Amnesty International publish briefing document on Sombath's disappearance

Laos must ensure return of disappeared civil society leader

Amnesty International: 13 June 2013

173923_Sombath_Somphone_with_Archbishop_Desmond_Tutu(2) — Sombath Somphone with Archbishop Desmond Tutu, in Laos, 2006. © www.sombath.org

The Lao government must act now to ensure the safe return of civil society leader Sombath Somphone, who is most likely a victim of an enforced disappearance at the hands of the authorities, Amnesty International said in a new briefing issued today.

The briefing, Caught on Camera, examines in detail the case of Sombath, who was taken away in the presence of security personnel on the evening of 15 December 2012 – six months ago – and has not been heard from since.

The fact that Sombath was taken from a police post in the centre of Laos’ capital city and that the police there did nothing to resist raises very serious concerns. Rupert Abbott, Amnesty International’s Researcher on Cambodia, Laos and Viet Nam.

“Based on the evidence, the most plausible conclusion is that Sombath Somphone is a victim of an enforced disappearance, for which Lao officials are responsible,” said Rupert Abbott, Amnesty International’s Researcher on Cambodia, Laos and Viet Nam.

“The Lao government must publicly demand his immediate and unconditional release, and safe return to his family.”

“They should also establish a new, independent commission to investigate the case, ensure Sombath’s safe return, and bring to justice in fair proceedings those suspected of being responsible for his enforced disappearance”.

Under international law, enforced disappearances are defined as the arrest or detention of a person by state officials or their agents followed by a refusal to acknowledge that the person is being held or to reveal the fate or whereabouts of the person. Continue reading “Amnesty International publish briefing document on Sombath's disappearance”

March 20, 2013July 28, 2015

Panel Discussion on Human Rights in ASEAN

“Human Rights in ASEAN: Lessons Learned from the Disappearance of Sombath Somphone and Somchai Neelapaijit”

March 27, 2013, 9.30-12.00,
Jitti Tingsapat Meeting Room, 1st Floor, Faculty of Law,
Thammasat University (Tha Phrachan Campus), Bangkok,

The Somchai Neelapaijit Memorial Fund, Justice for Peace Foundation, Towards Ecological Recovery and Regional Alliances (TERRA), and Amnesty International Thailand will host a panel discussion entitled “Human Rights in ASEAN: Lessons Learned from the Disappearance of Sombath Somphone and Somchai Neelapaijit.” The event will take place on March 27, 2013, from 9.30-12.00, at the Jitti Tingsapat Meeting Room, 1st Floor, Faculty of Law, Thammasat University (Tha Phrachan Campus). Panelists will include: 1) Angkhana Neelapaijit, wife of Somchai Neelapaijit, 2) Dr. Sriprapha Petcharamesree, Mahidol University and the previous Thai representative of ASEAN Intergovernmental Commission on Human Rights (AICHR) and, 3) Witoon Permpongsacharoen, Director of Mekong Energy and Ecology Network (MEE Net). A statement by Somphone’s wife Ng Shui Meng will also be read during the event.

The objective of the panel discussion is to raise awareness about human rights violations in the region including enforced disappearances, the two cases themselves, and to commemorate the ninth anniversary of the disappearance of Somchai Neelapaijit. Moreover, organizers want to send a message to ASEAN governments that they should not focus only on economic cooperation while ignoring human rights violations. The cases of Sombath Somphone, the Lao development worker and Somchai Neelapaijit, the Thai activist lawyer, are two prominent cases showing the failure of the rule of law, transparency and accountability in ASEAN.

**Interpretation from Thai to English is available

Read more about Sombath Somphone at www.sombath.org and about Somchai Neelapaijit at www.somchaiaward.org

For more information, please email [email protected] or call (+66) 89-8291167, (+66) 89-8291167

January 19, 2013July 28, 2015

Amnesty International calls for Action

Amnesty international has issued a statement that calls for everybody who is concerned about Sombath to write immediately in Lao, English or your own language:

Calling on the Lao authorities to undertake prompt, transparent and thorough investigations into the abduction and disappearance of Sombath Somphone, in accordance with their obligations under international human rights law;
Demanding that they give full information about the progress of the investigations to his family and others with a legitimate interest;
Urging them to ensure that all steps are being taken to locate, rescue and return him safely to his family as soon as possible.

The full statement from Amnesty International, with details of who to write to, can be downloaded by clicking this link.