US calls on Laos to account for disappearance of activist
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Washington - Communist Laos needs to account for the disappearance of a prominent civil society leader, the United States said.
"Today marks the 100th day since the disappearance of Lao civil society leader, a respected individual known for his work with non-governmental organisations, the government, and the international community," US Secretary of State John Kerry said late Sunday in Washington.
"We call on the Lao government to do everything in its power to account for his disappearance without further delay." Sombath, one of the few social activists who had been allowed to operate in Laos, went missing on December 15 after being stopped at a police check point on the outskirts of Vientiane.
Closed-circuit television footage showed Sombath, 60, being taken away from the check point in a pickup truck after he was stopped.
Lao authorities have denied knowledge of his whereabouts.
"Mr Sombath's disappearance resurrects memories of an earlier era when unexplained disappearances were common," Kerry said.//DPA
