No.12 - 03/2006
9 March 2006

Drugs

Anti-drug officers torture suspect to death

In Muse northern Shan State, Burmese anti-drug officers had tortured a civilian suspect to death, and refused the victim’s family to hold funeral, according to sources from the border.

On 6 March evening Mr. Lao Mong, 52, a native Chinese went to visit his friend’s house, Law Ja. He found 8 Burmese anti-drug officers inspecting Lawkya’s house, but having found nothing they took Lao Mong back to his house at Kawngmooloi No. 79 and inspected, but again found nothing illegal. Then the officers took him away to be interrogated.

His family went to the police station, but did not see him. Later, when they learned that his body was at the hospital, they prepared a coffin and went there to ask permission to take it back home.

But the officers replied that the body would have to be operated to find out the cause of his death.

It was around 6 pm the anti-drug officers took Lao Mong to the Muse hospital. Many people, including nurses, witnessed evidence of torture on his body.

On 7 March, the officers informed the victim’s family that they could take his ashes back, but refused to reveal where they cremated his remains.