Two Myanmar citizens, Ko Phyo Paing and Ko Naing Naing Soe, have been detained for over two months at the Immigration Detention Center in Bangkok, Thailand, facing seven charges after attempting to protest against Min Aung Hlaing. The incident occurred when they tried to demonstrate against the terrorist military leader Min Aung Hlaing during his visit to the Shangri-La Hotel in Bangkok for the BIMSTEC meeting on April 3. The Thai authorities arrested them and subsequently initiated legal proceedings against them.
Following their arrest, the Thai authorities took them to a police station for interrogation and filed seven charges against them, including disrupting bilateral relations between the two countries, threatening Thailand’s stability, endangering Thai society, compromising Thailand’s peace and security, and causing unrest in Thai society. Furthermore, their legal residence permits were revoked on the grounds that they posed a threat to Thailand. They were then transferred to the Immigration Detention Center in Bangkok, where they remain in custody without access to legal representation or family visits.
According to Ko Phyo Paing’s statement, the Thai authorities deceived them into signing documents, confiscated their mobile phones, and denied them the right to hire lawyers or meet with family members. However, the United Nations has provided protection to ensure they are not deported back to Myanmar. Currently, both individuals are experiencing human rights violations during their detention and express grave concerns about potentially falling into the hands of the Myanmar military. Despite their current circumstances of detention, they have expressed their determination to continue their struggle. The Thai human rights organizations have visited them to address concerns about their potential deportation to Myanmar, while also highlighting the unfair treatment and human rights violations they are experiencing under Thai authorities.
