Myanmar fisherman shot in his sleep by Thai employer

A Myanmar worker living in southern Thailand was shot by his employer and is currently in hospital, the Myanmar Times reports.

The victim has been identified as 21-year-old Maung Maung Htay, a fisherman working in southern Thailand’s Phang Nga province. Originally from Mrauk-U in Rakhine State, he had been on the boat for approximately a year as one of 22 Myanmar migrant workers onboard.

According to Eleven, the incident occurred on Saturday. The victim’s coworker and roommate Soe Win told the Times that Maung Maung Htay and their boat owner, who was also the vessel’s helmsman, got into an argument because the former was prohibited from doing some shopping before the boat departed shore.

Once at sea, the owner reportedly beat Maung Maung Htay with his gun, before shooting him in the back while he was sleeping. The bullet penetrated Maung Maung Htay’s back, leaving him with serious injuries.

The owner is currently in police custody. The Myanmar Migrant Workers’ Network (MWN) confirmed that a police report has been filed, and that they are consulting with officials from the Myanmar Embassy in Thailand to take legal action against the suspect.

The same boat reportedly also caught fire in April 2015, resulting in several injuries and the deaths of two Myanmar workers. The victims from the fire have yet to be compensated, according to MWN chair Shwe Tun Aye.