Today, Amnesty International in partnership with The International Commission of Jurists (ICJ), Human Rights Watch, the International Federation for Human Rights (FIDH), Thai Lawyers for Human Rights and the Cross Cultural Foundation submitted a joint letter to the Royal Thai Government on International Day of the Disappeared which is held on 30 of August annually, to raise the issue publicly and to bring the cases to the court with neutrality.

The joint letter mentions the case of a Thai prominent lawyer Somchai Neelapaijit and a well-known Karen activist, Pholachi Rakchongcharoen or “Billy”, who have been disappeared during their duties. The letter calls upon the Thai authorities to investigate the cases independently and impartially in order to bring justice to the court, and to be responsible for those who have been affected by the incidents because the process has been very much delayed.

The six organizations also calls for the Thai authorities to ratify the International Convention for the Protection of All Persons from Enforced Disappearance (CED) and the Convention Against Torture and other Cruel, Inhuman or Degrading Treatment or Punishment (CAT) to ensure that future incidents are prevented.

Read the full joint letter (Thai)

Read the full joint letter (English)