Laos 'clarifies' Sombath case

Sombath, who was born in 1952 in Khammouane province of Laos, is an internationally acclaimed community development worker and prominent member of Lao civil society.

The clarification was made on Tuesday and submitted to the UN office in Geneva. 

The following is the full text of his clarification, precisely as received by Lao media. It reads as follows: 

“On the alleged information in your letter that following the [disappearance] of Sombath Somphone on December 15, 2012, a couple of days later, he and his car were seen inside a police compound and then two days later he was reportedly taken to a military camp outside Vientiane and a week later was moved to an unknown location, I would like to confirm that this alleged information is not accurate because after receiving the report on his [disappearance], the authorities concerned had notified all police headquarters across the country, on December 17, 2012 by telephone and on January 18, 2013 in writing, to search for Sombath Somphone. Those police headquarters then had reported back that they have not found the missing person. 

“On the details of the investigation into the incident, I would like to confirm that in the past the authorities concerned have conducted a thorough investigation and could collect some information that may be relevant to the [disappearance] of Sombath Somphone and the authorities concerned have conducted three briefings on the results of the investigation for the media and all interested parties. At present, the authorities concerned are continuing to seriously conduct the investigation. 

“On putting up a poster about the missing person in Vientiane, the authorities concerned informed Shui Meng Ng [Sombath’s Singaporean wife] that putting up posters in public places in the capital should follow the notification of the Mayor of Vientiane which provides that any person who intends to do so should submit a request to the relevant body of Vientiane administration to ensure the beauties and tidiness in the capital city. In addition, the authorities concerned also informed Shui Meng Ng that she could post through the media and in the past she has a number of times posted in newspapers and other media means. 

“On the prosecution of perpetrators, I would like to inform you that at present the authorities concerned are continuing to conduct the investigation into the case. If perpetrators are identified they will be brought to justice in accordance with the law.”