Somchai Neelaphaijit

We wish to share with you the following article from Prachatai website, written by Thaweeporn Kunmetha. In October 2003, Jawa Jalo, an ethnic Lahu, was captured by armed state officials during a search of a litchi farm in a northern border province. Although the officials who captured him reported to their commanders that no illicit drugs were […]

(Hong Kong, March 6, 2014) Academics of the Australian National University on Thursday submitted a letter to the diplomatic mission of Thailand in Canberra marking the tenth anniversary of the enforced disappearance of Thai human rights lawyer Somchai Neelaphaijit. File photograph of Thai human rights lawyer Somchai Neelaphaijit The 23 scholars said they lamented that nobody […]

In late December, just days after the Department of Special Investigation (DSI) claimed that the file for the case of the disappearance of Somchai Neelaphaijit had been lost, Niran Adulayasak, Director of the DSI Special Criminal Case Office 1 announced in a news report on Thai PBS that the file had been found (see AHRC-STM-242-2013 for analysis […]

A court in Bangkok on 10 August 2011 sentenced a torture victim to two years in prison for having spoken out against his alleged torturers. Police Major General Chakthip Chaijinda brought the criminal complaint (Black Case No. 2161/2552) against Mr Suderueman Malae, one of the clients of forcibly abducted and disappeared human rights lawyer Somchai […]

(Hong Kong, June 29, 2011) The Asian Human Rights Commission (AHRC) has received information from the Cross Cultural Foundation that Mr. Sudeerueman Maleh, one of those who alleged that he was tortured by police in the case of stealing weapons in 2004 has been criminally counter-charged by the police on the charge of making a […]

Dear friends, The Asian Human Rights Commission (AHRC) wishes to forward to you the following press release from Foreign Correspondents’ Club of Thailand. Asian Human Rights Commission Hong Kong UNJUST A Documentary Film by Josefina Bergsten, followed by Q & A 8pm Tuesday June 7, 2011 At Foreign Correspondents’ Club of Thailand Non-members 300 Baht, […]

Dear friends, We wish to share with you the following statement from Asian Federation Against Involuntary Disappearances (AFAD). Asian Human Rights Commission Hong Kong ————- A Statement from Asian Federation Against Involuntary Disappearances (AFAD) forwarded by the Asian Human Rights Commission THAILAND: Thailand must learn the lessons of history Statement on the 19th Anniversary of […]

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE May 3, 2011 AHRC-OLT-004-2011 An Open Letter from the Asian Human Rights Commission to the Minister of Justice, Thailand Pirapan Salirathavibhaga Minister of Justice Ministry of Justice Government Complex (Bldg A) 120 Moo 3, Chaeng Watthana Road Thung Song Hong, Laksi Bangkok 10210 THAILAND Dear Mr Pirapan THAILAND: The role of the […]

(Hong Kong, April 11, 2011) Three Asian women rights defenders have received a prestigious international award for a documentary made about their respective struggles, which was shown as part of a major film festival in the Netherlands during March.  The jury at the Movies that Matter Festival, which was held in The Hague from March […]

Dear friends,  The Asian Human Rights Commission (AHRC) deeply regrets, but is not surprised, that the five defendants who were earlier convicted for theft and illegal detention, in connection with the disappearance of human rights lawyer Somchai Neelapaijit, have all been exonerated in an Appeal verdict. The court ruled to acquit all the defendants on […]

Dear friends, The Asian Human Rights Commission (AHRC) wishes to forward to you the following press release from Justice for Peace Foundation (JPF) and International Commission of Jurists (ICJ). Asian Human Rights Commission Hong Kong ————- A Press Release from Justice for Peace Foundation (JPF) and International Commission of Jurists (ICJ) forwarded by the Asian […]

Dear friends, We wish to share with you the following statement from Cross Culture Foundation (CrCF). Asian Human Rights Commission Hong Kong ————- A Statement from Cross Culture Foundation (CrCF) forwarded by the Asian Human Rights Commission For immediate release on 12 March 2011 The seventh anniversary of the disappearance of Lawyer Somchai Neelapaijit Public […]

Dear friends, The Asian Human Rights Commission (AHRC) wishes to forward to you the following press release from Justice for Peace Foundation (JPF). Asian Human Rights Commission Hong Kong ————- A Press Release from Justice for Peace Foundation (JPF) forwarded by the Asian Human Rights Commission (AHRC) Justice for Peace Foundation Tel. +66 (0) 2 […]

Dear friends,  The Asian Human Rights Commission (AHRC) is calling for court observers to hear the reading of the verdict on the case of Somchai Neelaphaijit tomorrow, March 11, 2011, in Bangkok. The date of the reading of the verdict is significant as it marks the eve of Somchai’s disappearance seven years ago. The reading, […]

The phenomenon of forced disappearance is not well understood outside of the countries in which it takes place. Imagine that police take your spouse or relative without observing any protocol for arrest and detention, offering no explanation and no information about where he will be taken. The next day, he is simply gone. Leaks trickle […]

Dear friends, The thwarting of justice continues in the case of disappeared human rights lawyer Somchai Neelaphaijit. Having postponed reading of the verdict in the appeal case concerning the conviction of one policeman from last year, the criminal court has again ordered a further postponement on technical grounds. Meanwhile, the family of the victim is […]

(Hong Kong, January 18, 2011) The Asian Human Rights Commission (AHRC) will send international and domestic observers to attend the reading of the verdict on January 21 in the appeal case concerning the disappearance and presumed killing of human rights lawyer Somchai Neelaphaijit, its executive director announced today.  “This is an historic case of tremendous […]

เรียนทุกท่าน เราขอส่งต่อจดหมายเปิดผนึกของ นางอังคณา  นีละไพจิตร ภริยาของนายสมชาย  นีละไพจิตร ทนายความมุสลิมที่ถูกบังคับให้สูญหาย เกี่ยวกับการสอบสวนคดีนายสมชาย การคุ้มครองพยาน และการบังคับบุคคลให้สูญหาย ที่มีถึงนายกรัฐมนตรี มายังท่าน คณะกรรมาธิการสิทธิมนุษยชนแห่งเอเชีย ฮ่องกง ————- เพื่อการเผยแพร่ทันที AHRC-FOL-001-2010-TH 23 ธันวาคม 2552 จดหมายเปิดผนึกของ นางอังคณา  นีละไพจิตร ที่มีถึงนายกรัฐมนตรีประเทศไทย ส่งต่อโดย คณะกรรมาธิการสิทธิมนุษยชนแห่งเอเชีย ประเทศไทย: ต้องการการเร่งรัดการสอบสวนกรณีการหายตัวไปของนายสมชาย การคุ้มครองพยานอย่างมีประสิทธิภาพ และการออกกฎหมายให้การบังคับบุคคลให้สูญหายเป็นอาชญากรรม 23 ธันวาคม 2552 กราบเรียน  ฯพณฯ นายกรัฐมนตรี สำเนาถึง    ท่านรัฐมนตรีว่าการกระทรวงยุติธรรม ท่านอธิบดีกรมสอบสวนคดีพิเศษ นับแต่ท่านเข้ารับตำแหน่งนายกรัฐมนตรี พร้อมทั้งได้แถลงต่อสาธารณะ ถึงแนวคิดจะตั้งคณะทำงานพิเศษเพื่อรื้อฟื้นคดีสำคัญที่สังคมให้ความสนใจ เนื่องจากในรัฐบาลที่ผ่านมา คดีสำคัญหลายคดีถูกวิพากษ์วิจารณ์ และถูกมองว่า ไม่ได้รับความเป็นธรรม ถูกทำให้ล่าช้า อีกทั้งผู้เสียหายยังถูกขัดขวางในการเข้าถึงความยุติธรรม ซึ่งหนึ่งในคดีต่างๆนั้น คือ คดีการบังคับให้สูญหายนายสมชาย นีละไพจิตร จนปัจจุบัน ที่รัฐบาลภายใต้การนำของท่าน ได้บริหารงานครบ […]

Dear friends, We wish to share with you the following statement from the Cross Culture Foundation (CrCF) in Thailand. Asian Human Rights Commission Hong Kong ————- Seven years past, yet no progress made, public left at their own devices,  culprits are at large On December 22, 2010, the spokesperson of the National Anti-Corruption Commission (NACC) […]

Dear friends, We wish to share with you the following statement from UCANEWS. Asian Human Rights Commission Hong Kong   ————- A Statement from UCANEWS forwarded by the Asian Human Rights Commission Posted By pramual On December 21, 2010 @ 3:29 pm In Analysis & Opinion, Countries, Daily Service, Sri Lanka   Hundreds of Sri […]