UPDATE ON URGENT APPEAL UPDATE ON URGENT APPEAL UPDATE ON URGENT APPEAL

ASIAN HUMAN RIGHTS COMMISSION - URGENT APPEALS PROGRAMME

Update on Urgent Appeal

16 June 2006

[RE: UP-20-2005: THAILAND: Human rights lawyer still missing after nearly one year; Action needed today to have case transferred; UP-24-2005: THAILAND: Thai minister refuses to act on missing human rights lawyer case; UP-37-2005: Thai PM orders action on missing human rights lawyer, while court hears of torture; UP-45-2005: Wife of missing human rights lawyer intimidated; UP-77-2005: THAILAND: Department of Special Investigation fails to bring justice to Charoen Wat-aksorn case; UP-89-2005: THAILAND: Repeated failed commitment to assign Department of Special Investigation to Somchai case; UP-004-2006: THAILAND: Verdict in case of missing human rights lawyer Somchai Neelaphaijit due on January 12; UP-015-2006: THAILAND: Minister of Justice must clarify continued contradictions after verdict in Somchai Neelaphaijit case; UP-049-2006: THAILAND: Minister of Justice must address recent issues that have arisen concerning disappeared human rights lawyer Somchai Neelaphaijit; UA-112-2005: THAILAND: Murder of Thai monk following an environmental and land dispute with local influential business figures; UP-028-2006: THAILAND: Protection withdrawn from monk who continues to receive death threats; UA-153-2004: THAILAND: Two cases of extremely serious torture and cruel and inhuman treatment by Thai police officers; UP-71-2004: THAILAND: More serious allegations of police torture emerge in Thailand; UP-75-2004: THAILAND: Demand immediate criminal action against police torturers; UP-78-2004: THAILAND: Torture cases transferred to special investigators, but police still free; UP-157-2005: THAILAND: Alleged tortured victim withdraws his complaint against the police; UP-061-2006: THAILAND: First call for special investigation chief to resign over Somchai case; UP-107-2006: THAILAND: Second call for special investigation chief to resign; EU expresses concern in Somchai case]
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UP-124-2006: THAILAND: Important programme to commemorate human rights defenders and discuss failed investigations

THAILAND: Attacks on human rights defenders; negligence; impunity; unaccountability
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Dear friends,

The Asian Human Rights Commission (AHRC) is forwarding an announcement about a programme to be held in Bangkok this Sunday, June 18, to discuss the failed investigations into the abductions and killings of human rights defenders and environmentalists in Thailand. We urge all persons concerned by impunity and attacks on human rights defenders in Thailand to attend and participate in this important discussion.

The programme, which will be held at the meeting room of the October 14 Monument, will focus on the cases of murdered environmentalists Charoen Wat-aksorn (UP-077-2005) and Phra Supoj Suwagano (UA-112-2005) and abducted lawyer Somchai Neelaphaijit (http://www.ahrchk.net/somchai).

All three cases have been in the hands of the Department of Special Investigation under the Ministry of Justice, which the AHRC has in recent times strongly criticised as a failure for human rights in Thailand (UP-107-2006). Most recently, a senior officer in the department has come under investigation for allegedly masterminding the killing of a local government official.

The tentative programme for the discussion on Sunday, as provided to the AHRC, follows.

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COMMEMORATION FOR CHAROEN WAT-AKSORN, PHRA SUPOJ SUWAGANO & SOMCHAI NEELAPHAIJIT: REFLECTION OF THE TRAGEDY OF CRIMINAL JUSTICE IN THAILAND FOR HUMAN RIGHTS DEFENDERS

Date: 18 June 2005, 10.00-17.00
Place: Meeting Room of 14 October Monument, Kokwua Junction, Ratchadamnoen Road, Bangkok

10.00-12.00 Buddhist ceremony for Charoen Wat-aksorn and Phra Supoj Suwagano
12.00-13.00 Lunch
13.00-13.20 Video on the three human rights defenders' cases

13.20-14.30 Panel
Three human rights defenders' killing cases: Who sponsored impunity for the perpetrators?
Speakers:
Phra Kitisak Kitisophon, Sekiyatam Buddhist Group  
Korn-uma Pongnoy, from Rak-Tongtin Bo-nok, wife of Charoen Wat-aksorn 
Sangchai Natanasereewong, lawyer of Rak-Tongtin Bo-nok
Angkhana Neelaphaijit, wife of Somchai Neelaphaijit
Pornpen Khongkachonkiet, member of NGOs Coalition on the Protection of Human Rights Defenders

14.30-17.00 Panel 
Challenges and recommendations on criminal justice in Thailand: Police, prosecution and court roles in the protection of human rights defenders
Speakers: 
Kraisak Chunhawan, Former Chairperson, Senate Foreign Affairs Committee
Niti Aew-sriwong, from the Midnight University (to be confirmed)
Pol. Gen. Somkiet Puangsab, Former Special Branch officer, Royal Police Commission 
Prapan Naykovith, from the Office of the Attorney General
Pol. Gen. Prathin Santipapop, Former Commissioner-General, Royal Thai Police
Pairot Ponpet, from the Union for Civil Liberties

Panels will be followed by comments and opinions by representatives of government offices, international organizations, news editors and others interested  

Organized by: 
Metatham Foundation
Family of Phra Supoj Suwagano
Rak-Tongtin Bo-nok
Alternative Energy Group 
NGOs Coalition on the Protection of Human Rights Defenders
Cross-Cultural Foundation

Contact:  (+66) 04-047-4075, 09-444-2669, 01-303-0175

Thank you for your attendance. 

Urgent Appeals Programme
Asian Human Rights Commission (AHRC) (ahrchk@ahrchk.org)