A key Burmese political leader, Phado Mahn Sha, was assassinated on 14 February near the Thai-Burma border. In a letter to Thai prime minister Samak Suntoravej, FORUM-ASIA called on the government to "conduct a thorough examination and investigation into the case".
H.E. Samak Suntoravej
Prime Minister

Excellency,

We would like to bring your attention to the assassination case of Phado Mahn Sha, the General Secretary of the Karen National Union (KNU) on 14 February 2008. He was shot by two men at his home in Mae Sot district of Tak Province, Thailand.

Mahn Sha was involved in a ceasefire talks with the Burmese military regime and was highly respected among both ethnic and Burman allies. He had criticised the Burmese military government for violating the ceasefire agreement after the Burmese army attacks on Karen villagers.

The killing of a key Burmese political leader has created fear and uncertainty among pro-democracy groups stationed in the Thai-Burma border. This fear does not only influence the lives of pro-democratic leaders but also ordinary Burmese and Thais who live in the area.

Therefore, we urge you as Prime Minister to call upon the Thai Police to conduct a thorough examination and investigation into the case.

We thank you for your attention.

Sincerely yours,

 
Anselmo Lee
Executive Director
FORUM-ASIA
 

 
Cc.

Pol Gen Seripisut Temiyawet
Commissioner-General
Royal Thai Police

Mr. Homayoun Alizadeh
OHCHR Regional Representative for Southeast Asia

Mr. Paulo Sergio Pinheiro 
UN Special Rapporteur on the human rights situation of Myanmar

For more information, please contact:
Anselmo Lee, Executive Director, +6681 868 9178, [email protected]
Yuyun Wahyuningrum, East Asia Programme Manager, +6687 991 4451, [email protected]