BANGKOK, Thailand (12 March 2025) – The Asian Forum for Human Rights and Development (FORUM-ASIA) commemorates the 21st anniversary of the enforced disappearance of Thai human rights lawyer Somchai Neelapaijit. We are calling for truth, justice, accountability, and redress for Somchai and his family.

FORUM-ASIA urges the Government of Thailand to decisively reopen its investigation into Somchai’s case to prove its compliance with domestic and international laws.

“Throughout these 21 years, all we have encountered are ‘attempts to deny, ignore, and erase’ Somchai’s enforced disappearance, turning it into an ‘absolute disappearance,’” Somchai’s family said through a statement in Thai.

 

Obstructed truths, long-delayed justice

Somchai served as the Deputy Head of the Human Rights Commission of Thailand’s Lawyer Council as well as the President of the Muslim Lawyers Club.

On 12 March 2004, eyewitnesses saw a group of individuals forcibly dragging Somchai into a car in Bangkok’s Ramkhamhaeng Road. Despite strong circumstantial evidence suggesting Somchai’s death, his fate and whereabouts remain unknown.

Somchai’s case has been largely met with systemic negligence. Thai authorities have denied Somchai’s family of their fundamental right to know the truth, having refused to launch any meaningful investigation and thereby failing to hold the perpetrators accountable.

Such efforts to erase Somchai from public memory is a direct assault on justice.

 

In 2006, the Bangkok Criminal Court acquitted four police officers of charges related to coercion and gang robbery despite clear evidence. Only Police Major Ngern Thongsuk was convicted of coercion. In 2011, however, the conviction was overturned by the Court of Appeals.

In 2014, the Supreme Court rejected the admissibility of phone evidence that could have implicated the police officers in Somchai’s disappearance. In 2016, the Ministry of Justice’s Department of Special Investigation closed the case, declaring that no culprits had been found. No one has ever been held accountable for Somchai’s disappearance.

Somchai’s wife, Angkhana Neelapaijit, is still facing threats and reprisals as she continues to demand answers.

Call to action

“Despite Thailand’s enactment of the Prevention and Suppression of Torture and Enforced Disappearance Act in 2022 and ratification of the International Convention for the Protection of All Persons from Enforced Disappearance in 2024, these laws remain insufficiently enforced. Hence, incidents of torture and forced disappearances continue,” said Mary Aileen Diez-Bacalso, Executive Director of FORUM-ASIA.

“Now a  member of the UN Human Rights Council, Thailand must set a good example by meaningfully resolving Somchai’s case alongside many other cases of enforced disappearances in the country,” Bacalso added.

There are 77 unresolved cases of alleged enforced disappearances in Thailand as of July 2024, according to the UN Working Group on Enforced or Involuntary Disappearances.

Somchai’s vocal opposition to Martial Law–which allowed authorities to detain people without charge–made him a target. His invaluable human rights work, however, shall never be forgotten. Somchai’s peaceful fight against abuse of power–including the ill-treatment of Muslim communities in Thailand’s southern provinces–continues to inspire today’s younger generation of human rights defenders.

Somchai and his family–alongside other victims of enforced disappearances and their loved ones– should be able to access justice, reparations, and adequate assistance. Perpetrators should be held accountable.

FORUM-ASIA is in solidarity with Somchai, his family, and all human rights defenders impacted by enforced disappearances.

 

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The Asian Forum for Human Rights and Development (FORUM-ASIA) is a network of 89 member organisations across 23 countries, mainly in Asia. Founded in 1991, FORUM-ASIA works to strengthen movements for human rights and sustainable development through research, advocacy, capacity development and solidarity actions in Asia and beyond. It has consultative status with the United Nations Economic and Social Council, and consultative relationship with the ASEAN Intergovernmental Commission on Human Rights. The FORUM-ASIA Secretariat is based in Bangkok, with offices in Jakarta, Geneva and Kathmandu. www.forum-asia.org

For media inquiries, please contact:

• Communications and Media Programme, FORUM-ASIA, communication@forum-asia.org

 

 

This post was originally published on FORUM-ASIA.