By Ng Shui Meng (Wife of Sombath Somphone)
25 January 2013
Since the disappearance of Sombath Somphone on 15 December 2012 in front of a police check-point at KM 3 Thadeua Road, many Lao people living inside and outside the country have expressed openly or in private their shock and sympathy to me and my family and have sent wishes for Sombath’s safe return. To you all, I want to say a “BIG THANK YOU”.
However, there are also some Lao groups or individuals who have used the very sad event of Sombath’s disappearance to spread harmful rumors or outright lies about Sombath for their own political or private purposes.
I would like to once and for all put to rest many of these lies and harmful rumors:
- Sombath is not affiliated with any political groups in-country or outside the country as implied by some comments or assertions on some websites. Sombath loves Laos and the Lao people, and he fully supports the development vision of the Lao Government as expressed in the Lao National Economic and Social Development Plan. As a private Lao citizen, he sees his role as supporting the Lao Government to implement its development plan, especially at the community level. He has done so for the past 30 years, and he has worked tirelessly to try to improve the lives of Lao people, especially those living in rural areas, by contributing his knowledge and skills, and always working in consultation and in collaboration with the people and the government.
- Sombath is a Lao citizen and has no dual nationality. He only holds a Lao passport.
- Sombath has not misused any funds in connection with any project or program. He has not absconded any money from any project or program as has been rumored as the reason for his disappearance.
Dear Fellow Lao, please remember
SOMBATH IS NOT A CAUSE, HE IS A HUMAN BEING WHOSE LIFE AND WELL- BEING CAN BE HARMED BY YOUR ACTIONS INTENDED OR OTHERWISE.