February 13, 2013
Minister of The Prime Minister’s Office
President of The National Assembly
Minister of Foreign Affairs
Minister of Public Security
Vientiane, Lao Peoples’ Democratic Republic
CC:
ASEAN Secretary General
ASEAN Intergovernmental Commission on Human Rights
EU Subcommittee on Human Rights
Re: Status of investigation into the disappearance of Mr. Sombath Somphone
Dear Madams and Sirs:
We write to you once again with deepening urgency. It has now been almost two months since Mr. Sombath Somphone, founder and former Director of PADETC, was abducted from in front of a police post in Vientiane. Since that time, the Lao Government has claimed that authorities are seriously investigating the matter to arrive at the truth.
We note with great regret that to date, the Lao Government has provided virtually no meaningful updates about the investigation. On the contrary, reports from Vientiane indicate that false and slanderous rumours are being spread about why Mr. Sombath may have disappeared. Sombath Somphone is deeply respected both nationally and internationally for his integrity, honesty and service to his country. Suggestions of personal or business conflicts should be substantiated with credible evidence, or retracted and rejected. Such minimal standards of legal process are surely Mr Sombath’s due as a Lao citizen.
Mr. Sombath’s abduction and the lack of progress of the official investigation has received tremendous international attention and is tarnishing the reputation of the Lao PDR, placing the country’s international profile in serious jeopardy. As noted by the Lao Ambassador in Geneva, the Lao PDR is State party to seven core UN Human Rights Conventions and two Optional Protocols, and signatory to the Convention for the Protection of All Persons from Enforced Disappearance. A résolution adopted by the European Parliament on February 7 calls on Lao Authorities to “undertake prompt, transparent and thorough investigations, in accordance with their obligations under international human rights law, and to ensure the immediate and safe return of Sombath Somphone to his family;”
We once again urge the Lao Government to act in good faith, expedite its investigation into Mr. Sombath’s abduction, and provide his family with meaningful updates on the progress of the investigation.
Swift actions by the Lao Government on this matter and the safe return of Mr. Sombath will surely bring credit to the country.
Respectfully,
- Alec Bamford, Thailand
- All India Forum of Forest Movements, India
- AKSI, Indonesia
- Andrew Bartlett, United Kingdom
- Andrew Nette, Australia
- Angela Savage, Australia
- Anne-Sophie Gindroz, Indonesia
- Asian Forum for Human Rights and Development (FORUM-ASIA), Thailand
- Bank Information Centre, USA
- Bert Cacayan, Terres des homes Germany, Philippines
- Brett M. Ballard, USA
- Brian Angelo Lim, Singapore
- Bruce Shoemaker, USA
- Carl Middleton, Faculty of Political Science, Chulalongkorn University, Thailand
- Centre for Civil Society, University of KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa
- Centre for Environmental Justice/Friends of the Earth, Sri Lanka
- Centre for Human Rights and Development, Mongolia
- Centre for Sustainable Development (CENESTA), Iran
- Chanida Bamford, Thailand
- Chris Greacen, USA
- Chris Lang, Indonesia
- Cheng Shuling, China
- Dani Setiawan, Anti Debt Coalition (KAU), Indonesia
- Don Macleod, United Kingdom
- Ellen Agger, Canada
- Emma Glesen, New Zealand
- Femy Pinto, Philippines
- FIAN International, Germany
- Finnish NGO Platform KEPA, Finland
- Focus on the Global South, Thailand, India and Philippines
- Forest Peoples Programme, United Kingdom
- Fresh Eyes–People to People Travel, United Kingdom
- Gary Lee, Australia
- Global Witness, United Kingdom
- Grainne Ryder, Canada
- Herman Kumara Wijethunge, National Fisheries Solidarity Movement (NAFSO) Sri Lanka
- Hozue Hatae, Friends of the Earth Japan, Japan
- International Accountability Project, USA
- International Rivers, USA
- Jacquelyn Chagnon, USA
- Jenina Joy Chavez, Philippines
- Jeremy Ironside, New Zealand
- Jim Enright, Mangrove Action Project, Asia Regional Office, Thailand
- Joan Carling, Secretary General, Asia Indigenous Peoples Pact, Thailand
- Jon Ungphakorn, Thailand
- Jubilee South-Asia/Pacific Movement on Debt & Development, Philippines
- Karen Janigan, Canada
- Karin Downs, Mass. Dept. of Public Health, USA
- Keith Barney, Australian National University, Australia
- Ken Kampe, USA
- Kevin Kamp, USA
- Kenji Fukuda, Representative Director, Mekong Watch, Japan
- La Via Campesina, South Asia, India
- Lam Thi Thu Suu, Vietnam Rivers Network (VRN), Vietnam
- Laofang Bundidterdsakul, Lawyer, Thailand
- Lisa ter Woort, Canada
- Margie Law, Mekong Monitor, Australia
- Martin Lemenager, France
- Migrant Forum in Asia, Philippines
- Mueda Nawanat, Thailand
- Pakistan Fisherfolk Forum, Pakistan
- Peta Colebatch, Australia
- Peter Swift, USA
- Philip Hirsch, University of Sydney, Australia
- Pierre-Marc Blanchet, France
- Pieter Jansen, Both ENDS, Netherlands
- Randall Arnst, USA
- Randall Ireson, USA
- Rebeca Leonard, United Kingdom
- Re:Common, Italy
- Roger Henke, Netherlands
- Roger Rumpf, USA
- Rural Poor Institute for Land & Human Rights Services (RIGHTS), Inc., Philippines
- Sabrina Kathleen, USA
- Samuel Martin, France
- Theresa Wong, Singapore
- Tipakson Manpati, Thailand
- The Cornerhouse, United Kingdom
- The Peoples’ Coalition for Fisheries Justice (KIARA), Indonesia
- Towards Ecological Recovery & Regional Alliance (TERRA), Thailand
- Transnational Institute, Netherlands
- Walden Bello, Philippines
- Water Initiatives Odisha, India
- World Rainforest Movement, Uruguay