Enforced disappearance, Impunity and rights abuses in Laos
Panel discussion,
Monday, 16 December, 7pm
Twelve years ago, on December 15, 2012, Sombath Somphone, a leader in innovative rural development in Laos and the Southeast Asian region, was stopped at a police checkpoint in downtown Vientiane. CCTV footage showed that a few minutes later, policemen transferred him to another vehicle, which drove off into the traffic. Sombath has not been seen since, and there’s been no information about him from the authorities despite constant entreaties from his family, friends, NGOs, diplomats, UN staff, visiting foreign dignitaries and others. Despite being last seen accompanied by Lao government officials, the Lao government has engaged in a constant cover-up that has deepened over the years.
Sombath was a selfless, committed believer in rural development and sustainable agriculture, constantly looking for ways to help the Lao people through his work. He received the Ramon Magsaysay Award in 2005 for his pioneering efforts for community development. He played a role in the central leadership of the Asia-Europe People’s Forum (AEPF) organized in Laos in 2012.
A distinguished panel, led by his wife Shui-meng Ng, will discuss Sombath, his work and passions, his ongoing legacy and what that all means for Laos as it faces a desperate economic and social situation with massive foreign indebtedness, corruption, economic disruption, rights abuses and massive rural and youth unemployment.
Speakers:
Shui-meng Ng, wife of Sombath Somphone, retired UN field staff.
Senator Angkhana Neelapaijit, family member of an enforced disappearance victim, former member of the UN Working Group on Enforced or Involuntary Disappearances.
Walden Bello, founder and chair of the Board of Focus on the Global South, and a former elected representative in the Philippine Congress.
Sunai Phasuk, senior researcher for Thailand and Laos, Human Rights Watch.
Laura Macini, human rights officer, Southeast Asia Regional Office of the UN High Commissioner on Human Rights.
Moderator: Phil Robertson, FCCT board member, and director, AsiaHuman Rights and Labour Advocates.
This is not an FCCT-organized event.
Free and open to all.
Ten Years After, Sombath Somphone’s Legacy Lives On
Focus on the Global South: 13 December 2022
Focus on the Global South co-organized with the Asia Europe Peoples’ Forum, Embassy of Netherlands in Thailand, and Chulalongkorn University Social Research Institute the Sombath Symposium, which gathered more than 50 activists, artists, academics, members of media, among others both virtually and in-person.
The Sombath Symposium is part of a series of events under the umbrella theme of “We Shall Not Forget” from December 2 to December 15, the day that will mark ten years since Sombath was disappeared. The events seek to commemorate Sombath’s legacy, to demand justice for Sombath and his family, and to call for an end to enforced disappearance and persecution of people and communities who advocate for justice, sustainability, human rights and peace.
The event “Honoring the Legacy of Sombath Somphone,” held December 2 on Lao National Day in Ruan Chula Narumit at Chulalongkorn University—the same venue of the first Sombath Symposium on Humanity and Nature: Traditional, Cultural, and Alternative Perspectives six years ago—saw the coming together of activists, academics, and the human rights and diplomatic community in their continuing struggle for truth and justice for Sombath. Continue reading “Ten Years After, Sombath Somphone’s Legacy Lives On”
Special Book Launch: Silencing of a Laotian Son
Note: A video recording of this event is available here, and a copy of Shui Meng’s remarks here.
FCCT clubhouse, Bangkok, Thailand and online
Tuesday, 14 December, 10am
This Silencing of a Laotian Son – the Life, Work and Enforced Disapppeance of Sombath Somphone is a thoughtful portrayal of Sombath Somphone’s 30-year life journey to improve the lives of rural communities in Laos, and his subsequent enforced disappearance on December 15 2012. It tells of how Sombath’s ground-breaking community and youth development work has earned him widespread recognition as Laos leading development specialist. It also documents the Lao authorities’ denial of state involvement of Sombath’s disappearance and his wife’s tireless and agonizing struggle to rally international support for his safe return since his disappearance.
This event brings together a panel of well-known speakers to launch this important book.
- Ajaan Sulak Sivaraksa, a friend and mentor of Sombath for over 30 years and has greatly influenced Sombath’s work on Education and Engaged Buddhism.
- Ms Cynthia Veliko, Head of the United Nations High Commission for Human Rights based in Bangkok. Her organization continues to champion the enhancement of human rights in the region.
- Ms Angkhana Neelapaijit is the wife of the famous human rights lawyer, Dr Somchai Neelapaijit who was disappeared in 2004, and she is the founder of Justice for Peace, an organization founded to support victims of Enforced Disappearance and to advocate for improved state laws against the perpetration of Enforced Disappearances.
- Shui Meng Ng is the wife and author of the book. She has continued tirelessly to seek truth and justice for her husband Sombath Somphone.
Moderator Phil Robertson, deputy director for Asia, Human Rights Watch
To view online: https://www.facebook.com/FCCThailand/
The event is free and open to all.
8th Anniversary Prayer Ceremony
Sombath Somhone’s family will be holding a prayer ceremony at Wat Na Khoun Noi Forest temple to commemorate the 8th anniversary of Sombath Somphone’s Disappearance.
Stopping Enforced Disappearances: Where is Sombath Somphone?
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On 17 December 2019 a panel discussion was held at the Foreign Correspondents Club in Bangkok, Thailand. Panelists included:
- Angkhana Neelapaijit: Director, Justice for Peace Foundation; Magsaysay Prize Award winner 2019, and wife of Somchai Neelapaijit who was enforcibly disappeared in 2004
- Ng Shui Meng: Wife of Sombath Somphone, who was enforcibly disappeared in 2012
- Katia Chirizzi: Deputy Director, Office of the UN High Commissioner on Human Rights, Southeast Asia
- Phil Robertson: Deputy Asia Director, Human Rights Watch
Click the link above for video of the event.
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Invitation to Press Conference: Stopping Enforced Disappearances; Where is Sombath Somphone?
Date: December 17, 2019
Time: 10:30 am
Place: Foreign Correspondents Club of Thailand (FCCT, directions at www.fccthai.com)
Note: English-Thai interpretation will be provided
- Angkhana Neelapaijit: Director, Justice for Peace Foundation; Magsaysay Prize Award winner 2019, and wife of Somchai Neelapaijit who was enforcibly disappeared in 2004
- Ng Shui Meng: Wife of Sombath Somphone, who was enforcibly disappeared in 2012
- Katia Chirizzi: Deputy Director, Office of the UN High Commissioner on Human Rights, Southeast Asia
- Phil Robertson: Deputy Asia Director, Human Rights Watch
- Moderator: Shalmali Guttal
Invitation: 2nd Sombath Somphone Public Lecture
Growing Prosperity with Organic Farming
Dr. Yang Saing Koma, Cambodia, agronomist, founder of CEDAC, and recipient of the Ramon Magsaysay Award
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- Friday, 2nd August, 15.15 – 16.45 PM
- 8th Floor, Chaloem Rajakumari 60 Building, Chulalongkorn University, Bangkok, Thailand
This is the second Sombath Somphone Public Lecture. The first lecture was held in 2018. It was presented by Seng Raw Lahpai, Myanmar, Founder of Metta Development Foundation and recipient of the Ramon Magsaysay Award.
The purpose of the annual lecture is to enliven our remembrance of Sombath Somphone not only as a victim of forced disappearance but primarily as a community leader who stood for an important mission in society. By inviting persons and organisations who are engaged in similar movements and aspirations in various countries and contexts, we express our solidarity and international recognition of the need to protect the freedom of change agents to fulfill their visionary vocations.
Sombath Somphone, 6 years on
Disappeared in Laos but not forgotten in ASEAN
10:30am, Wednesday, 12 December 2018
Bangkok Art and Culture Center (BACC), Bangkok
Friends of BACC room, 6th floor
Lao civil society leader Sombath Somphone disappeared on the evening of 15 December 2012, after being stopped at a police checkpoint on a busy street of Vientiane, Laos. Footage from a CCTV camera near the police checkpoint showed that unknown individuals forced Sombath into another vehicle and drove away in the presence of police officers. Sombath has never been seen again. His fate or whereabouts remain unknown to this day.
Six years after Sombath Somphone’s disappearance, what has been done to safely return Sombath? What are the regional implications of his disappearance? What are the next steps?
A panel of four distinguished speakers will answer these questions and provide an update on the quest for truth and justice for Sombath Somphone’s disappearance.
- Ms. Shui-Meng Ng: Spouse of Sombath Somphone
- Mr. Edmund Bon: Malaysia’ s representative to the ASEAN Intergovernmental Commission on Human Rights
- Ms. Premrudee Daoroung: Project SEVANA South-East Asia Coordinator
- Mr. Charles Santiago: Malaysian Member of Parliament (via Skype)
Moderated by FIDH (International Federation for Human Rights)
6th PADETC Fair
This year marks 6th year anniversary of PADETC fair. The theme this year is to celebrate the work and passion of Mr. Sombath: “Promoting Ecological Sustainability: Towards a more liveable Laos for all.”
There will be a Buddhist ceremony for blessing starting on the evening of December 13th. On the 14th there will be Buddhist prayer in the morning and a booth display from PADETC’s former learning centers at the former PADETC office.