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EDITORIAL
The 'disappeared': a visible stain on Thai justice system
The Nation

Reform must focus on closing the loopholes that have enabled the suspected forced abduction of at least 100 citizens since 1990

BANGKOK: -- The declared core mission of Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha's government is to secure the well-being of all Thais, yet it has apparently taken no action over the forced disappearance of an estimated 100 citizens over the past 25 years.

Sunday brought the International Day of Forced Disappearances, and, as in previous years, civic groups and rights defenders marked the occasion by calling on the authorities to revive the cases.

Meanwhile United Nations Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon denounced the alarming increase in enforced or involuntary disappearances and urged all member states to ratify or accede to the UN convention aimed at preventing such acts.

In the past year alone, the UN has received 246 requests for urgent action from victims' family members. "This figure is just a fraction of the thousands of cases that are never reported either because of security conditions or because of a lack of knowledge of the existence of international mechanisms that can help," Ban Ki-moon said.

The UN also urged governments to guarantee full protection from all forms of reprisal for those who report cases of enforced disappearance.

In Thailand, labour-union leader Thanong Pho-an went missing under a military government in 1991. A year later at least 31 people "disappeared" during a protest against the junta. Prominent Muslim lawyer Somchai Neelapaijit was kidnapped in 2004 while defending fellow Muslims accused of being part of the deep South insurgency. The most recent case of enforced disappearance came in April last year, when Karen land-rights activist Porlajee "Billy" Rakchongcharoen went missing. The relatives of these victims have never given up on their hopes of finding them, but they have received precious little cooperation from the authorities under any government, elected or otherwise.

The military-backed government under former Army chief Prayut could do much to boost its flagging reputation on human rights by responding to the calls for action on these cases.

Thailand signed the International Convention for the Protection of All Persons from Enforced Disappearance in 2012 but has yet to ratify its position.

Meanwhile the National Human Rights Commission has failed to make any progress on the issue.

However, this government claims to be working for democratic reform and has placed a slew of rights defenders on its various administrative agencies, boosting hopes that public calls for action could be heeded.

The government should first ratify the international convention and its related protocols.

Second, the National Legislative Assembly should pass the laws necessary to enforcing the international norms.

Third, the government and concerned agencies should begin work on establishing effective administrative mechanisms to look into the cases of missing persons.

Finally, the issue of forced disappearances should inform key measures of reform for the justice system. Though there are strong suspicions that police were involved in the disappearance of Somchai and many others, the court system has proved incapable of bringing them to justice.

Source: http://www.nationmultimedia.com/opinion/The-disappeared-a-visible-stain-on-Thai-justice-sy-30267839.html


-- The Nation 2015-09-01

[clockman]

Too busy fixing the lottery price!

[chainarong]

The waking up disappeared in the morning syndrome has been an institution for centuries , this keeps everyone who is going to cause trouble in line , what better way to control , intimidated, cause fear, through thuggery , this silent blight on Thai people will always be there, for without proper dedicated and indeed experienced investigators( not on the take) , how else can Thai's operate, you might ask the widow of the missing human rights lawyer or Billy's widow, their version of events, for it may prove interesting hearing.

[Praematura]

The disappeared? Lol I thought this article was referring to the Bangkok Bomber. If they can't find him good luck on a missing person.

[Charlie Croker]

Too busy fixing the lottery price!

Actually too busy fixing everything else in this corrupt country.

Political corruption cases, industrial slavery, people smuggling, corrupt policing, internicine wars and staving off civil insurrection.

Cold cases like this are surely important, but not a priority right now. One for the next elected government- Whenever that may be.

[ginjag]

Too busy fixing the lottery price!

Fixed already------but trying to get low cost housing 250,000 baht for persons of low income----and fighting corruption--and bringing to justice armholes that bled Thailand of monies needed for health.

Your blindfold is really good.

[ginjag]

The disappeared? Lol I thought this article was referring to the Bangkok Bomber. If they can't find him good luck on a missing person.

Just come to mind about those families who after years are unable to find their sons during Thaksins drug killings. up to 3,000, and what was done about it ??

The police who carried out the Thaksin order---- murder of kids ....should be still brought to justice. unforgivable these are far more than the disappeared mentioned---but related subject.

[Seastallion]

"Prominent Muslim lawyer Somchai Neelapaijit was kidnapped in 2004 while defending fellow Muslims accused of being part of the deep South insurgency."

It certainly is a worry when citizens disappear, but when a defense lawyer disappears, it is scary.

[klauskunkel]

This "stain on the justice system" should also include perpetrators who were allowed to escape to other countries without any effort to retrieve them

[Shermanator]

How can a rotten, filthy cloth receive a visible new stain?

[Laughing Gravy]

Too busy fixing the lottery price!

Fixed already------but trying to get low cost housing 250,000 baht for persons of low income----and fighting corruption--and bringing to justice armholes that bled Thailand of monies needed for health.

Your blindfold is really good.

So is yours. You must be wearing a double thick one, I guess your one of those who respond to the Dusit polls on how 'happy everyone is' under the current leadership. If bringing justice to the country is really important then you really need to go back a good few decades. Thailand could be one of the richest countries in Asia if not the world with its wealth of resources. Sadly there are a few who are so greedy and will not share or spread the wealth. that's the reality.

[huangnon]

The waking up disappeared in the morning syndrome has been an institution for centuries , this keeps everyone who is going to cause trouble in line , what better way to control , intimidated, cause fear, through thuggery , this silent blight on Thai people will always be there, for without proper dedicated and indeed experienced investigators( not on the take) , how else can Thai's operate, you might ask the widow of the missing human rights lawyer or Billy's widow, their version of events, for it may prove interesting hearing.

Yep, despite the thin veneer of modernity and "freedom", anyone seen challenging the power system here gets the reality of this feudalistic fiefdom; knocking down their door at 4am in the morning.

[Bakseeda]

Too busy fixing the lottery price!

Fixed already------but trying to get low cost housing 250,000 baht for persons of low income----and fighting corruption--and bringing to justice armholes that bled Thailand of monies needed for health.

Your blindfold is really good.

So is yours. You must be wearing a double thick one, I guess your one of those who respond to the Dusit polls on how 'happy everyone is' under the current leadership. If bringing justice to the country is really important then you really need to go back a good few decades. Thailand could be one of the richest countries in Asia if not the world with its wealth of resources. Sadly there are a few who are so greedy and will not share or spread the wealth. that's the reality.

Yes, the great majority of Thai people are very happy with this present government... and since it has absolutely nothing to do with us Farangs... let them get on with it...

[ginjag]

Too busy fixing the lottery price!

Fixed already------but trying to get low cost housing 250,000 baht for persons of low income----and fighting corruption--and bringing to justice armholes that bled Thailand of monies needed for health.

Your blindfold is really good.

So is yours. You must be wearing a double thick one, I guess your one of those who respond to the Dusit polls on how 'happy everyone is' under the current leadership. If bringing justice to the country is really important then you really need to go back a good few decades. Thailand could be one of the richest countries in Asia if not the world with its wealth of resources. Sadly there are a few who are so greedy and will not share or spread the wealth. that's the reality.

Laughing gravy, You used my post reply for a personal attack why ?? What has my post to do with DUSIT polls ?? YOUR GUESSING is quite right.

The polls that suit your line of thinking are OK----if they are not then they are fixed----we have heard it all before.

I mentioned the housing scheme because it is good for low class persons. you didn't comment-------I said fight corruptio as hard as you can----look at your post response. OMG

[tbthailand]

The military-backed government under former Army chief Prayut could do much to boost its flagging reputation on human rights by responding to the calls for action on these cases.

why does the editorial staff at the Nation push out this drivel.

Of course the government could do that, but it's never going to happen. These are the guys busy making people disappear.... Or does the Nation forget that over 700 people that we know of have been summoned for arbitrary detentions (aka, "vacations" from the perspective of a General)

The Nation should be well aware of that and could "do much to boost their reputation" by just allowing Pravit to address these issues - he has the credibility...

[Baerboxer]

The military-backed government under former Army chief Prayut could do much to boost its flagging reputation on human rights by responding to the calls for action on these cases.

why does the editorial staff at the Nation push out this drivel.

Of course the government could do that, but it's never going to happen. These are the guys busy making people disappear.... Or does the Nation forget that over 700 people that we know of have been summoned for arbitrary detentions (aka, "vacations" from the perspective of a General)

The Nation should be well aware of that and could "do much to boost their reputation" by just allowing Pravit to address these issues - he has the credibility...

How many people were "disappeared", murdered in strange circumstance whilst connected with opposing the government, or extra judicially executed during the years of Thaksin owned governments?

Of the 700 summoned by the current government, which is not the same as being "disappeared", are still being detained?