Asian Federation Against 
What's Happening
The Eighth year commemoration of Enforced Disappearance of Thai Human Rights Lawyer, Somchai Neelapaijit
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As complacency prevails, impunity continues unabated, no more an “eye for an eye”
On 12 March 2004, Mr. Somchai Neelapaijit, human rights lawyer, became a victim of enforced disappearance. His last clients were alleged offenders in the gun robbery case taking place in January 2004 in Narathiwat Province, in Thailand’s Deep South, and they were complaining about their being tortured to confess. Eight years passed, and his family and civil society organizations have to continue to demand justice done to the disappearance of Mr. Somchai and the torture of his clients. But the demands have fallen on deaf ears. Worse, 14 victims of torture while being held in custody by officials including Mr. Somchai’s three clients, have been sued back for making false reports by the high ranking police officers, who could have been involved with the enforced disappearance of Mr. Somchai and given consent to the torture of his clients.
AFAD Statement on International Women’s Day
Empower the Women-Victims, End Impunity for Enforced Disappearance
Today, the Asian Federation Against Involuntary Disappearances (AFAD) joins the world in celebrating the 101st anniversary of the International Women’s Day. The AFAD as a regional federation of eleven member-organizations from different Asian countries pays tribute to all women and their indispensable role in society particularly in the struggle to end enforced disappearances worldwide.
Making or Breaking Impunity
Davao City -- It has been almost a month since retired Maj. General Jovito Palparan went into hiding after the Malolos Court issued a warrant of arrest for his alleged involvement in the disappearance in 2006 of two UP student-activists, Sherlyn Cadapan and Karen Empeno. It undeniably shows that flight means guilt.
The authorities fail to capture him. This reveals not only the inability of the present government to protect the human rights of the people but also how pervasive the climate of impunity in the country is. It is unbelievable that the authorities remain clueless of Palparan’s whereabouts. Either they are doing a sloppy job or they are just too soft in dealing with him.
