Amnesty International ออกปฏิบัติการด่วน ถึงสมาชิกทั่วโลก เขียนจดหมายถึงรัฐบาลไทย สอบสวนการหายตัวไปบิลลี่

แอมเนสตี้ อินเตอร์เนชั่นแนลออก “ปฏิบัติการด่วน” Urgent Action ส่งถึงสมาชิกทั่วโลกให้เขียนจดหมายเรียกร้องถึงรัฐบาลไทย สอบสวนการหายตัวไปของนายพอละจี รักจงเจริญ หรือบิลลี่ นักปกป้องสิทธิมนุษยชนที่ต่อสู้เพื่อพี่น้องชาวกะเหรี่ยงที่ถูกเผาทำลายหมู่ บ้านในเขตพื้นที่ป่าแก่งกระจาน

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NOTE: Members who are nationals or residents of Thailand are not asked to respond to this Urgent Appeal which is sent for information only. BUT you can TAKE ACTION ONLINE now at http://ow.ly/woovN

URGENT ACTION

HUMAN RIGHTS ACTIVIST MISSING IN THAILAND

A prominent human rights activist has been missing in Thailand since 17 April 2014. It is feared that Pholachi Rakchongcharoen, also known as “Billy,” has been subjected to enforced disappearance in response to his activism.

Billy, 30, was last seen in the custody of park officials on 17 April in Kaengkrachan National Park in Thailand’s central Phetchaburi province. According to park officials he was arrested for the possession of wild bee honeycomb and then released after questioning. But there are no official records of his detention and he has not been seen since. Billy is married and has five young children.

There are grave concerns that Billy may have been disappeared by officials angered at his involvement in a lawsuit against Kaengkrachan National Park officials and the Department of Natural Park, Wildlife, and Plant Conservation. At the time of his disappearance, he was travelling from his village to meet with ethnic Karen villagers and activists as part of preparations for the lawsuit, and was carrying documents related to the case. The villagers claim that in July 2011 the authorities were responsible for the burning and destruction of the houses of over 20 Karen families living in the National Park, and Billy was planning to submit a petition about the case to Thailand’s king.

Human rights defenders in Thailand often face harassment, intimidation and attacks by officials and others opposing their work. In 2011, Karen activist Taskamon Oborm, who worked with Billy, was shot and killed by unidentified gunmen shortly after he helped villagers report on alleged abuses by Kaengkrachan National Park officials. No one has been brought to justice for his killing.

Please write immediately in Thai, English or your own language:

* Urging the authorities to take immediate steps to establish the fate and whereabouts of Pholachi Rakchongcharoen, also known as “Billy”, who was last seen in the custody of local authorities in Kaengkrachan National Park in Phetchaburi province;

* If he is in custody, demanding that he is released immediately, unless he is brought before an independent court, charged with an internationally recognizable offence, and if remanded have immediate access to his family, a lawyer and any medical treatment he may require.

PLEASE SEND APPEALS BEFORE 11 JUNE 2014 TO:

Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra
Government House Pissanulok Road, Dusit Bangkok, Thailand 10300
Fax: +66 2 288 4016; +66 2 282 5131; +66 2 288 4256
Twitter: @PouYingluck

Salutation: Dear Prime Minister
Minister Vichet Kasemthoungsri
Ministry of National Resources and Environment
Pollution Control Department Building
92 Phohol Yothin soi 7 Phohol Yothin Road, Phayathai Bangkok, Thailand 10400
Email: rungtip.t@mnre.mail.go.th

Salutation: Dear Minister
And copies to: Deputy Director General Nipon Chotibal
Department of National Park, Wildlife and Plant Conservation
61 Phaholyothin Road, Lardyao , Chatuchak Bangkok, Thailand 10900
Fax: +66 2579 9504, +66 2298 5735, +66 2579 6886

Also send copies to diplomatic representatives accredited to your country.
Please check with your section office if sending appeals after the above date.

Additional Information

Human rights defenders in Thailand continue to face harassment, intimidation, enforced disappearance and attacks as a result of their work. According to a report by Global Witness (http://www.globalwitness.org/deadlyenvironment/), 16 environmental activists in Thailand were killed between 2002 and 2013. Those who suffer human rights violations, and their families, also often face intimidation if they attempt to seek redress.

Amnesty International calls on the authorities in Thailand to end impunity and ensure prompt, thorough, independent and impartial investigations into all reports of disappearance, for suspected perpetrators to be brought to justice and to provide effective protection to victims, complainants, witnesses and their families during the process. The organization also calls on the authorities to ratify the International Convention for the Protection of All Persons from Enforced Disappearance, signed by Thailand on 9 January 2012, and to implement it into national law.

Name: Pholachi Rakchongcharoen, also known as “Billy”
Gender m/f: Male
UA: 103/14 Index: ASA 39/004/2014 Issue Date: 30 April 2014

สินีนาฏ เมืองหนู
ผู้ประสานงานฝ่ายพัฒนาสมาชิกและเครือข่าย
Sineenart Muangnoo
Growth Mobilization Coordinator
แอมเนสตี้ อินเตอร์เนชั่นแนล ประเทศไทย
90/24 ซอยลาดพร้าว 1 แขวงจอมพล เขตจตุจักร กรุงเทพฯ 10900
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