An Announcement of the International Commission of Jurists (ICJ) and Justice for Peace Foundation (JPF) in Thailand forwarded by the Asian Human Rights Commission
THAILAND: Public Seminar on 10th Anniversary of Somchai Neelapaijit’s Enforced Disappearance
The Asian Human Rights Commission wishes to forward the following public announcement from the International Commission of Jurists (ICJ) and Justice for Peace Foundation (JPF) in Thailand.
Date: March 12, 2014
Time: 8:30am ~ 12:30pm
Venue: Jumpot-Pantip Meeting Hall, Prachatipok – Rampaipanni Conference Hall, Chulalongkorn University, Pratumwan, Bangkok
For attendance, kindly contact below by March 7 (Friday).
1) ICJ at: 02 619 8477 ext. 102, nawawan.petchwattana@icj.org or
2) JPF at: 02 4654099, pratubjit@justiceforpeace.org
Thank you.
Asian Human Rights Commission
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[ANNOUNCEMENT]
Public Seminar on 10th Anniversary of Somchai Neelapaijit’s Enforced Disappearance
Prominent Thai Muslim human rights lawyer, Somchai Neelapaijit, was abducted and subjected to enforced disappearance on 12 March 2004. At the time of his “disappearance”, Somchai Neelapaijit was a lawyer representing those allegedly tortured by police officers in the deep South. Ever since then, human rights organizations have continued to urge the Royal Thai Government to bring the perpetrators to justice and to end the serious ongoing human rights violations in the restive deep South, including arbitrary detention, enforced disappearances, extra-judicial killings and torture.
The International Commission of Jurists (ICJ) and the Justice for Peace Foundation (JPF) would like to invite you to attend a public seminar to commemorate the “10th Anniversary of Somchai Neelapaijit’s Enforced Disappearance” in order to learn about the latest developments in the case, and to raise public awareness of the efforts to combat enforced disappearances and the culture of impunity in Thailand.
The event will take place on 12 March, 2014 at Jumpot-Pantip Meeting Hall, Prachatipok – Rampaipanni Conference Hall, Chulalongkorn University, Pratumwan, Bangkok, from 08.30 to 12.30. The programme is attached for your information.
We sincerely hope that you will be able to join us, and would appreciate if you could confirm your attendance by Friday 7 March 2014 to the ICJ at: 02 619 8477 ext. 102, nawawan.petchwattana@icj.org or to the JPF at: 02 4654099, pratubjit@justiceforpeace.org.
Programme of Public Seminar (Simultaneous translation will be provided)
08:30-09:00 Registration
09:00-09:15 Opening remarks by Ms Angkhana Neelapaijit
Justice for Peace Foundation (JPF)
09:15-09:45 Panel discussion on Thailand’s preparation to ratify the International Convention for the Protection of All Persons from Enforced Disappearance
Panelists:
• Department of Rights and Liberties Protection, Ministry of Justice
• Mr. Somchai Homlaor, Law Reform Commission of Thailand
09:45-10:00 Break
10:00-11:30 Two legal challenges to the investigation and prosecution of cases of enforced disappearance in Thailand:
I: Obstacles to litigating enforced disappearance cases in Thailand
• Mr. Vasant Panich, Human Rights Lawyer
II: How does the failure to locate a victim’s remains affect a criminal investigation or prosecution?
• International Commission of Jurists
III: How does the failure to locate a victim’s remains affect the rights and legal standing of a victim’s family in a criminal proceeding?
• Assistance Prof. Dr. Pokpong Srisanit, Faculty of Law, Thammasat University
11:30-11:45 Launch of the ICJ report of 10th anniversary of Somchai Neelapaijit’s enforced disappearance: Ten years without truth: Somchai Neelapaijit and enforced disappearances in Thailand
11:45-12:15 Q&A
12:15-12:30 Closing remarks by International Commission of Jurists (ICJ)
12:30 Lunch
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