Mekong River massacre

Mekong River massacre
Mekong River in the Golden Triangle region around where the incident took place
Approximate location is located in Thailand
Approximate location
Approximate location
LocationChiang Saen District, Chiang Rai Province, Thailand
Date5 October 2011; 12 years ago (2011-10-05)
Attack type
Hijacking of ships, massacre
Deaths13 Chinese crew members

The Mekong River massacre occurred on the morning of 5 October 2011, when two Chinese cargo ships were attacked on a stretch of the Mekong River in the Golden Triangle region on the borders of Myanmar (Burma) and Thailand.[1] All 13 crew members on both ships were killed and dumped in the river.[2] It was the deadliest attack on Chinese nationals abroad in modern times.[3] In response, China temporarily suspended shipping on the Mekong, and reached an agreement with Myanmar, Thailand and Laos to jointly patrol the river.[3] The event was also the impetus for the Naypyidaw Declaration and other anti-drug cooperation efforts in the region.[4] On 28 October 2011, Thai authorities arrested nine Pha Muang Task Force soldiers, who subsequently "disappeared from the justice system".[5] Drug lord Naw Kham and three subordinates were eventually tried and executed by the Chinese government for their roles in the massacre.[6]

  1. ^ Armstrong, Paul (2013-03-01). "China executes drug gang over Mekong river massacre". CNN. Archived from the original on 2021-10-06. Retrieved 2021-10-06.
  2. ^ "中国13名船员在泰国境内惨遭劫杀". China.com (in Chinese). 10 October 2011. Archived from the original on 9 December 2011. Retrieved 16 August 2012.
  3. ^ a b "Laos extradites suspect to China in Mekong massacre case". Chicago Tribune. 10 May 2012. Archived from the original on 8 April 2013. Retrieved 16 August 2012.
  4. ^ Saw Yan Naing (10 May 2013). "Drug Trade a 'Significant Threat' to Region: Mekong Nations". The Irrawaddy. Archived from the original on 27 September 2013. Retrieved 4 October 2017.
  5. ^ "Whitewash at Chiang Saen". Bangkok Post. 2 October 2016. Archived from the original on 19 October 2023. Retrieved 2 October 2016.
  6. ^ Cite error: The named reference China executes was invoked but never defined (see the help page).