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Statements of AFAD
AFAD FOURTH
CONGRESS
1-5 June 2010
AFAD Second Congress
Remembering Munir
AFAD Second Congress
August 26-30, 2003 in Bangkok, Thailand
AFAD’s Mid-Year Report
Ding Zilin's
Message To
Hong Kong
Again, The KONTRAS – IKOHI Office Was Attacked
“ If they are dead, tell us”!
My sons, where are they? |
Statement on the 6th Anniversary of Somchai Neelapaijit’s
Disappearance
March 12, 2010
Thailand Must End Impunity NOW!
Until when shall we wait? This is the agonizing cry of the
thousand of families of disappeared persons around the world who are
caught in the limbo of despair and hope in their search for their
disappeared loved ones and in seeking for justice.
The prevailing climate of impunity and the explicit use of national
security as justification to the commission of the crime of enforced
disappearance have denied the families of the disappeared of their right
to know the truth and for availing themselves of legal remedies.
Thailand is no exception. Six years after the disappearance of Atty.
Somchai Neelapijit, there is still no substantial progress on his case
accepted as a special case by the Department of Special Investigation.
Since July 2005, his family and other witnesses have been constant
targets of intimidation and threats.
Atty. Somchai Neelapaijit, one of Thailand’s renowned Muslim human
rights lawyers, was pulled from his car in Bangkok on 12 March 2004,
allegedly by five police officers. At the time of his disappearance, he
was handling torture cases of five Muslims accused of terrorism-related
activities in the Southern provinces. But after six years, his
disappearance is still unresolved and his fate and whereabouts remain
unknown despite the conviction of a senior police officer (with a lesser
charge of coercion and assault) on 12 January 2006 but who was later
released on bail pending an appeal.
The disappearance case of Atty. Neelapaijit has gravely undermined the
rule of law and the trust and confidence of people in Thailand’s
criminal justice system. This is particularly among those living in the
Southern provinces who are still caught in the internal armed conflict
and vulnerable to human rights violations, especially to enforced
disappearance.
The public declaration of Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva that his
administration would set up a special committee to restore inquiries
into important cases had not improved a bit the human rights situation.
While the government has taken measures to provide support, compensation
and development aid to people in the Southern Thailand, it has miserably
failed to deliver justice and ensure equality under the law.
The Thai government must therefore, commit itself not only in words but
in action to end impunity. Fulfilling its initial commitment to sign and
ratify the International Convention for the Protection of All Persons
from Enforced Disappearance and enacting a domestic law criminalizing
enforced disappearances will provide an assurance to the Thai people
that this crime shall no longer be tolerated and will be absolutely
prohibited and that families of the victims be guaranteed of their
rights and access to legal means and remedies.
Today, as the Neelapaijit family, friends and colleagues commemorate the
sixth year of Somchai’s disappearance, the Asian Federation Against
Involuntary Disappearance (AFAD) once again expresses its solidarity
with his family and with all families of the disappeared in the rest of
the world.
As the UN Human Rights Council is conducting its 13th regular session
this month, the AFAD will conduct an event parallel to the on-going
session to be held in Room XXVlll of Palais des Nations, Geneva,
Switzerland on 17 March 2010. The event is entitled, " The Global
Phenomenon of Enforced Disappearances and the Entry Into Force of the UN
Convention for the Protection of All Persons from Enforced
Disappearance. “ On this occasion, linking arms with representatives of
families of the disappeared in Asia, Euro-Mediterranean and Latin
America, Ms. Angkhana Neelapaijit, wife of the disappeared lawyer, will
once again tell the world of her relentless pursuit of truth and justice
for her husband, Somchai and for all the desaparecidos of the
world.
Justice for Somchai! Justice for all the desaparecidos of the
world.
Signed by:
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MUGIYANTO |
MARY AILEEN D. BACALSO |
| Chairperson |
Secretary-General |
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