Police say young activist they killed was drug dealer under investigation

Photo: Thai PBS
Photo: Thai PBS

Today, police are refuting claims that they framed a slain activist as a drug dealer before fatally shooting him in Chiang Mai last week.

Chaiyaphum Pasae, whose ID says he was 21 but whom friends say was only 17 years old, was an activist for stateless people in Thailand and also a member of the Lahu ethnic minority group himself.

He had caught the attention of authorities for his activism before being shot at a Chiang Mai police checkpoint. The police claimed they found 2,800 methamphetamine pills in the car he was traveling in and that he attempted to flee the scene and throw a grenade at them, leading to his death by shooting, reported Bangkok Post.

Now, the cops are saying they already had evidence that Chaiyaphum was a regular drug dealer and that’s the real reason the car was checked.

They are citing bank records for an account that they allege belonged to the deceased young man that show weekly deposits and also claim that he purchased a car in cash, reported Bangkok Post.

The car, however, is not in his name but in the name of a female drug suspect identified only as Saengla.

Poolsap Prasertsak, the Police Region 5 Commissioner, stated that the cops had already set up an undercover drug deal with Chaiyaphum to buy 600 speed pills on Jan. 24 and transferred the money to the young man’s account.

However, if that’s the case, wouldn’t they have arrested him on the spot?

Pol. Lt. Gen. Poolsap announced that, apparently retroactive, drug arrest warrants are currently being issued for the now-deceased Chaiyaphum.

The case has, rightfully, attracted much attention and brought to the fore issues about the treatment of stateless people and ethnic minorities.

The National Human Rights Commission said yesterday that they are going to probe the death.

The Thai soldier who shot the young man will be charged, police said Tuesday.

 



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