In 2004, Somchai Neelapaijit, a lawyer and human rights activist, disappeared. He was last seen being dragged out of his car by four men. His whereabouts are unknown to this day. Last year, Jiraphong Thanapat, a drug suspect, died after being tortured at Muang Nakhon Sawan police station. Video evidence showed police suffocating the man with plastic bags until he collapsed and stopped breathing.
The cases of Somchai and Jiraphong are not uncommon in Thailand. There have been several cases of enforced disappearances and torture. Many of these cases remain unresolved to this day and perpetrators have not been held accountable.
