Fear for safety Thai human rights defender

Aim for human rights is concerned for the safety of Mrs Angkhana Neelaphaijit, spouse of Mr Somchai Neelaphaijit, a prominent Thai human rights lawyer. Her husband disappeared suddenly in 2004, presumably because of his human rights work. Mrs Neelaphaijit, also a human rights defender, has been put in a witness protection program by the Court. Due to budgetary difficulties, the Department of Special Investigation has decided to transfer the provision of witness protection to the police. This decision puts Neelaphaijit in grave danger, since the police is the alleged perpetrator of the disappearance of her husband. One police officer has already been sentenced to prison for this. Aim for human rights therefore fears that Mrs Neelaphaijit may possibly suffer the same fate as that of her husband.

A member organisation of AFAD, the Asian regional organisation that works against disappearances, requested Aim for human rights to bring the case of Mrs Neelaphaijit to the attention of the Royal Thai embassy in the Netherlands. In addition, Aim for human rights requested the Dutch government to exercise influence in order to protect Neelaphaijit. We think this would fit in the policy to support human rights defenders.

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