Family members report that the death of 22-year-old Aung Zin Htun from Ziphyuthaung village in Ye Township, Mon State, who was killed while working on a fishing raft, remains without justice as the employer falsely claims he died from drowning while intoxicated, preventing them from filing a formal case. Aung Zin Htun joined the fishing raft crew in June, and after about a month, his family was informed that he had drowned after becoming intoxicated. However, the family maintains that this explanation is impossible as Aung Zin Htun was not known to consume alcohol.
Family investigations revealed that Aung Zin Htun was actually tortured and killed on the fishing raft. The truth emerged through his fellow workers and friends, who were subsequently threatened and fired by the employer and raft supervisor for speaking out about the incident. The family has neither received the victim’s body nor any compensation from the employer. When the case was reported to Ziphyuthaung village administrator U Aung Lwin, no action was taken. Reports to both police and military authorities have also proved ineffective.
Local residents report that such murders, physical abuse, and inhumane working conditions have persisted on fishing rafts for many years, with relevant authorities consistently turning a blind eye to these human rights violations. The case highlights the ongoing issues of worker exploitation and lack of justice in Myanmar’s fishing industry, where victims’ families often struggle to obtain legal recourse or compensation when such incidents occur. The situation reflects a broader pattern of impunity for those responsible for workplace deaths and abuse in the region’s fishing industry.
