A Myanmar construction worker in Thailand was shot dead by his supervisor over the weekend following an argument, the Myanmar Overseas Employment Agencies Federation said on Monday.
U Kyaw Zaw, a general secretary of the federation, said the incident happened on Krabi island on Saturday and the victim was a documented worker who was working in Thailand under the agreement between the kingdom and Myanmar.
“(Our group) asked Thai police to arrest the killer as quickly as possible. We are cooperating with police in searching for the suspect,” he said.
The federation said in a statement Myanmar workers, including the victim, who was identified as Maung Kyaw Lin, were gambling with four Thai nationals, including the construction site supervisor, on Saturday evening.
During the game, the victim and the suspect got into a heated argument. The supervisor allegedly took his gun from his room and shot the Myanmar worker before he fled in his car, the statement said.
The victim died at the scene as the bullet pierced his heart, the statement added.
The federation said they are closely monitoring developments in the case to ensure the safety of other Myanmar workers at the construction site.
“According to the law, the victim has no right to ask for compensation, as he was at fault and the case is criminal in nature,” said U Aung Myo Thant, legal adviser of the Myanmar embassy in Thailand.
U Kyaw Zaw of the federation said they will transfer the rest of the Myanmar workers from the construction site to other workplaces for their safety, once they get permission from the Myanmar Labour Ministry.
There are about 50 foreign workers, including 15 Myanmar workers, at the construction site and all of them are legal. MT – EP
Myanmar worker slain in Thailand
