PRESS RELEASE
ALRC-PL-39-2005

U.N. hears that missing Thai rights defender's wife doubts sincerity of authorities

(Geneva, April 19, 2005) The wife of missing Thai human rights defender Somchai Neelaphaijit "doubts the intentions of the authorities" investigating her husband's disappearance, the United Nations heard on Monday.  

In a statement prepared for the annual session of the U.N. Commission on Human Rights, Angkana Wongrachain said that the investigation into her husband's forced disappearance was shrouded in mystery.

"I have never been contacted by any authorities about their investigations," Angkana said in the statement, which was read on her behalf by Asian Legal Resource Centre (ALRC) spokesperson Tim Gill.

"Everything is confidential. I have heard that someone high up in the government was behind his abduction, but I have never received any clear information about this," she said.

Somchai was forcibly disappeared on March 12, 2004, allegedly by five policemen, while defending clients who had suffered extremely brutal torture at the hands of the police.

Angkana is a co-plaintiff in the criminal case against the five accused men; however, her husband's remains have never been recovered. Nor have the masterminds behind the abduction been identified.

"Now the only thing that we wish is to see his remains: even if only his ashes, still we would be happy," Angkana told the U.N.

"But our hopes are not strong. We do not see any genuine goodwill from the authorities," she said.

The ALRC earlier submitted a written statement to the commission on Somchai's disappearance, in which it also expressed concern over the large numbers of persons reported to have disappeared in the south of Thailand during recent times.

"The scale of disappearances in Thailand remains unknown due to the lack of any directed effort by government or non-government agencies to take up and document the issue; however, anecdotal evidence suggests that it is extremely high," the Hong Kong-based rights group said.

"The families of all these victims could benefit from the introduction of effective legislation to stem the practice of forced disappearances in Thailand," it said in calling for a law to prohibit such disappearances.

Full text of the April 19 statement follows.  


UNITED NATIONS COMMISSION ON HUMAN RIGHTS 61st SESSION
ITEM 17(A): PROMOTION AND PROTECTION OF HUMAN RIGHTS: HUMAN RIGHTS DEFENDERS
Forced disappearance of a human rights defender in Thailand
Statement read by Mr Tim Gill, of the Asian Legal Resource Centre

Mr Chairperson

I speak on behalf of the Asian Legal Resource Centre.

On March 12, 2004, Somchai Neelaphaijit disappeared. He was pulled from his car in Bangkok, allegedly by five policemen, and never seen again. Somchai was abducted because he was defending clients who had suffered extremely brutal torture at the hands of the police in the south of Thailand, and he had dared to speak out. He had come to Bangkok to press their case before senior authorities.

Since his disappearance, his wife, Angkana, has sought answers. Despite the wishes of the public prosecutor, she has become the co-plaintiff in a criminal case against the five accused men [Bangkok Criminal Court black case no. 1952/2547]. She has also inspired the relatives of hundreds of others who have disappeared in the south of Thailand during recent times. Angkana wanted to be with us here today, but for personal reasons, she could not. She has asked that the following remarks, which she prepared for this occasion, be read now.  

“Mr Chairperson,

“Over a year has passed since my husband disappeared. We still do not know what happened to him. I have never been contacted by any authorities about their investigations. Everything is confidential. I have heard that someone high up in the government was behind his abduction, but I have never received any clear information about this.

“I recently met the deputy director of the Forensic Science Institute. She said that she found useful evidence in his abandoned car, but has had no cooperation from the investigating police. All this has made me doubt the intentions of the authorities, and wonder how I can get justice in Thailand. Somchai was a person who could not sit still when he saw injustice. He was never reluctant to assist a victim of abuse, even though he got nothing in return. My husband taught us to make sacrifices for the betterment of society. My five children and I all believed in him, and I continue to instruct them in his values.  

“My children realise that it was due to their father’s work that we have had to face this tragedy. But they are all proud that their father was someone who fought for justice, as he would be to see them growing up in the same spirit that motivated him to protect people’s rights for some twenty years.

“Now the only thing that we wish is to see his remains: even if only his ashes, still we would be happy. His disappearance has wounded us deeply. It is worse than death. But our hopes are not strong. We do not see any genuine goodwill from the authorities.

“I regret that I have no chance to tell you this in person. Perhaps one day that chance will come. In the meantime, I pray to God to protect the families of all victims like my husband, to wipe their tears and make them good persons who will also fight for justice.”

Mr Chairperson

The Asian Legal Resource Centre strongly urges the government of Thailand to resolve fully the disappearance of Somchai Neelaphaijit, and hold accountable the perpetrators, in order that other human rights defenders in Thailand and their families do not suffer this fate worse than death. To do this properly, the government of Thailand must introduce a law criminalising forced disappearances, in accordance with international standards, without delay.

Thank you, Mr Chairperson

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About ALRC The Asian Legal Resource Centre holds general consultative status with the Economic and Social Council of the United Nations. The Hong Kong-based group seeks to strengthen and encourage positive action on legal and human rights issues at local and national levels throughout Asia.