Public Seminar on 10th Anniversary of Somchai Neelapaijit’s Enforced Disappearance

Dear Sir/Madame,

Re: Public Seminar on 10th Anniversary of Somchai Neelapaijit’s Enforced Disappearance

Prominent Thai Muslim human rights lawyer, Somchai Neelapaijit, was abducted and subjected to enforced disappearance on 12 March 2004. At the time of his “disappearance”, Somchai Neelapaijit was a lawyer representing those allegedly tortured by police officers in the deep South. Ever since then, human rights organizations have continued to urge the Royal Thai Government to bring the perpetrators to justice and to end the serious ongoing human rights violations in the restive deep South, including arbitrary detention, enforced disappearances, extra-judicial killings and torture.

The International Commission of Jurists (ICJ) and the Justice for Peace Foundation (JPF) would like to invite you to attend a public seminar to commemorate the “10th Anniversary of Somchai Neelapaijit’s Enforced Disappearance” in order to learn about the latest developments in the case, and to raise public awareness of the efforts to combat enforced disappearances and the culture of impunity in Thailand.

The event will take place on 12 March, 2014 at Jumpot-Pantip Meeting Hall, Prachatipok – Rampaipanni Conference Hall, Chulalongkorn University, Pratumwan, Bangkok, from 08.30 to 12.30. The programme is attached for your information.

We sincerely hope that you will be able to join us, and would appreciate if you could confirm your attendance by Monday 10 March 2014 to the ICJ at: Fax number: 02 619 8479; 02 619 8477 ext. 101, nawawan.petchwattana@icj.org or to the JPF at: 02 4654099, pratubjit@justiceforpeace.org.

Public Seminar on 10th Anniversary of Somchai Neelapaijit’s Enforced Disappearance 12 March, 2014 08.30 Jumpot –Pantip Meeting Hall, Prahathipok-Rampaipanni Building, Chulalongkorn University, Pratumwan, Bangkok

• 08:30 – 09:00 Registration
• 09:00 – 09:10 Opening remarks by Ms Matilda Bogner Regional Representative for South-East Asia, UN OHCHR
• 09:10 – 09:15 Welcome remarks by Ms Angkhana Neelpaijit President, Justice for Peace Foundation
• 09:15 – 09:45 Panel discussion on Thailand’s preparation to ratify the International Convention for the Protection of All Persons from Enforced Disappearance
  • Assistance Prof. Dr. Pokpong Srisanit, Faculty of Law, Thammasat University
  • Mr. Somchai Homlaor, Law Reform Commission of Thailand
• 09:45 – 10:00 Break
• 10:00 – 11:30 Two legal challenges to the investigation and prosecution of cases of enforced disappearance in Thailand:
  • Obstacles to litigating enforced disappearance cases in Thailand
    • Mr. Vasant Panich, Human Rights Lawyer
  • How does the failure to locate a victim’s remains affect a criminal investigation or prosecution?
    • International Commission of Jurists
  • How does the failure to locate a victim’s remains affect the rights and legal standing of a victim’s family in a criminal proceeding?
    • Assistance Prof. Dr. Pokpong Srisanit, Faculty of Law, Thammasat University
• 11:30 – 11:45 Launch of the ICJ report of 10th anniversary of Somchai Neelapaijit’s enforced disappearance: Ten years without truth: Somchai Neelapaijit and enforced disappearances in Thailand
• 11:45 – 12:15 Q&A
• 12:15 – 12:30 Closing remarks by International Commission of Jurists (ICJ)
• 12:30 Lunch

* Simultaneous translation will be provided