Thursday, August 20, 2009

Refugee from Myanmar beaten to death

Our Correspondent, Bandarban

An indigenous youth beat a Myanmar refugee enlisted with the United Nation High Commission for Refugee (UNHCR) to death at Madhyampara in Bandarban district town last night. 

Police said the victim Swe Mong, 60, was waiting for tea at a restaurant near his house when Sa Hla Mong suddenly attacked him with a wooden stick. He kept beating Swe till he died.

Just after the incident, police arrested Sa Hla Mong with the help of locals. 

Police later sent Swe's body to Bandarban Sadar Hospital for autopsy.

The victim's relatives said Swe Mong was a guerrilla fighter of National United Party of Arakan (NUPA), a revolutionary group fighting against the military dictatorship in Myanmar. After the NUPA divided over some issues in 2005, he became a think tank member supporting the independence of Arakan state.

Swe Mong used to live in a rented thatched house in Maddhyampara with his wife and daughter, added his relatives.

The motive behind the killing is yet to be unearthed. However, locals doubted that his detachment from the party might be one of the reasons.

UNHCR Representative Khaing Mrat Kyaw and some other officials reached Bandarban to receive the body yesterday.

The UNHCR representative told The Daily Star that they would not take the incident lightly.

He expressed surprise on how an UNHCR refugee could be killed in public. He said they would make comment on the incident after receiving the autopsy and police report.

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