Thailand’s Department of Special Investigation (DIS) has reopened the investigation into the death of a Myanmar maid in Lopburi province earlier this month, the Thailand-based Aid Alliance Committee (AAC) has announced.
The body of Nyo Nyo Aye, 17, was found in her employer’s home on August 6 with two bullet wounds in the back of her head. Her employer’s gun was found nearby. Local police ruled her death a suicide.
AAC, an organization that assists Myanmar migrant workers in Thailand, reported the case to the DIS a few days later and called on the Myanmar government to investigate the case.
“We found some questionable circumstances about her death, even though the [employer and local police] have assumed it was a suicide case,” AAC member Ye Min told the Myanmar Times on August 11.
Among the irregularities was the fact that Nyo Nyo Aye was left-handed, and her wounds were found on the right side of her head. The DSI eventually agreed to look into the case.
“The DSI is performing DNA tests to determine whether the gun used in the [apparent] suicide was handled by her or not,” AAC legal advisor Ko Ko Naing told Eleven.
Nyo Nyo Aye was originally from Taninthayi Region and had been working for her Thai employer for three years before her death. On August 8, the employer sent Nyo Nyo Aye’s body to her relatives near the Myanmar border, along with 5,000 baht (K204,000). She was buried the next day.
The mother and elder sister of the deceased are now staying at the AAC’s office in Thailand while the investigation proceeds. They told Eleven that they have been promised assistance by the Myanmar embassy in Thailand, though nothing has been provided yet.
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