Single-storey shophouses advertised for rent are now common in what was once a packed Myanmar community in Ranong's Muang district. Some families have left their belongings -- including a bicycle, in one instance -- as if in a hurry to leave the country.
A few days after the police arrested four Myanmar migrant workers over the brutal stabbing murder of a 17-year-old student in a nearby alley on Sept 28, at least three households moved back to Myanmar.
Now, two months later, all is quiet. Stories from the suspects, relayed by their friends and family, that they were tortured into confessing have spread like wildfire through the migrant worker community.
Visits in the night by police investigators have also fuelled fears that their children might be snatched for questioning.
"The atmosphere has changed," said Attaporn Emwat, the owner of a shrimp processing factory.
"People usually gather outside their houses for a conversation, but now they close their doors by 7pm. They reckon the police will come at night to take their family members away."
Police initially summoned two Myanmar migrants for questioning, but released them after finding they were not involved in the murder of Orawee Sampaotong. Later they arrested four Myanmar suspects who now remain in Ranong prison.
In the southern province which shares its western border with Myanmar, and where shopping malls have signs in Myanmar script, is a community where residents live in fear that one day, they too will fall victim to what they believe to be false accusations by the police.
"Everyone knows that they [the four suspects] didn't do it," said Mr Attaporn. "We just hope they can come back home."
The confession
According to the official statements that Moe Zin Aung, 19, Zaw Lay, 25, Mang Sane, 20, and Kyaw Soe Win, 18, gave to police officers on Oct 25, the four confessed to taking part in the murder.
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