Missing Thai activist’s kin to ‘have faith’
Family not giving up hope for return of Wanchalearm Satsaksit
Bangkok, Aug. 11: The family of a missing Thai pro-democracy activist celebrated his birthday Tuesday, vowing not to give up hope for his return more than two months after he was allegedly abducted in Cambodia.
The disappearance of Wanchalearm Satsaksit was one of the catalysts for a growing pro-democracy movement in Thailand, which has seen thousands turn out to protest the military-aligned administration.
Wanchalearm, a critic of the Thai government led by former army chief
Prayut Chan-O-Cha, was abducted off the streets of the Cambodian capital Phnom Penh in early June, according to rights groups.
The self-exiled activist, who runs an acerbic antigovernment Facebook page, is wanted by Thai authorities for allegedly breaching the Computer Crimes Act.
Both Thai and Cambodian authorities have vowed to investigate his disappearance. However, sister Sitanan said Tuesday — his 38th birthday — that she was “frustrated” — with the slow pace the investigations have taken.
“Our family is waiting for the truth and clarity from both countries,” she said, as she lit candles on a cake in front of the Cambodian Embassy in Bangkok.
“I still have faith that he's alive... We cannot give up hope if there is a small chance,” she said.
Protesters in rallies across the country have held up posters with Wanchalearm's face to demand answers of his fate. Sitanan said she was “proud” that her brother has become a symbol the movement, adding that she didn’t used to understand why he was so active in the pro-democracy movement.
“On the day he disappeared, that’s when I realised we needed to do something about the politics of Thailand,” she said.
Since a coup in May 2014, Thailand has vowed to track down pro-democracy critics — especially those accused of attacking the unassailable monarchy.
At least eight prominent Thai activists who fled to Laos, Cambodia and Vietnam have subsequently disappeared, according to Human Rights Watch.