Cambodia concludes investigation into Thai activist kidnapping

Cambodian authorities say they have concluded their investigation into missing Thai democracy activist Wanchalearm Satsaksit, who was allegedly abducted in Phnom Penh four years ago.

Witnesses told VOA Khmer at the time that Vancharelem was pushed into a black Toyota Highlander SUV on June 4, 2020, near the Mekong Gardens apartments where he lived.

Cambodian authorities said last week they could not confirm he had lived in the building or find details about the vehicle in which he was taken.

“We have submitted a report to the court and the investigation has been concluded,” Khieu Sophic, secretary of state and spokesman for Vietnam’s Ministry of Interior, told VOA’s Khmer Service on February 27.

Despite the Ministry of Foreign Affairs’ comments, it is unclear whether the Phnom Penh Municipal Court has closed the case. Sam Chamroeun, a Cambodian lawyer for Wanchalearm’s family, told VOA’s Khmer Service last week that he had not received a notice of closure.

VOA’s Khmer Service requested comment from a court spokesman but did not receive a response.

Wanchaleerm’s family and rights groups have criticised the lack of transparency in the investigation and called on the Thai government to pressure Cambodia to explain why it was closing the probe.

“It’s been four years. I hope they tell the family what happened and how the investigation is going. It shouldn’t be a secret anymore,” Wanchaleerm’s sister, Sitanon Satsaksit, told VOA Thailand by phone on Feb. 28.

On March 5, the UN Committee on Enforced Disappearances called on Cambodia to ensure a “prompt, thorough, effective and impartial investigation” into the allegations of Wanchalearm’s enforced disappearance. The committee also called on the Cambodian government to keep Wanchalearm’s family informed throughout the investigation.

Pornpen Khongkachonkiet, a director of the Cross Cultural Foundation who has appointed lawyers to represent the activist’s family, said Cambodia should be more open about what it knows and prove its claims that no state agents were involved.

“Investigations into human rights violations cannot be kept secret,” she told VOA’s Khmer Service on Monday.

According to his relatives and friends, Wancharelem graduated with a degree in political science and worked for a series of non-profit organizations before entering politics and holding various positions in the Pheu Thai Party.

Wanchalearm was among the Thai activists who fled to Cambodia after the 2014 military coup, but it is unclear when. The Cambodian Interior Ministry confirmed that he was granted a visa to remain in the country in 2017.

But the ministry said there were no records of where he lived in subsequent years or what happened on June 4, 2020, the date he was abducted.

At the time of Wanchalaim’s disappearance, the Pheu Thai Party was siding with the opposition to Thailand’s military junta.

In December 2020, Wanchalearm’s legal team and his sister Sitanun appeared in a Phnom Penh court and submitted evidence to support their allegations that he was kidnapped, including a copy of his alleged Cambodian passport.

According to Sam Chamroeun, a prosecutor recorded the complaint and they were summoned by a Cambodian investigating judge, a move that indicates a criminal case has been opened.

However, Porn KhongkachonkietStannon’s Thai lawyer said the legal team had not heard anything from the Cambodian court after that visit or subsequent ones.

“The Cambodian police told us they found nothing,” she told VOA Khmer via email on Tuesday.

National police spokesman Chhay Kimkhoeun has not yet responded to VOA Khmer’s request for comment.

Sitanon again tried to draw attention to the case when former Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Sen met with former Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra in Bangkok on February 22. But she failed to get through to the former Cambodian leader.

Thaksin’s daughter, Pheu Thai Party leader Pathumtarn Shinawatra, has accepted the invitation to visit Cambodia from March 18 to 19.

On February 27, Pheu Thai Party spokesman Danuporn Punnakan was asked at a press conference whether Wanchalearm’s disappearance would be discussed during the visit.

The spokesman said officials would “prefer to discuss economic and social issues rather than bring anyone’s personal issues to the table. But if the issue comes to the public’s attention, [party’s] The Executive Committee will consider this at its meeting.”

Sitanun said she was disappointed with the response and told officials, “Don’t forget [Wanchalearm] It’s Thai.”