YOUR EXCELLENCY MALAYVIENG SAKONHNINHOM
Ambassador of the Lao People’s Democratic Republic
34 Lapu-Lapu Street, Magallanes Village
Makati City, Metro Manila

Your Excellency,
Today marks the second year of disappearance of your very own citizen, Sombath Somphone, a 2005 Ramon Magsaysay awardee for Community Development. A CCTV footage shows he was stopped by the police and taken by unknown persons in a truck. Nothing has been heard of him since then.

We, families and relatives of the disappeared in the Philippines feel the pain and anguish of Shui Meng Ng, wife of Sombath, who has been searching for answers on her husband’s disappearance. And this shared pain with Shui Meng and the desire for answers on the disappearance of our loved ones have brought us together to write to you and collectively ask your government: Where is Sombath? Two years is long enough. Return Sombath Safely.

We, members of civil society and other like-minded organizations and individuals here in the Philippines are in solidarity with Shui Meng in seeking concrete actions from your government on the disappearance of Sombath. The CCTV footage clearly showed your government failed to protect him. We hold the police, supposedly an agent of the state to provide security to its citizens, directly accountable for reneging on its responsibility.

We feel the loss of Shui Meng and her family. Further, we feel the loss shared by the many young people, farmers and other partners of Sombath in Lao who benefitted from his tireless efforts to educate and empower them so they can be more productive and empowered citizens of your country. Yet we have never lost hope that Sombath can be returned alive to his family.

As a member of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN), your government committed to adhere to the “ principles of democracy, the rule of law and good governance” as stipulated in the preamble of the ASEAN Charter. Moreover, your government signed the International Convention for the Protection of All Persons from Enforced Disappearance. Thus, we hold the bar of expectations higher for your government to abide by the principles of the Convention.

Two years are indeed long enough. We need answers. We ask your government to Return Sombath Safely.

Signed:

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