HUMAN RIGHTS: SOMCHAI NEELAPHAIJIT UPDATE

UNCLAS BANGKOK 006655

SIPDIS

SIPDIS
SENSITIVE

E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: PHUM PGOV TH
SUBJECT: HUMAN RIGHTS: SOMCHAI NEELAPHAIJIT UPDATE

REF: BANGKOK 00235 AND PREVIOUS


1. (SBU) Summary: After 10 months with no significant
developments, the investigation into the disappearance of
Muslim human rights lawyer Somchai Neelaphaijit is again
making headlines. On October 31, junta leader Gen. Sonthi
Boonyaratkalin stated publicly that a close aide of ex-PM
Thaksin may have been involved in the disappearance. At the
same time, it appears likely that the controversial chief of
the department charged with investigating the Somchai case,
Police General Sombat Amornwiwat, will soon be removed from
his position. As the spotlight is once again on this case,
threats against Somchai's outspoken wife, Angkhana, may
increase. Poloff contacted Angkhana directly to express the
USG's continuing interest in this case and concern for the
safety of her and her family. End Summary.


2. (U) On October 31, the head of the Council for National
Security (CNS) Gen. Sonthi Boonyaratkalin stated that a close
aide of ex-PM Thaksin may have been involved in Somchai's
disappearance. Sonthi did not offer any additional details,
but speculation centers around alleged records of telephone
conversations between an official in the then-Prime
Minister's office and one of the five police officers charged
with forcing Somchai into a car on March 12, 2004. CNS
secretary-general, Gen. Winai Patthiyakul later informed the

SIPDIS
press that the CNS will establish a separate committee to
oversee the continuing investigation into this case.


3. (U) Meanwhile, it appears increasingly likely that the
controversial head of the Ministry of Justice's Department of
Special Investigations (DSI) Police General Sombat Amornwiwat
will soon be transferred back to the Police Commission. DSI
is in charge of the ongoing investigation into Somchai's
disappearance. DSI, and Sombat in particular, have been
harshly criticized by human rights organizations, Somchai's
wife, and by renowned forensic pathologist Khunying Porntip
Rojanasunan who heads the MOJ's Central Institute of Forensic
Science for failure to make any significant progress in the
case. (Note. In January 2006, after the verdict acquitting
all but one of the five police officers charged with
abducting Somchai (see reftel),Thaksin stated that he knew
Somchai was dead and that he expected additional arrests by
the end of February 2006 based on the ongoing work of DSI.
Since that time, no significant developments in the
investigation have been made public. End note.)


4. (SBU) Given the increased attention on the case, human
rights organizations have expressed concern for the safety of
Somchai's wife, Angkhana. Angkhana is an outspoken human
rights advocate on the topic of forced disappearances and the
situation in southern Thailand. Over the past two years she
has reported receiving multiple death threats, harassing
telephone calls, and surveillance. On November 1, Poloff
called Angkhana to express the USG's continuing interest in
Somchai's case, and concern for her safety. Angkhana
confirmed that she feared for her safety given the increased
attention on the case, and said that she planned to remain at
home for the next several days. We will continue to monitor
this case closely and will remain in contact with Angkhana.
BOYCE