HRW says Thailand must fully prosecute those responsible for the murder of a Karen activist

MADRID, 16 Ago. (EUROPA PRESS) -

Human Rights Watch (HRW) has indicated this Tuesday that the Thai authorities must fully and fairly prosecute all those responsible for the murder in 2014 of the Karen activist Pholachi 'Billy' Rakchongcharoen, after this Monday the Prosecutor's Office notified the formal accusation to four officials.

This Monday, August 15, the Thai Prosecutor's Office has notified the Ministry of Justice of its decision to formally charge four officials accused of kidnapping and murdering 'Billy' on charges of illegal confinement, premeditated murder and concealment of the victim's body. reported HRW.

Billy was last seen in April 2014 in the custody of Chaiwat Limlikitaksorn, then director of Kaeng Krachan National Park in Phetchaburi province, and his staff. However, the park workers stated that they released him after questioning him and that they did not know his whereabouts. In 2019, his remains were found in the park.

"The indictment of Chaiwat and other park officials is an important step toward justice for Billy and all those who have been forcibly disappeared and killed by Thai government officials," said Elaine Pearson, interim Asia director for Human Vigilancia de los derechos.

Pearson has criticized that the country's officials have long hindered justice for the activist "through cover-ups and exploiting loopholes". Thus, she has urged that the authorities correct the mistake "by ensuring that the attorney general's decision to charge four officials moves quickly towards an effective and fair prosecution."

"The Thai authorities should recognize that they cannot escape being held accountable for the most heinous crimes," he added.

At the time of the disappearance, Pholachi was working with Karen communities --an ethnic minority-- on complaints against the natural park authorities for the destruction and burning of several houses and homes of families who lived inside the park.

Pholachi was arrested by the national park authorities in 2014 for illegal possession of a wild bee hive. Park authorities claimed he was released after questioning, but Pholachi's family has maintained that he disappeared without a trace.

Pholachi's disappearance is one of more than 80 enforced disappearances recorded in Thailand since 1980, according to estimates by human rights groups.