BANGKOK, June 10 (TNA) – A panel has been set up to probe
the cases of missing persons following the disappearance of Thai activist
Wanchalerm Satsaksit whose family has claimed he has been kidnapped while in
self-exile in Cambodia.
Wanchalerm is believed to have fled Thailand in 2014. He had since lived in Phnom Penh until he was
taken by a group of men from his apartment on June 4.
Justice Minister Somsak Thepsutin on Wednesday responded to
a motion by opposition MPs seeking explanation about the disappearance of the
activist.
He said the panel led by a prominent investigator was tasked
for handling cases of missing persons.
But for Wanchalerm’s case, it was not in the jurisdiction of
Thai authorities, he noted, therefore, the government, by the Foreign Ministry,
could only coordinate with the Cambodian counterparts.
An opposition MP, Rangsiman Rome, slammed the government for
neglecting the disappearance of government critic, Wanchalerm.
He accused government officials of dereliction of duties in
protecting Thai citizens abroad.
Wanchalerm’s disappearance has sparked a social media
campaign calling for answers from both Thai and Cambodian governments. Anti-government groups and human right
advocates have also staged protests, including that outside the Cambodian
Embassy in Bangkok, demanding explanations into the disappearance.
There have been false claims that the 37-year-old man faces
a lese majeste charge. Thai police have
said he is wanted on a charge of allegedly violating the Computer Crime Act in
2018.
Cambodian authorities have said they were unaware of the
alleged abduction as they have no immigration records of Wanchalerm.
There are also reports that Wanchalerm had been involved in
illegal marijuana trade and might have business conflicts in Cambodia.
(TNA)
