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Wife of missing Laos activist appeals for help in US

Zee News: 30 April 2014

The wife of a missing Laotian activist appealed Tuesday for US assistance in finding him, warning his case has had a chilling effect on civil society in the communist nation.

Sombath Somphone, a US-educated agriculture expert who ran one of Laos’ most prominent development organizations, disappeared in December 2012 as he was driving home. Closed-circuit footage released by the family showed he was taken away at a police post.

His wife, Ng Shui-Meng, said she was meeting with White House and other US officials to urge the United States to keep pressing Laos to investigate. Since his disappearance, she said that non-governmental groups have scaled back activities or encountered greater impediments from authorities.

“It’s clear that civil society space has narrowed,” Ng told reporters in Washington.

Ng said that Sombath had always been careful to seek government authorization for his work so as to avoid controversy. She said she did not wish to challenge the Laotian government’s assertion that authorities were not involved in his disappearance.

“For me, I am not interested as to who has taken Sombath. I am only interested in getting Sombath back,” Ng said. Continue reading “Wife of missing Laos activist appeals for help in US”

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Vợ một nhà hoạt động người Lào kêu gọi Mỹ giúp đỡ tìm chồng mất tích

Radio France Internationale: 30 Tháng Tư 2014

Đức Tâm

Sombath-magsaysay-small
Nhà hoạt động nhân quyền Sombath Somphone (DR)

Hôm qua, 29/04/2014, vợ một nhà hoạt động xã hội người Lào đã kêu gọi chính quyền Mỹ giúp đỡ tìm chồng bị mất tích và bà cảnh báo trường hợp của chồng bà sẽ gây ra những tác động tiêu cực đối với sự phát triển xã hội dân sự tại Lào.

Ông Sombath Somphone là chuyên gia đào tạo nông nghiệp của Mỹ, phụ trách một tổ chức phi chính phủ hoạt động trong lĩnh vực phát triển tại Lào, đã mất tích từ tháng 12 năm 2012, khi trên đường trở về nhà. Theo các thông tin mà gia đình cung cấp, thì có thể ông đã bị bắt tại một trạm cảnh sát.

Vợ ông, bà Ng Shui-Meng, cho biết là đã gặp đại diện của Nhà Trắng và các quan chức Mỹ khác, để kêu gọi Hoa Kỳ gây sức ép với chính phủ Lào tiến hành điều tra về vụ này.

Bà Shui-Meng nói với các nhà báo, tại Washington, là kể từ khi chồng bà mất tích, các tổ chức phi chính phủ đã giảm bớt các hoạt động hoặc chính quyền tìm cách gây cản trở cho các hoạt động của họ tại Lào.
Continue reading “Vợ một nhà hoạt động người Lào kêu gọi Mỹ giúp đỡ tìm chồng mất tích”

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寮國異議人士失蹤500天 妻子要求真相

中央廣播電臺: 30 四月 2014

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寮國著名的民權異議人士薩馮內(Sombath Somphone)(AFP)

寮國著名的民權異議人士薩馮內(Sombath Somphone)失蹤已經500天，他的妻子29日在華盛頓表示，至今完全沒有任何訊息，不知道薩馮內到底發生了什麼事。

薩馮內最後一次露面是在2012年12月15日。根據監控錄影顯示，員警在首都永珍一個檢查哨攔住了薩馮內的座車。幾分鐘之後，一群身份不明的人強迫薩馮內坐上另外一輛車，隨後開走。

監控錄影顯示，薩馮內是在員警知情的情況下被帶走。不少人更認為，寮國政府是此事件的同謀。

雖然寮國安全部門否認參與此事，但薩馮內的失蹤已在一黨專政的寮國產生恐嚇作用。

薩馮內新加坡籍的妻子正在美國訪問，呼籲歐巴馬政府和國會對寮國施加壓力，以早日找到薩馮內。

薩馮內曾因引導年輕人參與發展計畫，在2005年獲得有亞洲諾貝爾和平獎之稱的麥格塞塞獎(Magsaysay Award)。但在媒體全由國家控制的寮國，薩馮內獲獎的消息遭到封鎖。

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Missing Lao Civil Society Leader’s Wife Urges Action on His Case

Radio Free Asia: 29 April 2014

Sombath's wife Ng Shui Meng speaking in Washington, April 29, 2014. (RFA)
Sombath’s wife Ng Shui Meng speaking in Washington, April 29, 2014. (RFA)

Five hundred days after Laos civil society leader Sombath Somphone went missing at a police checkpoint, his wife called on the United States Tuesday to press the authorities in the Southeast Asian state for answers over his disappearance.

Ng Shui Meng, Sombath’s Singapore-born wife who is in Washington to highlight her husband’s case, said she hopes in meetings with congressional and White House staffers to “ask for whatever support they can give” to get to the bottom of the issue.

“I believe that Laos wants good relations with the U.S.,” Ng told reporters at the Center for Strategic and International Studies, calling on U.S. leaders to raise Sombath’s case at regional summits.

“A statement from [U.S. President Barack] Obama or from [Secretary of State] John Kerry when they attend critical meetings, ASEAN meetings … would be very good,” Ng said, referring to future gatherings of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN), to which Laos belongs.

“I’m not sure what more can be done,” Ng said. Continue reading “Missing Lao Civil Society Leader’s Wife Urges Action on His Case”

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Lao Activist Missing 500 Days, Wife Seeks Answers

ABC News: 29 April 2014

Five hundred days after Laos’ most prominent civil rights advocate went missing at a traffic police checkpoint in the capital Vientiane, his wife said Tuesday she remains completely in the dark about what happened to him.

Sombath Somphone’s disappearance was recorded on closed circuit television. The footage shows the activist being escorted by two men to a pickup truck and driven away.

But Laos has released scant information, and Sombath’s disappearance has sent a chilling message to civil society in the one-party state.

His Singapore-born wife, Ng Shui-Meng, is visiting Washington to urge the Obama administration and Congress to press the Lao government to resolve the case which she said has hurt the image of the Southeast Asian nation where she’s lived for more than 30 years. Continue reading “Lao Activist Missing 500 Days, Wife Seeks Answers”

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AICHR can do more to protect Asean citizens

The Nation: 28 April 2014

Kavi Chongkittavorn

The fate of Laotian civil society activist Sombath Somphone will serve as a test case on whether the dictum of a people-oriented Asean community, expounded recently by Sultan Hassanal Bolkiah of Brunei, or people-centred community advocated by Malaysian Prime Minister Najib Razak, is genuine and sincere. Since December 2012, the whereabouts of Sombath, a Magsaysay Award winner are unknown.

Sombath’s wife, Dr Ng Shui Meng, has been working relentlessly to push for a full investigation by the Laotian government into his disappearance. Asean-based civil society groups have also continuously appealed to Vientiane to put more effort into the case, which occurred in front of a police checkpoint near the capital, where he was last seen. So far, very little information has been revealed by the authorities.

At a recent meeting in Bangkok, Asean parliamentarians praised Singapore for its efforts to urge the Lao government to expedite their inquiry into Sombath’s disappearance and resolve the case as soon as possible. They also called for other Asean members to take a firm and common stand on the issue. Continue reading “AICHR can do more to protect Asean citizens”

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Dear Sombath…from Emi Weir

Dear Sombath,

It is Boun Easter in Australia and I am home visiting family and friends. I must admit I escaped Boun Pi Mai in Laos, it is a wonderful Lao celebration but it makes me miss my own family. Easter is such wonderful time to be home in Sydney when everyone has a long weekend and we can enjoy picnics on the boat and beaches, swim in the still warm waters.

Which makes me think about our first meeting. I was having a coffee with Shui-Meng, talking handicraft, and you came into the cafe. Shui-Meng introduced me and my tourism background, to which you were very quick to show interest. You spoke about the PADETC farm outside of Vientiane, how many of your friends who left Laos as children, loved to come back and feel the mud between their toes, and remember the agricultural lifestyle of your beautiful country. I can really appreciate how Lao people connect with the environment and even miss that when they move to the city. As an Australian I have great memories of the beach as a child, and of the bush, spending time swimming in streams, seeing lots of native animals including spiders and snakes. We spoke about this connection and how it helps make a country grow, how appreciation of where our food comes from is important and our natural resources. How as children if we experience and appreciate this, we will ensure the next generation does too, and share with them.

Every time I read about you I pray you too are experiencing some joy of the natural beauty of your country, and like me you can go home and see your family for the next festival. Shui-Meng has taught me and inspired me so much in the few years I have known her, it hurts me so much that you two are not together enjoying that natural beauty.

Emi Weir

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Dear Sombath…from Agnieszka Kroskowska

Dear Sombath,

As I prepare to leave Laos after 6.5 years of living and working here, I cannot help but reflect on my time here, my first days and weeks here. One of the very clear memories I have – as though it happened just yesterday, was my first meeting with you. This is atypical for me because I very rarely remember the first time I meet someone; more shy than people perhaps realize while sincerely in the moment, I usually am just trying to get through the moment, so I in the end draw a blank. But you and a few others I can basically count on one hand, were different. Interestingly – I also remember the first time I saw Shui Meng – you were together, sitting a couple of rows in front of me during one of those Monument Books presentation evenings. She stood up and voiced her opinion during the habitual Q&A session that follows all presentations. I just remember saying to my friend Wow – now that is a strong woman; I would definitely not want to mess with her; good for Sombath for having the confidence to be with a woman like that! Says even more about him as a man. Continue reading “Dear Sombath…from Agnieszka Kroskowska”

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Singapore taking the lead in pressuring Laos to expedite investigation into disappearance of Sombath Somphone

Asian Parliamentarians for Human Rights: 18 April 2014

LOGO_APHRBANGKOK – ASEAN Parliamentarians today praised Singapore for its consistent efforts to urge the Lao government to expedite its inquiry into the disappearance of civil society actor Sombath Somphone and urged other ASEAN nations to take a firm, united stand against the shortcomings of the Lao authorities’ investigation to date.

The Singapore government this week reiterated its concern regarding the stalled investigation into Sombath’s whereabouts after he was disappeared from a street in Vientiane in December 2012.

In written remarks to the Singapore Parliament, Singaporean Law and Foreign Affairs Minister K. Shanmugam said his government had made its misgivings known to the Lao government and that it has also offered assistance to Sombath’s wife, Dr. Ng Shui Meng, a Singaporean citizen resident in Vientiane.

“[The Singapore government has] consistently raised our concern to the Lao PDR government over Mr Sombath’s disappearance at the highest levels, including with the Lao PDR President, Prime Minister, President of the National Assembly and Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs,” K Shanmugam said.

“We have urged the Lao PDR government to expedite their investigations and to resolve this case as quickly as possible.” Continue reading “Singapore taking the lead in pressuring Laos to expedite investigation into disappearance of Sombath Somphone”

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Kidnapping In Laos Affects Civil Society

The Eugene Weekly: 17 April 2014

By Camilla Mortensen

Sombath Somphone is “one of the Lao People’s Democratic Republic’s most respected civil society figures,” according  to a December 2013 press statement from Secretary of State John Kerry on the one year anniversary of Sombath’s disappearance. Sombath was kidnapped from a police checkpoint in Laos and has not been heard from since. Sombath’s wife, Ng Shui-Meng, will be speaking about her husband’s disappearance and the challenges to free speech and human rights in Laos and in the rest of Southeast Asia while in Eugene on Monday, April 21.

“Laos has taken steps in recent years to become a responsible partner in the community of nations,” Kerry writes. “Sombath’s abduction threatens to undermine those efforts.”

Ng Shui-Meng says that while some have called Sombath the “Nelson Mandela of Laos,” her husband was never involved in politics. He worked in nonviolence and consensus building, she says, and always worked with the approval of government officials. Sombath established the Participatory Development Training Center in Laos, which works to train young people and local government officials in community-based development. Continue reading “Kidnapping In Laos Affects Civil Society”