The Cross-Cultural Foundation has filed a complaint against Thai government officials under the Anti-Torture and Enforced Disappearance Act, after it learned that the Thai authorities had already extradited Montagnard human rights defender Y Quynh Bdap back to Vietnam.

The trial for the murder of indigenous rights activist Porlajee “Billy” Rakchongcharoen has concluded, said the Cross-Cultural Foundation (CrCF). The Central Criminal Court for Corruption and Misconduct Cases will deliver a verdict on 28 September.

Charges filed against Cross-Cultural Foundation (CrCF) Director Pornpen Khongkachonkiet for participating in a panel discussion about enforced disappearance in July 2021 have been dropped.

<p>Public prosecutors have filed formal charges against a group of officials who stand accused of murdering and concealing the body of a land rights activist back in 2014. Despite the move, civil rights advocates remain skeptical that justice will be served in the case.</p>

<p>On 8 June, the Central Criminal Court for Corruption and Misconduct Cases sentenced to death Thitisant &lsquo;Joe Ferrari&rsquo; Utthanaphon, a former police colonel, and another 5 officers for suffocating a drug suspect to death with plastic bags in August 2021. The sentence was later reduced to life imprisonment.</p>

<p>A draft bill criminalising torture and enforced disappearance has passed the House of Representatives with 359 votes in favour, 1 abstention and 2 decided not to vote. The bill will now go to the senate for final consideration.</p>

<p>A <a href="https://prachatai.com/english/node/9616">draft bill</a> criminalising torture and enforced disappearance has completed a reconciliation process and now goes to a second reading in parliament expected on 23-25 February, according to the committee scrutinizing the bill.</p>

<p>As uncertainty looms over whether a bill to criminalize torture and enforced disappearance will be approved by parliament, friends and relatives of the disappeared rallied on 8 September to demand its immediate passing to put an end to impunity and harassment from the authorities.</p>

<p>The prosecutor in the Deep South province of Pattani has dropped the charges against 3 prominent human rights defenders who documented allegations of human rights abuses in the restive Deep South.</p>

<p>Despite an earlier agreement, the military has not withdrawn its complaints against three human rights defenders who exposed torture in Thailand’s Deep South. &nbsp;&nbsp;</p>

<div>The decision by the junta’s lawmakers to drop consideration of a bill on torture and enforced disappearance is largely seen as a major setback by civil society organisations and victims’ families who are calling for answers and justifications.&nbsp;</div> <div> </div>