Human rights activist missing

A prominent human rights activist has been missing in Thailand since 17 April 2014. It is feared that Pholachi Rakchongcharoen, also known as “Billy,” has been subjected to enforced disappearance in response to his activism.

Billy, 30, was last seen in the custody of park officials on 17 April in Kaengkrachan National Park in Thailand’s central Phetchaburi province. According to park officials he was arrested for the possession of wild bee honeycomb and then released after questioning. But there are no official records of his detention and he has not been seen since. Billy is married and has five young children.

There are grave concerns that Billy may have been disappeared by officials angered at his involvement in a lawsuit against Kaengkrachan National Park officials and the Department of Natural Park, Wildlife, and Plant Conservation. At the time of his disappearance, he was travelling from his village to meet with ethnic Karen villagers and activists as part of preparations for the lawsuit, and was carrying documents related to the case. The villagers claim that in July 2011 the authorities were responsible for the burning and destruction of the houses of over 20 Karen families living in the National Park, and Billy was planning to submit a petition about the case to Thailand’s king.

Human rights defenders in Thailand often face harassment, intimidation and attacks by officials and others opposing their work. In 2011, Karen activist Taskamon Oborm, who worked with Billy, was shot and killed by unidentified gunmen shortly after he helped villagers report on alleged abuses by Kaengkrachan National Park officials. No one has been brought to justice for his killing.

Additional Information

Human rights defenders in Thailand continue to face harassment, intimidation, enforced disappearance and attacks as a result of their work. According to a report by Global Witness (http://www.globalwitness.org/deadlyenvironment/), 16 environmental activists in Thailand were killed between 2002 and 2013. Those who suffer human rights violations, and their families, also often face intimidation if they attempt to seek redress.
Amnesty International calls on the authorities in Thailand to end impunity and ensure prompt, thorough, independent and impartial investigations into all reports of disappearance, for suspected perpetrators to be brought to justice and to provide effective protection to victims, complainants, witnesses and their families during the process. The organization also calls on the authorities to ratify the International Convention for the Protection of All Persons from Enforced Disappearance, signed by Thailand on 9 January 2012, and to implement it into national law.

Name: Pholachi Rakchongcharoen, also known as “Billy”