning and killing of Akha at Meh Joh Akha continues. Burmese Army insist that the raid was done not by the regular Shan army but by Thai army personell and "other" parties.

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Shan and Burmese Army Troops Mass Near Pah Nmm (Pah Noon).

Shan and Burmese Army troops are massing on both sides of the border near Pah Nmm Akha, our village. This is two kilometers away from Meh Joh Akha which was burned.

We get frequent visits from armed Shan army soldiers at Pah Nmm and they have requested that the village not enter the forest above the village for the moment where some several hundred heavily armed Shan soldiers have located.

No one can explain what the Shan Army gains by being at this location or maintaining a war with the Burmese army as they can not possibly win nor ever come off the mountain. The area is being slowly taken over by fruit orchards and prosperous tea, coffee and flower plantations which employ many villagers in the region, albeit with heavy pesticide use.

At any rate we continually expect the last great Shan showdown to occur any day with the likely spare shell falling to our village.

Matthew McDaniel
Pah Nmm (Pah Noon) Akha Village
The Akha Heritage Foundation Maesai,
Chiangrai, Thailand