Cambodia rejects call to look into activist’s disappearance
The Cambodian government has announced that it will not launch an investigation into the disappearance of Thai political activist Wanchalerm Satsaksit until it is requested by either the Thai Embassy in Phnom Penh or the victim’s relatives.
Khieu Sopheak, spokesperson for the Cambodian Interior Ministry, confirmed that the disappearance of the 37-year-old pro-democracy activist, who is wanted for alleged violations of the Computer Crime Act, cannot be investigated until there is a specific request.
Wanchalerm fled to Cambodia after the 2014 military coup. He also ignored the summons by the military authorities.
Meanwhile, Deputy PM General Prawit Wongsuwan said on Tuesday (June 9) that the Foreign Ministry has been given the task of dealing with this matter, though he did not elaborate as he headed to attend the Cabinet meeting.
Wanchalerm’s suspicious disappearance on June 4 has been the source of frustration among human rights defenders and democracy supporters who believe he was abducted because of his vociferous criticism of the Prayut government.
