Event marking 13 years since the disappearance of Somchai Neelapaijit. The Somchai Neelapaijit Award will also be announced.
11 March 2017: 9:00 AM to 12:45 PM
Pri Banomyong Institute, Thonglor, Bangkok, Thailand
Where is Somchai? 13 Years
The Tragedy of Enforced Disappearances
Sombath Somphone and the Tragedy of Enforced Disappearances: A Press Conference and Interactive Dialogue was held at the FCCT in Bangkok, Thailand on 19 December 2016. Panelists included:
- Pinnipa Preuksapan, wife of Pholachi “Billy” Rakchongcharoen, ethnic Karen land and rights activist
- Angkhana Neelapaijit, Commissioner, National Human Rights Commission of Thailand, and wife of activist lawyer Somchai Neelapaijit
- Shui-Meng Ng, wife of Sombath Somphone
The event was hosted by the Sombath Initiative moderated by Phil Robertson of Human Rights Watch.
Video of the event can be seen in four parts: Part 1, Part 2, Part 3, Part 4.
Sombath Somphone: Son of the Soil
2016 PADETC Fair
Thursday, 15th December 2016
PADETC Office, Vientiane, Lao PDR
15 December 2016 marks the fourth year of the disappearance of Sombath Somphone, Founder of PADETC.
To commemorate Ajarn Sombath Somphone, PADETC will organize its Annual Fair under the title ‘Sombath Somphone – Son of the Soil’.
ASEAN in Laos: Challenges of Leadership, Human Rights & Democracy
Press conference held at the Foreign Correspondent’s Club of Thailand on 31 August, 2016, Bangkok
Panelists included (click on link for their presentation):
- Shui Meng Ng, Spouse of Sombath Somphone
- Walden Bello, ASEAN Parliamentarians for Human Rights
- Laurent Meillan, Acting Regional Representative of the UN Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights
With moderation by Phil Robertson, Deputy Director of the Asia Division of Human Rights Watch.
Video of the press conference is available in three segments: One, two & three.
The following press briefings were also distributed:
ASEAN in Laos: Challenges of Leadership, Human Rights and Democracy
Press conference at the Foreign Correspondent’s Club of Thailand
11am, Wednesday 31 August, 2016, Bangkok
At a time when ASEAN is witnessing an alarming increase in human rights abuses, restrictions on civil liberties, and a shrinking of democratic space in a number of its member states, what kind of example does this year’s ASEAN Chair, Laos, set for the regional bloc?
The enforced disappearance of prominent civil society leader Sombath Somphone in December 2012, ongoing arbitrary detentions, and extremely tight controls on the media and civil society have instilled an environment of fear, silence, and repression in Laos. Little news about the serious human rights abuses occurring in the country ever comes out in the media, allowing the continued violation of basic liberties.
Despite this repressive environment, foreign aid and investment continue to flow into Laos. Continue reading “ASEAN in Laos: Challenges of Leadership, Human Rights and Democracy”
Sombath, Humanity & Nature at ASCS/APF
“Humanity & Nature,” a workshop on traditional and alternative perspectives about humanity’s relationship with the environment was held on August 4th at the ASEAN People’s Forum (ACSC/APF) in Dili, Timor Leste.
Topics discussed included Sombath’s work and philosophy, holistic education, gross national happiness, traditional wisdom, and agro-ecology. A video from an earlier workshop on these issues was also shared.
Government-appointed CSO representatives from the Lao PDR also briefly attended, apparently to monitor who was participating. Others stood for a picture of solidarity just after the event.
Workshop on Sombath at ACSC/APF
Lao civil society representatives made it clear that Sombath’s name, among other issues, would not be welcome at a ACSC/APF event held in Laos. For this and other reasons, the event was moved to Timor-Leste.
“Humanity and Nature” will be held from 16:15-18:15 PM on August 4th in room two of the Alola Foundation.
Speakers include:
- Ng Shui Meng, Spouse of Sombath Somphone
- Genito Santana, Kdadalak Sulimutuk Instititute
- Cheek Sophea, Focus on the Global South
- Myrna Dominguez, Integrated Rural Development Foundation
- Sam Zarifi, International Commission of Jurists
Chula Right Livelihood Summer School
The Chulalongkorn University Right Livelihood Summer School will run from July 10-24 in Bangkok, Thailand. Special guests and presenters include Sulak Sivaraksa, Walden Bello, Helena Norbert Hodge, Kartini Samon, and many more. More information can be found here.
Humanity & Nature: Culture & Traditions of Sustainable Tree Ordination
This presentation was part of the Sombath Symposium on “Humanity and Nature: Traditional, Cultural and Alternative Perspectives”, the objective of which was to present and discuss knowledge and practice drawn from different cultures and traditions that can serve as an alternative foundation to the predominant growth-driven development model.
Shui-Meng’s address at Oslo Freedom Forum
