Protesters pay tribute to political exiles suspected victims of forced disappearance

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Protesters pay tribute to political exiles suspected victims of forced disappearance

By The Nation

 

Pro-democracy protesters commemorate the memory of Surachai Danwattananusorn, a prominent political activist, on Saturday in Bangkok on the second anniversary of his alleged forced disappearance.

 

Pro-democracy protesters organised an event to remember three prominent political dissidents who became victims of alleged forced disappearance two years ago.

 

The event was held at the October 14 Memorial in Bangkok on Saturday, amid political unrest in Thailand resulting from intensified protests and the police policy of slapping lese majeste charges against over 20 protest leaders.

 

Two years ago on this day, Surachai Danwattananusorn, and his two aides -- Chatchan “Phoochana” Buphawan, and Kraidej “Kasalong” Luelert -- disappeared from their residences in Laos where they lived in exile. The bodies of Surachai's two aides were discovered floating in Mekong River in Janurary 2019 while Thai authorities denied any involvement in the suspected murder cases.

 

Surachai had critical views of the Thai military-backed government and the monarchy. Surachai also proposed that Thailand alter its political system and become a republic.

 

Somyot Prueksakasemsuk, leader of the June 24 group, praised Surachai who had joined the communist insurgency during the cold war, as a fighter for justice. Now Surachai's idea of Thailand as a republic is being discussed especially among the youth movement, he said.

 

Somyot blamed the lese majeste law for violating human rights and said the law was an obstacle for people to see the truth.

Surachai's wife, Pranee called for the Prayut Chan-o-cha government to sincerely investigate the forced disappearance of Surachai and his two aides.

 

Since the 2014 coup, rights groups have said that at least nine political dissents were victims of forced disappearance and they suspected that their political activities were the cause of their disappearance, while Thai authorities have said they did not have role in their disappearance.

 

Pranee appealed that people who held different political views should not be killed, adding that Surachai's spirit may now  be  aware that the young generation have followed his cause by standing up to injustice and demanding  reforms.

 

Source: https://www.nationthailand.com/news/30399540

 

 

-- © Copyright The Nation Thailand 2020-12-14

 

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