UN calls on Thailand to account for its 82 ‘disappeareds’
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The United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights Zeid Ra’ad Al Hussein Wednesday urged the Thai government to take decisive and sustained efforts to investigate the whereabouts of at least 82 people listed as disappeared, including prominent Muslim l
In December, the Supreme Court acquitted five police officers accused of involvement in the abduction and disappearance of Somchai.
Human rights commissioner Zaid also called on the government to criminalize enforced disappearance in its legislation, in line with international standards. Thailand has no law specifically on forced disappearance.
“All of the families of those who have disappeared have the right to know the truth regarding the disappearance of their kin, as well as any progress and the results of investigations,” the High Commissioner said.
The UN High Commissioner also called on the government to introduce legislation making enforced or involuntary disappearance a criminal offence. “There is a lack of adequate legal and institutional framework for the victims and their families to seek justice in enforced disappearance cases in Thailand,” Zeid said. “I urge the Thai authorities to immediately ratify the International Convention for the Protection of All Persons from Enforced Disappearance.”
Since 1980, the United Nations Working Group on Enforced or Involuntary Disappearances has recorded 82 cases of enforced disappearances in Thailand.
