“It Was Like Suddenly My Son
No Longer Existed”
Enforced Disappearances in Thailand’s Southern Border Provinces
The Thai security forces have used enforced disappearances as a tool to quell armed separatists in the southern
border provinces, most notably since the escalation of militant violence in January 2004. Based on interviews with
families of victims and with witnesses, “It Was Like Suddenly My Son No Longer Existed” documents 22 cases of
unresolved “disappearances” in which the evidence strongly indicates that the Thai security forces were
responsible. Many of those who have been “disappeared” were suspected by the police or army of being
militants, or of supporting them, or of having information on separatist attacks. The actual number of
“disappearances” in the southern border provinces may be significantly underreported, since many families keep
silent due to fears of reprisal and the lack of effective witness protection.
Most of the enforced disappearances took place during the period in office of the government of Prime Minister
Thaksin Shinawatra, who was deposed in a September 2006 coup. The military-backed government of
Gen. Surayud Chulanont announced it would have a more human rights friendly and sophisticated approach than
the heavy handed one used by Thaksin, but little has changed. The police, the Justice Ministry’s Department of
Special Investigation, the National Human Rights Commission, and the newly reinstated Southern Border
Provinces Administration Center have failed to carry out full and impartial investigations. This has created a
vicious cycle of violence and alienation in which attacks are carried out by the security forces and armed
separatists on a daily basis. Human Rights Watch is calling on the Thai government and the security forces to
immediately end the practice of “disappearances” and other human rights abuses, including extrajudicial
executions, torture and arbitrary arrest, and to take concrete steps to hold perpetrators accountable.