Five human rights organisations have issued a statement demanding that the Thai government investigate the fatal shooting of Roning Dolah, a Pattani-based activist working on rehabilitation support for torture survivors, and all other suspected cases of murder or extrajudicial killing.

Roning was shot and killed by two unidentified men in front of his house in Pattani’s Yarang district at around 21.00 on Tuesday night (25 June). He was a Thai massage therapist and coordinator for Duayjai Group, a civil society organisation working to provide rehabilitation support for torture survivors in the Deep South. According to the statement, Roning received complaints from victims of torture and arbitrary detention. He also worked as a coordinator between Duayjai Group and the local communities, organised workshops, and provided support for women who had been abused.

Roning had been arrested under special laws used in the Deep South at least 5 times and was subjected to torture twice while held on a military base. He lived with his wife and 5 children, as well as the three children of his older brother, who is now imprisoned on charges relating to national security.

The Duayjai Group, Cross-Cultural Foundation (CrCF), the Civil Society Assembly for Peace (CAP), the Network of People Affected by Special Laws (JASAD), the Patani Human Rights Network Organisations, and Pakkamol Sirirat issued a joint statement voicing concern that Roning’s murder may have been in retaliation for his advocacy work. They also noted that they are troubled by the recovery of 28 bullet casings at the crime scene and the authorities’ labelling of Roning as a former suspect.

The statement points out that in accordance with international human rights standards, human rights defenders must be free to work without intimidation or harassment. It also notes that the Thai government has an obligation under international human rights treaties to ensure a fair trial and remedy for the family.

The groups call on the Thai government to conduct “a comprehensive, immediate, and unbiased inquiry into all alleged cases of unlawful killings” in accordance with principles of preventing and conducting effective investigations into extrajudicial, indiscriminate, and summary executions under the guidelines set by the Economic and Social Council Resolution 1989/65, the UN Manual on the Prevention and Effective Investigation of Extrajudicial Execution, and the 2016 Minnesota Protocol on the Investigation of Potentially Unlawful Deaths. They note that failing to do so would be a violation of the right to life and add that the government must also ensure the safety of former suspects or detainees on security charges.