Cambodia: investigation opened after the disappearance of a Thai opponent in exile

Text by: RFI Follow

Cambodian police, who deny responsibility for the case, will investigate an exiled Thai dissident who was abducted last week in Phnom Penh, Human Rights Watch says.

Publicity

Where did Wanchalearm Satsaksit go  ? According to Human Rights Watch (HRW), this Thai dissident in exile was kidnapped on June 4 in broad daylight outside his home in Phnom Penh by "  a group of armed men  " who pushed him into a car. The NGO relies on testimonies and images of video surveillance.

#Cambodia # Thailand: Thai pro-democracy activist Wanchalearm Satsaksit has been kidnapped in the Cambodian capital Phnom Penh, where he lives in exile. HRW urgently calls for a rigorous investigation. https://t.co/Yu5hjhnlj5

Wanted in Thailand for Criticizing Government

The family of the opponent, without news of him, for its part launched an appeal urging his "  release  ", while twenty pro-democracy activists gathered Monday in front of the Cambodian embassy in Bangkok to demand explanations of his fate.

His relatives have reason to be worried. Wanchalearm Satsaksit is wanted in Thailand under the Computer Crimes Act, a controversial Internet control law, for operating an anti-government Facebook page. On June 3, in a video viewed more than 12,000 times, he directly targeted the Thai Prime Minister, General Prayut Chan-O-Cha, whom he described as a man "  without the power to govern  ". The head of government is criticized for his management of the crisis linked to the coronavirus epidemic which has severely hit tourism, leaving millions of people unemployed.

Eight Thai activists in exile missing since 2014

Since the military coup in 2014, the Thai government has tracked down the most virulent opponents, in particular those who attack the monarchy, protected by draconian law. The suspicious disappearance of Wanchalearm Satsaksit is not a first. Eight Thai activists in exile in neighboring countries, including Laos, Cambodia and Vietnam have disappeared since 2014, according to HRW, two of whom were found dead in January 2019 in the Mekong, their bodies mutilated and filled with concrete .

After having initially excluded him, the Cambodian police therefore decided to "  launch investigations  ", announced Tuesday his spokesman, Chhay Kim Khoeun, contenting himself with indicating that the Cambodian authorities or the police did not had not arrested. "  We do not yet know if the information (from HRW) is accurate,  " he said.

"  I do not know this man, but we will cooperate  " with the Cambodian authorities, said Prayut Chan-O-Cha, who said he did not want to interfere in the investigation.

(with AFP)

Newsletter Receive all international news directly in your mailbox

Follow all international news by downloading the RFI application

• Cambodia
• Thailand
• Human rights

On the same subject

Thai opponent kidnapped in Cambodia, Human Rights Watch

Thailand: plan to revive economy damaged by coronavirus