ICAED Statement on the Acquittal of Judge Baltasar Garzon

Although Spain’s Amnesty Law of 1977 seems to be a protective blanket of General Franco’s surviving supporters of his regime, it only provides for an amnesty for political crimes – and the crimes under international law committed in Spain in the past do not amount to political crimes. The Spanish Magistrate Baltasar Garzón did comply with the obligations of Spain under international law when he decided to investigate and prosecute the former Chilean head of state, Augusto Pinochet in October 1998.

The investigation initiated by Judge Garzón on the crimes against humanity and war crimes committed during the Civil War by both parties to the conflict and the Franco regime is righteous because this is an attempt to correct a historical blunder. There are no wounds to open as opposed to some claims because the wounds of the families of the victims of human rights violations and enforced disappearances are still open and are in fact, festering- even after 41 years since the death of Francisco Franco. Two years after his death, the Government of Spain passed the Amnesty Law – though it ratified the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights few months before that.

AFAD Statement on 8th Anniversary of Somchai Neelaphaijit’s Disappearance

Enforced Disappearance in Thailand must end Now!

Eight years have passed but truth and justice for the disappeared prominent Thai human rights lawyer, Somchai Neelaphaijit still remain very elusive. Mr. Somchai Neelaphaijit was forcibly disappeared on 12 March 2004 in Bangkok, Thailand. At the time of his disappearance, Mr. Somchai was working on torture cases committed by Thai security officers in the southern province of Thailand, which was then placed under martial law.

Despite efforts of Atty. Neelaphaijit’s family to bring his case at the national and international attention and to put those responsible to the bar of justice, only one of the five police officers who were arrested and prosecuted for their alleged involvement in the disappearance was convicted to a three-year imprisonment in January 2006. What added insult to injury was the verdict of Appeal Court on 11 March 2011, which suddenly reversed the decision of the Court of First Instance for lack of sufficient evidence and ruled that the wife and children of Somchai Neelaphaijit are not eligible to exercise their rights as the aggrieved party. This decision is nothing but a denial of his family’s right to uncover the truth and to seek justice.

The Eighth year commemoration of Enforced Disappearance of Thai Human Rights Lawyer, Somchai Neelapaijit

As complacency prevails, impunity continues unabated, no more an “eye for an eye”

On 12 March 2004, Mr. Somchai Neelapaijit, human rights lawyer, became a victim of enforced disappearance. His last clients were alleged offenders in the gun robbery case taking place in January 2004 in Narathiwat Province, in Thailand’s Deep South, and they were complaining about their being tortured to confess. Eight years passed, and his family and civil society organizations have to continue to demand justice done to the disappearance of Mr. Somchai and the torture of his clients. But the demands have fallen on deaf ears. Worse, 14 victims of torture while being held in custody by officials including Mr. Somchai’s three clients, have been sued back for making false reports by the high ranking police officers, who could have been involved with the enforced disappearance of Mr. Somchai and given consent to the torture of his clients.

AFAD Statement on International Women’s Day

Empower the Women-Victims, End Impunity for Enforced Disappearance

Today, the Asian Federation Against Involuntary Disappearances (AFAD) joins the world in celebrating the 101st anniversary of the International Women’s Day. The AFAD as a regional federation of eleven member-organizations from different Asian countries pays tribute to all women and their indispensable role in society particularly in the struggle to end enforced disappearances worldwide.