As protests continue in Thailand, families seek information about disappeared activists

One of the catalysts for the youth-led protests in Thailand was the disappearance of pro-democracy dissident Wanchalearm Satsaksit

Relatives want Prayuth Chan-ocha’s government to enforce a stalled draft law on criminalising torture and enforced disappearances

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Sitanun Satsaksit (L) holds a picture of her missing brother, next to Pranee Danwattananusorn, wife of missing activist Surachai Sae-Dan, during an event to commemorate the international day of victims of enforced disappearances. Photo: EPA-EFE

Published: 11:07pm, 27 Aug 2020Updated: 9:44pm, 25 Nov 2020

Relatives of missing Thai activists pleaded on Thursday for a long-stalled bill criminalising political disappearances to be made into law, as calls for accountability grow louder from a burgeoning youth-led pro-democracy movement.

Thailand has seen weeks of near-daily protests by students demanding an overhaul of the military-aligned government and reforms to the monarchy – a long taboo subject in the kingdom.

One of the catalysts for the movement was the disappearance in June of Wanchalearm Satsaksit, a pro-democracy activist self-exiled in Cambodia who was allegedly snatched off the streets.

At recent protests students have displayed posters bearing his image – as well as those of other activists whose disappearances over the years have gone unsolved.

“I will not let this story be silenced or forgotten,” his older sister Sitanan Satsaksit said on Thursday.

A Thai pro-democracy activist holds up a poster featuring a missing dissident. Photo: EPA-EFE

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