Last Friday marked International Day of the Victims of Enforced Disappearances. Unlike in the past, the return of a Shinawatra family member to Government House has rekindled hope the new prime minister will help locate political activists -- many of whom were affiliated with the red-shirt movement -- who disappeared in neighbouring countries like Cambodia and Laos.
According to a report released in June by Thailand's National Human Rights Commission (NHRC), nine political activists who had gone into self-exile went missing there between 2017 and 2021. These individuals fled charges and sought refuge in Laos, Cambodia, and Vietnam.
The missing activists include Ittipon Sukpaen, Wuthipong Kochathamakun, Surachai Danwattananusorn, Chucheep Chiwasut, Kritsana Thapthai, Siam Theerawut, and Wanchalearm Satsaksit.
Two others, Chatcharn Buppawan and Kraidej Luelert, were found dead. Their bodies were discovered encased in concrete along the Mekong River bordering Laos in late 2018. All of these cases involve individuals accused of violating the Computer Crime Act, national security laws, and Section 112 of the Criminal Code.
Last Friday, relatives of the disappeared submitted a letter to the Paetongtarn government, urging the prime minister to help trace these activists, provide remedies to affected families, and protect those who speak out against state security personnel.
They also called on the government to uphold the principle of non-refoulement, which is enshrined in both local law and international treaties on refugees and human rights that Thailand has signed.
The principle of non-refoulement prohibits states from returning political refugees and activists to their countries of origin when there are substantial grounds to believe the person would be at risk of persecution, torture, ill-treatment, or other serious human rights violations. In essence, they are simply asking the government and officials to fulfil their duties.
In reality, however, relatives of the kidnapped activists say they have been neglected. The national committee established last year to investigate these cases and support affected families, has merely delayed action instead of finding the missing activists.
Despite the Pheu Thai-led government being civilian-elected, political refugees from Cambodia and Vietnam continue to be arrested by the police. The latest case involves Y Quynh Bdap, a Vietnamese political activist with UN refugee status, who was arrested in July by local police.
Regarding financial remedies, relatives of the kidnapped activists are not eligible for state compensation because the local law, The Compensation for Criminal Case Act 2001, does not cover victims of enforced disappearance.
The Paetongtarn government cannot ignore these demands. In fact, what Ms Paetongtarn and her father Thaksin can do immediately is to ask the Cambodian government to expedite the investigation into the case of Wanchalearm Satsaksit, who was abducted in Phnom Penh on June 4 2020.
The investigation into Wanchalearm's case will be a litmus test for whether the Pheu Thai-led government is sincere in improving human rights.
It is hoped the close connection between former prime minister Thaksin Shinawatra and former Cambodian prime minister Hun Sen will extend to cooperation on human rights protection, not just economic cooperation and natural gas development.