Arakanese Migrant Worker Killed on Thai-Malaysia Border

By Maung Aye, Kuala Lumpur (Narinjara): An Arakanese migrant worker in Malaysia was killed a few days ago on the Thai-Malaysia border as he was traveling back to his home country, said a fellow worker on Tuesday.

The victim was identified as Oo Shwe Thein, the 30-year-old son of U San Hla Phaw and Daw Shwe Yin Nu from Kyaw San Village in Arakan State's Ponna Kyunt Townhsip.

"I heard that he died in some incident, but I am not sure how he died. Most people think that he was killed by some miscreants," said his fellow worker.

Oo Shwe Thein arrived in Malaysia in September 2008 and had been working in a furniture factory for nine months.

According to another worker, the victim is said to have left to see his broker who brought him to Malaysia to reclaim his Burmese national ID card so he could return home. His death was discovered after ten days when his wife phoned to inquire about his delay.

The worker added that the broker's name was Tin Tun from Tan Kho Village in Ponna Kyunt Township and he is currently working in Thailand.

The body of the victim is now at the SP Hospital on the border and will be cremated on Wednesday. The deceased left behind his wife, Ma San Mya, and a one-year-old daughter.

More than 100,000 Arakanese are currently living as migrant workers in Malaysia and Thailand due to the economic crisis and shortage of jobs in their homeland, caused in large part by the army's monopolization of local businesses.