COLD-STORAGE TRUCK DEATHS
PENCHAN CHAROENSUTHIPAN
Fifty-six illegal Burmese workers who survived last month's cold-storage truck tragedy will be deported to Burma next week, while another 11 will remain in Thailand to testify as witnesses.
Ranong deputy governor Yongyos Mekarun said arrangements for their deportation were agreed to at a meeting of Thai and Burmese authorities.
An agreement was also signed to investigate the incident and bring those responsible to justice.
Early last month, a total of 54 of 121 illegal Burmese immigrants travelling in the back of a cold-storage truck suffocated while being smuggled to Phuket from Ranong. The truck usually carries fresh fish. Six Thais have been charged in connection with the incident.
Thanu Ekkachote, of the Lawyers Council, yesterday reproached investigators for not having questioned the women and children in the truck.
Instead of getting to the bottom of the case they had done their work in a very slapdash way and opted for rapid deportation, he said.
Only a few police and staff from a Ranong charitable foundation were responsible for identifying the bodies. Only 38 of the 54 victims had been identified and relatives were not allowed to identify and collect the bodies for funeral services, he said.
Mr Thanu said it seemed justice had not been done for the surviving family members, who should get compensation and the legal rights due them.
Chulalongkorn University law lecturer Withit Mantraporn said the survivors should be allowed to stay here temporarily and take legal action against the real culprits, instead of being put on trial.
Prev
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
11
12
13
14
15
16
17
18
19
Next
