THE UNITED Nations Human Rights Office for South-East Asia (OHCHR) voiced concern about the lack of progress in finding Karen rights activist Pholachi "Billy" Rakchongcharoen, who went missing one year ago today.
In a statement yesterday, the OHCHR said that according to reliable sources, an investigation showed that Billy had never been released after being arrested by national park officials for the illegal possession of wild honey. This is in conflict to the former Kaeng Krachan National Park chief Chaiwat Limlikhit-aksorn's claim that the activist had only been detained for a short period.
Earlier, Phetchaburi province's deputy chief Pol Colonel Traiwitch Namthongthai said CCTV footage showed that Billy had not been released on the day he was arrested and that two student trainees who were witnesses had retracted their testimony.
OHCHR called on the government to encourage transparency in the investigation of this case and set up measures to protect witnesses from intimidation and revenge. Billy's family and the United Nations should be informed of the latest progress into the investigation as well, it said.