Rights groups demand probe into latest ‘disappearance’ of exiled Thai dissident

By The Nation

 

Wanchalearm Satsaksit/Photo Credit: Amnesty International

 

A Thai activist in Cambodia has been snatched off the street by armed men, say rights groups, the latest in a series of forced disappearances of Thai political exiles.

 

 

Wanchalearm Satsaksit, 37, was abducted by unknown persons from outside an apartment building in Phnom Penh, David Griffiths, director in the Office of the Secretary-General at Amnesty International. Wanchalearm fled Thailand in 2014 after the military seized power, and has been a vociferous critic of the Prayut administration ever since, broadcasting his views on Facebook. Thai police have reportedly denied having any role in his disappearance.

 

“The Cambodian authorities must urgently investigate Wanchalearm’s alleged abduction in order to establish his whereabouts. The Thai authorities must also confirm whether Wanchalearm was arrested at their request,” said Griffiths.

 

“If he is located, he must not be returned to Thailand where he likely faces persecution.”

 

US-based watchdog Humans Rights Watch also demanded that Phnom Penh urgently investigate the incident.

 

Griffiths pointed out that this would not be the first time that Thai citizens have vanished after expressing their political opinions.  

 

A relative reported the abduction on June 4, after speaking to him on the phone at 17.54 as Wanchalearm left his flat to purchase food. “I can’t breathe” were the activist’s final words before the conversation abruptly ended. Security camera footage from the apartment reportedly showed a Honda Highlander sedan departing at the time Wanchalearm disappeared. 

 

Thai authorities filed charges against him, most recently in 2018 under the Computer Crimes Act, alleging that he had posted anti-government material on Facebook. They reportedly requested his extradition from Cambodian authorities at the time. They also filed charges against him for failing to report to summons issued in 2014 to a wide range of activists and political figures after the military coup in May of that year. Prior to exile he was a youth and HIV activist and also managed an HIV outreach programme at the Rainbow Sky Alliance of Thailand.

 

Amnesty notes that at least eight Thai activists and members of the political opposition have disappeared or been killed in Laos and Vietnam in recent years. The rights group said it is concerned that regional governments have failed to properly investigate this pattern of abductions by unknown perpetrators of Thai nationals whose extradition had been sought by Thai authorities.

This includes Thai national Ittipol Sukpaen, who disappeared in June 2016; Wutthipong “Ko Tee” Kottham-makhun, who Amnesty said disappeared after being abducted by Thai-speaking masked men in July 2017 (whose abduction the Lao authorities confirmed they had not investigated); Surachai Danwattananusorn, who disappeared after being abducted in Vientiane in December 2018 together with Chatcharn Buppawan and Kraidej Lulert, whose corpses were found in the Mekong river in Thailand in December 2018.

 

Source: https://www.nationthailand.com/news/30389115

 

-- © Copyright The Nation Thailand 2020-06-06

 

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Just now, rooster59 said:

“I can’t breathe” were the activist’s final words

Popular phrase these days

Activists that flee Thailand due to persecution, need to go further afield than Lao or Cambodia where Thai assassins can operate freely.

What do you call a country that dispatches agents to hunt down its critics abroad, abducts them, murders them? That's right, a terrorist state. There is no other word for it.

Edited June 6, 20206 yr by Misterwhisper

In another news source it's reported he was abducted just after he released a video criticizing the Prayut.
There's a protest going on which the police are trying to break up.

https://www.thaienquirer.com/14028/political-activist-in-exile-kidnapped-by-armed-men-after-posting-a-video-attacking-the-pm/

 

Just look what Israel and Russia are doing...and they go away with it

Chinese SOP...must have learn from them....

As someone else tweeted, if you wanna know who abducted (and presumably murdered this activist), look at the people who publicly stated in the news that they were “hunting” these kinds of activists living in neighbouring countries. Yes, those people are the government. 

5 hours ago, ChrisY1 said:

Activists that flee Thailand due to persecution, need to go further afield than Lao or Cambodia where Thai assassins can operate freely.

Absolutely right; they have to get away from South East Asia entirely really if they want to live !

Wow. 

Edited June 6, 20206 yr by holy cow cm

6 hours ago, ChrisY1 said:

Activists that flee Thailand due to persecution, need to go further afield than Lao or Cambodia where Thai assassins can operate freely.

Very true.

 

One issue that arises is when these people leave Thailand, their passports are cancelled, making further travel something of a challenge.

 

Often their passport is cancelled before they flee, so a close country is possible due to porous borders but further afield presents logistical challenges. Getting travel documents to go to "safer" countries requires some planning and co-operation from a third country. It also requires money, that can be a big issue for those who are not well off to start with.

9 hours ago, rooster59 said:

Griffiths pointed out that this would not be the first time that Thai citizens have vanished after expressing their political opinions.

And certainly not the last.

Thailand has a history of critics disappearing or being murdered. Just read T. Habekorn's book 'In Plain Sight: Impunity and Human Rights in Thailand'. Your life ain't worth much in SE Asia if you advocate democracy,  human right or anything that hints at a republic. This poor chap probably is dead already, buried or floating in the Mekong. Who's behind it? Good question but the list of possible suspects ain't large . Poor unfortunate Thailand. 

8 hours ago, chuang said:

Chinese SOP...must have learn from them....

Not even remotely connected.

14 hours ago, rooster59 said:

Griffiths pointed out that this would not be the first time that Thai citizens have vanished after expressing their political opinions.  

 

Hmmm

 

https://www.nationthailand.com/opinion/30370562

14 hours ago, LomSak27 said:

Popular phrase these days

Will there be same amount of outrage here?

Reports of 500,000 tweets as Thai netizens call awareness to the kidnapping of Wanchalearm and other activists in exile.

41 minutes ago, Yinn said:

 

Hmmm

 

https://www.nationthailand.com/opinion/30370562

A better summary: the Thai powers that be have no respect for silly ideas such as democracy, justice and human rights. They think the ordinary Thai need to be obedient,  need a strong leader and those who step out off line need to be punished (severely I may say: abduction,  torture and killing are on the menu). 

Edited June 6, 20206 yr by Donutz

Black crimminal gets killed in the USA by cops, worldwide outrage, demos, looting, taking the knee, celebraties competing to support BLM. Honest Thai fighting for democracy kidnapped and murdered by state operatives.......................................................nobody cares.

Edited June 7, 20206 yr by Orton Rd

Thai police deny any role...of course they weren't involved. What about some military special forces guys?