Human Rights Watch urges Thai authorities to probe murder of rights activist

WhatsAppWhatsAppFacebookFacebookTwitterTwitterPinterestPinterestRedditRedditGmailGmailShareShare

Human Rights Watch has urged Thailand authorities to immediately probe the killing of Somsak Onchuenjit, a land rights activist and lawyer, in Trang province in southern Thailand. 

The international rights watchdog said successive Thai governments have completely failed to prevent or properly respond to attacks against human rights defenders who try to be the voice of landless farmers.

It is reported that at about 7:40 a.m on May 4, 2021, an unidentified gunman fatally killed Somsak, 54, while he was at work in a rubber plantation close to his home in Trang province, Wangviset district.

He had reportedly told his family that he was being followed and was being hurled with death threats. Local authorities, however, neither investigated these warnings nor took any measures to protect him.

Related Posts

Asia director at Human Rights Watch, Brain Adams said: “Thai authorities should not keep mum while grassroots activists in southern provinces are being killed just for standing up for their communities”. 

“The Thailand government should immediately conduct a credible and impartial probe and bring the responsible of Somsak’s death to the due course of law and justice,” Brian maintained.

Somsak had recently led a campaign for the poor villagers’ right to agricultural land in his district. 

Over the last five months, conflicts have surged in the area between local villagers who occupy oil palm plantations that have no longer valid leases with government agencies. These occupiers are backed by local politicians. 

Community members have told the US-based rights agency that police investigations into Somsak’s murder have been half-hearted and ineffectual so far.

During the last 10 years, nearly five land rights activists in southern Thailand have been gruesomely murdered. 

All were leading campaigns seeking community ownership of agricultural lands, which had been in the use of palm oil companies, which had expired their lease contracts with the government. 

About WR News Writer

WR News Writer is an engineer turned professionally trained writer who has a strong voice in her writing. She speaks on issues of migrant workers, human rights, and more.

WR News Writer

WR News Writer is an engineer turned professionally trained writer who has a strong voice in her writing. She speaks on issues of migrant workers, human rights, and more.

Recent Posts

What Is the Current DA in UPS and How Many Employees Will Gain?

What is the Unified Pension Scheme (UPS)? The Unified Pension Scheme (UPS), beginning 1 April 2025, provides a guaranteed pension…

June 16, 2025

Domestic Workers Lead Call for Tougher Loan Laws on International Workers Day in Hong Kong

On the eve of International Domestic Workers Day, a coalition of NGOs and pro-establishment lawmaker Edward Leung asked Hong Kong's…

June 16, 2025

National Insurance Company Limited AO Apply Online 2025: Direct Link Eligibility and Vacancy Details

The National Insurance Company Limited (NICL), owned by the Government of India, has invited applications for 266 Administrative Officer (AO)…

June 14, 2025

Work-Life Balance the Japanese Way: What Is Yutori and Why You Need It

In today's frantic world, the Japanese philosophy of Yutori provides a refreshing alternative to the hustle mentality. Meaning "room to…

June 14, 2025

Taiwan Welcomes Filipinos with Extended Visa Free Entry Until 2026

An extension of Taiwan's visa-free travel programme for Philippine passport holders has been renewed for another year. This extension allows…

June 14, 2025

Judge Blocks Rubio’s Plan to Lay Off 2,000 State Department Employees

A federal judge in San Francisco has temporarily prevented Secretary of State Marco Rubio from laying off almost 2,000 U.S.-based…

June 14, 2025