UN experts urge Thai govt to find, prosecute perpetrators in missing lawyer case

[webfact]

UN experts urge Thai govt to find, prosecute perpetrators in missing lawyer case
By Digital Content



BANGKOK, March 12 - A group of independent United Nations experts today called on the Thai government to establish the truth and hold criminally responsible the perpetrators of the disappearance of human rights defender Somchai Neelaphaijit.

On the 10th anniversary of his disappearance, the experts said the investigations on the case remain inconclusive and warned that the authorities may close the legal proceedings.

“Ten years after the disappearance of Somchai Neelaphaijit, his fate and whereabouts remain unknown,” the UN Working Group on enforced or involuntary disappearances said. “We appeal to the Thai Government to continue the investigations on the case, establish his fate and whereabouts, guarantee impartiality during the process, publish the results, and ensure that all perpetrators are held criminally responsible.”

Somchai Neelaphaijit, a human rights defender and senior member of two lawyers’ associations, disappeared on March 12, 2004. It is believed that his disappearance is related to his work as a lawyer defending Muslim minorities in southern Thailand. The initial criminal prosecution against five police officers for robbery and coercion, in relation to his abduction, has resulted in their acquittal, though the final outcome is still pending in the Supreme Court.

“While the State has provided some financial compensation to the family of Somchai Neelaphaijit, this by no means exonerates Thailand from its obligation to establish the circumstances of the enforced disappearance and bring justice to the victims of this serious crime,” the experts pointed out.

“We call on Thailand to make more efforts to fight impunity for all acts of enforced disappearances.

“Thailand must criminalize enforced disappearance in its legislation. Acts amounting to enforced disappearance are gross human rights violations which must be sanctioned in light of their extreme gravity,” the five-strong group of experts said, recalling that Thailand signed the Convention for the Protection of All Persons from Enforced Disappearance in 2012.

The Working Group also urged the Thai authorities to guarantee the safety and integrity of the family of Somchai, especially his wife, Angkhana Neelapaijit, who, “despite the many threats received, has untiringly been seeking justice for her husband and other victims of enforced disappearances in Thailand.”

The Working Group’s appeal was endorsed by the UN Special Rapporteur on the situation of human rights defenders, Margaret Sekaggya; the Special Rapporteur on the independence of judges and lawyers, Gabriela Knaul; the Special Rapporteur on the promotion and protection of the right to freedom of opinion and expression, Frank La Rue; and the Special Rapporteur on the rights to freedom of peaceful assembly and of association, Maina Kiai.

Meanwhile, Mrs Angkhana told a seminar in Bangkok today that the Department of Special Investigation (DSI) attempted to close her husband's case following the compensation payment. She criticised the DSI's move as unfair and inappropriate, and urged the department--which she said has sufficient evidence--to speed up investigation on the case.

Mrs Angkhana also added that a missing persons case has no statue of limitations. (MCOT online news)


-- TNA 2014-03-12

[clockman]

It will never happen! T.I.T.

[worgeordie]

As usual the UN too little ,too late.

regards Worgeordie

[kimbathewhitelion]

UN experts my arse, they just want to justify any argument to "face", so they continue to get paid.

Sent from my iPad using Thaivisa Connect Thailand

[RockyBeerbelly]

The criminal responsible is in Dubai.....

[PepperMe]

The criminal responsible is in Dubai.....

+1

Maybe the UN should think of things like this happening in Thailand when they make their statements almost backing Thaksin led regimes.

If the UN want to know his almost certain fate, all they have to do is come to Thailand and ask any man on the street.

Everyone here already knows.

[ChrisY1]

I originally posted that no-one really cares about his whereabouts...I still think the same...But now the UN is asking for back-up from Thailand.....hopefully some action will take place.....TiT...so who knows?...!!

[djjamie]

The day after Somchai's disappearance, concerns were publicly raised. In response, Thaksin said, "Oh, don't worry. I understand he had a fight with his wife, and will probably be back home in a day or two.

According to Amnesty International, 18 human rights defenders were either assassinated or disappeared during thaksin's first term in office.

In April of 2009 gunmen would fire over 100 rounds into the vehicle of anti-Thaksin activist, protest leader, and media mogul Sondhi Limthongkul in a broad day light assassination attempt. He was injured but survived.

In August of 2013, businessman and Thaksin critic, Ekkayuth Anchanbutr was abducted and murdered.

On Jan 26, 2014 gunmen assassinated celebrated NGO worker, activist, and protest core leader Sutin Taratin who was critical of Thaksin, during a brazen broad-daylight drive by shooting.

This is more akin to what regime leaders do to dissidents.

​I have a blank page on assassinations, disappearances or questionable conclusions in the deaths of people critical of Ahbisit...

​And of course any rebuttal to this will not even brush on the assassinations of thaksin critics to the point where it will just about be condoned. What the rebuttals will focus on is my last sentence and with that said, let the "googling" begin.

Edited March 12, 2014 by djjamie

[dru2]

I originally posted that no-one really cares about his whereabouts...I still think the same...But now the UN is asking for back-up from Thailand.....hopefully some action will take place.....TiT...so who knows?...!!

You already posted a disgusting and shallow lie.

[rickirs]

'....final outcome is still pending in the Supreme Court." If he had worked for the PTP government and Suthep filed a complaint against him, the Supreme Court would have a ruling within a day. The Thailand Court system seems to have very peculiar priorities.

[dru2]

I originally posted that no-one really cares about his whereabouts...I still think the same...But now the UN is asking for back-up from Thailand.....hopefully some action will take place.....TiT...so who knows?...!!

Read the piece by his widow in the other paper, you ***.

[Cnxforever]

typical Thai law enforcement reaction - if no other way we try to pay our way out.

The murderers in uniform are protected by their bosses who ordered him kidnapped and killed.

I admire Khun Somchais's wife she is a very courageous woman - one can not even start to imagine what she and her family have gone through these last ten years. The scoundrel officials / police / army pretending, lying, cheating ,falsifying, manipulating when they all know who did it and was behind it!

And that is the scariest part as always in Thailand - there is not one courageous person in power who is honest enough to come forward and say enough is enough - who would come forward and shake these criminals up and show the Thai people and the world that justice in this country does exist - the opposite - the world is shown with cases like this what a corrupt, backward, primitive justice system this country has always had in the past and in the foreseeable future!

The message the DSI sends with trying to close the case is - "you who think that you are above the law can go on with your murderous acts without being held accountable"!

Civil servants, Judiciary, executive and legislative are all corrupt to the core - holding this country back no matter who is in government!

The criminals are known - if I where Khun Angkhana's place - and find officials trying to intimidate me - lying and laughing into my face - covering up the murder of my husband - I would know what I would spent the compensation payment on.

This courageous woman seems to be the only one involved still believing in the law and justice in this sad case - I could not - if the very people who are supposed to uphold the law murdered my husband and make a mockery of the law - I would fight to the last breath to get justice - one way or the other!

[Dogmatix]

In this case the UN's not their father. Letting the police murder a pesky Muslim troublemaker in the interests of national security is standard operating procedure and the UN better not try to meddle in Thailand's domestic affairs or infringe on its sovereignty. .

When Surapong petitions the UN to help his cousin's caretaker government cling on to power, that is a different matter.

[espinoza]

I believe that this lousy Thaksin should been arrested promptly and sent to the court in Hague. He is a criminal against humanity. Not just another corrupt Thai, but a violator of human rights. Lock the dog up before Buddah does it.

[Zoom3]

Ask the fugitive criminal Thaksin. I remember once a long time ago he stated he knew the people who were involved with his murder but nobody investigated him.

[soalbundy]

I believe that this lousy Thaksin should been arrested promptly and sent to the court in Hague. He is a criminal against humanity. Not just another corrupt Thai, but a violator of human rights. Lock the dog up before Buddah does it.

Considering the way Thai's are concerned about "correct judicial procedures" i'm surprised that he hasn't been"taken care of" a long time ago. Whats the use of all these " special warfare soldiers". Al Capone wouldn't have hesitated.