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.

Making or Breaking Impunity

Davao City -- It has been almost a month since retired  Maj. General Jovito Palparan went into hiding after the Malolos Court issued a warrant of arrest for his alleged involvement in the disappearance in 2006 of two UP student-activists, Sherlyn Cadapan and Karen Empeno. It undeniably shows that flight means guilt. 

The authorities fail to capture him. This reveals not only the inability of the present government to protect the human rights of the people but also how pervasive the climate of impunity in the country is. It is unbelievable that the authorities remain clueless of Palparan’s whereabouts. Either they are doing a sloppy job or they are just too soft in dealing with him.