Cross Cultural Foundation Launches Report on Enforced Disappearance of
Lahu Indigenous Group During the Drug War
Hopes the State Will Investigate and Restore Justice for All Victims
August 29, 2025 – The Cross Cultural Foundation (CrCF) is holding the event “Never Stop Remembering: Memory, Fading, and Indelible.” The event includes the launch of the report “A Cry from the Pit to the Hill: The Enduring Crisis of Enforced Disappearance in Lahu Communities in Northern Thailand” and a panel discussion on the topic “Ethnicity, Memory, Hope, and the Path to Justice.” The event, held at the Jim Thompson Art Center in Bangkok, also features an exhibition on the memories of the Lahu people during the drug war.
Enforced disappearance is a grave human rights violation that has occurred throughout Thai and global history. The perpetrators are often state officials or individuals supported by the state, and the victims are typically human rights defenders and vulnerable groups, such as indigenous people. Since the perpetrators are powerful state authorities, many enforced disappearance cases remain unresolved. Those involved are often not prosecuted or punished, while the fate and whereabouts of the disappeared remain unknown.
Although Thailand has enacted the Act on the Prevention and Suppression of Torture and Enforced Disappearance B.E. 2565 (2022) and ratified the International Convention for the Protection of All Persons from Enforced Disappearance, its implementation has been slow. There are still 77 pending cases of enforced disappearance with the UN.
In Northern Thailand, ethnic groups were viewed as a threat to national security in 2003. This misconception and the deep-seated discrimination in Thai society made them a target of the “war on drugs” policy, which led to the widespread enforced disappearance and murder of indigenous communities.
With support from Justpeace, the CrCF went to Fang District, Chiang Mai, to study and collect data on enforced disappearances during the “war on drugs” or the 2003 crackdown on narcotics. The policy had a severe impact on ethnic groups. The foundation interviewed members of the Lahu group and found several key points:
- Enforced disappearance and torture were not isolated incidents but were recurring elements within the state’s security policies in the region.
- The victims were often indigenous communities, highlighting a pattern of discrimination and the marginalization of these groups.
- The legal frameworks and institutions designed to protect citizens have failed, as state officials often obstruct investigations and deny the existence of the problem.
- The social and psychological harm inflicted on the families and communities of the disappeared has led to long-lasting intergenerational trauma, economic hardship, and the erosion of cultural and social ties.
The report also outlines urgent recommendations, calling on the government to criminalize enforced disappearance under domestic and international law and mechanisms. It also recommends establishing an independent and impartial commission to investigate all reported cases of enforced disappearance and torture. Additionally, it urges the creation of a comprehensive support process for victims’ families, which includes legal assistance, psychological counseling, and financial aid.
More than 20 years after the “war on drugs” policy was implemented, these issues remain unresolved amid ongoing oppression and human rights violations. The victims continue to hold on to their “memories.” These memories are not just about the past; they are a social force that can ignite new hope. “Not forgetting” is a tool in the long struggle for justice.
Executive Summary
This report, “A Cry from the Pit to the Hill: : The Enduring Crisis of Enforced Disappearance in Lahu Communities in Northern Thailand” details the grave human rights violations of enforced disappearance and their profound, devastating impact on Lahu communities in Northern Thailand. Stemming from a grassroots research project, this study aims to shed light on these abuses and their systemic roots, particularly in areas grappling with state security operations, political conflict, and economic disparities. The findings are based on extensive interviews, legal analysis, and participatory research with affected communities.
Enforced disappearance, defined as the arbitrary detention of an individual by state agents followed by a refusal to acknowledge their whereabouts, is a crime of immense cruelty. It effectively erases the victim from legal and social existence, while simultaneously plunging their family and community into a state of perpetual anguish and uncertainty. Compounded by acts of torture and extrajudicial killings, these violations represent a complete breakdown of legal protections and a flagrant disregard for fundamental human rights. The insidious nature of these crimes is further magnified by the systemic erasure of evidence, denial of detention, and the impunity often enjoyed by the perpetrators.
The research conducted for this report, in collaboration with the Lahu Association and its president, Mr. Sila Jahae, reveals a disturbing pattern of disappearances and torture targeting individuals within Northern indigenous communities. These incidents are often linked to counter-insurgency operations and the ‘war on drugs’ policies, where individuals are deprived of their liberty without due process, subjected to inhumane treatment, and subsequently made to vanish. The lack of accountability for these actions has fostered a climate of fear and distrust, where communities are reluctant to seek justice for fear of reprisal. The Lahu community, in particular, has demonstrated incredible resilience and courage in sharing their stories, providing a human face to these statistics and highlighting the urgent need for action.
Our investigation uncovered several key findings. First, enforced disappearance and torture are not isolated incidents but rather a recurring element of state security policy in the region. Second, the victims are disproportionately from indigenous groups, indicating a pattern of discrimination and marginalization. Third, the legal and institutional frameworks designed to protect citizens are failing, as authorities frequently obstruct investigations and deny the existence of a problem. Finally, the social and psychological toll on the victims’ families and communities is immeasurable, leading to long-term and intergenerational trauma, economic hardship, and the erosion of cultural and social ties.
In light of these findings, this report outlines a series of urgent recommendations. We call upon the Thai government to effectively enforce and criminalize enforced disappearance under domestic law and international instruments. We also recommend the establishment of an independent, impartial body to investigate all reported cases of disappearance and torture, with the power to prosecute perpetrators regardless of their rank or position, particularly in this specific pattern and context of Lahu communities. Furthermore, we urge for the provision of comprehensive support services for the victims’ families, including legal aid, psychological counseling, and financial assistance.
This report is a plea for justice and a roadmap for change. Its creation was a collaborative effort, made possible by the dedication of our team at the Cross Cultural Foundation, including Prakaidao Phurksakasemsuk, Pornpimol Mukkuntod, Jidapa Eagark, and Mckenzie Swain, and the vital support of our funder, Justpeace. Moving forward, we commit to working with civil society organizations, international partners, and the affected communities to advocate for the implementation of these recommendations and to ensure that the voices of the disappeared are never silenced. The path to a stable and just Thailand must begin with accountability and the recognition of the fundamental human rights of all its people.
Pornpen Khongkachonkiet
Executive Director, Cross Cultural Foundation
