Letter: Status of investigation into the disappearance of Mr. Sombath Somphone

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

Dr. 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

Dr. Keith Barney, Australian National University, Australia

Dr. 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

Dr. 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

Dr. Walden Bello, Philippines

Water Initiatives Odisha, India

World Rainforest Movement, Uruguay