VZCZCXRO8178
PP RUEHCHI RUEHDT RUEHHM RUEHNH
DE RUEHBK #6655 3070033
ZNR UUUUU ZZH
P 030033Z NOV 06
FM AMEMBASSY BANGKOK
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC PRIORITY 2705
INFO RUCNASE/ASEAN MEMBER COLLECTIVE
RUEHCHI/AMCONSUL CHIANG MAI 2607
RUEHGV/USMISSION GENEVA 1732
RUCNDT/USMISSION USUN NEW YORK 5120

UNCLAS BANGKOK 006655 
 
SIPDIS 
 
SIPDIS 
SENSITIVE 
 
E.O. 12958: N/A 
TAGS: PHUM PGOV TH
SUBJECT: HUMAN RIGHTS: SOMCHAI NEELAPHAIJIT UPDATE 
 
REF: BANGKOK 00235 AND PREVIOUS 
 
¶1. (SBU) Summary:  After 10 months with no significant 
developments, the investigation into the disappearance of 
Muslim human rights lawyer Somchai Neelaphaijit is again 
making headlines.  On October 31, junta leader Gen. Sonthi 
Boonyaratkalin stated publicly that a close aide of ex-PM 
Thaksin may have been involved in the disappearance.  At the 
same time, it appears likely that the controversial chief of 
the department charged with investigating the Somchai case, 
Police General Sombat Amornwiwat, will soon be removed from 
his position.  As the spotlight is once again on this case, 
threats against Somchai's outspoken wife, Angkhana, may 
increase.  Poloff contacted Angkhana directly to express the 
USG's continuing interest in this case and concern for the 
safety of her and her family.  End Summary. 
 
¶2. (U)  On October 31, the head of the Council for National 
Security (CNS) Gen. Sonthi Boonyaratkalin stated that a close 
aide of ex-PM Thaksin may have been involved in Somchai's 
disappearance.  Sonthi did not offer any additional details, 
but speculation centers around alleged records of telephone 
conversations between an official in the then-Prime 
Minister's office and one of the five police officers charged 
with forcing Somchai into a car on March 12, 2004.  CNS 
secretary-general, Gen. Winai Patthiyakul later informed the 
 
SIPDIS 
press that the CNS will establish a separate committee to 
oversee the continuing investigation into this case. 
 
¶3. (U)  Meanwhile, it appears increasingly likely that the 
controversial head of the Ministry of Justice's Department of 
Special Investigations (DSI) Police General Sombat Amornwiwat 
will soon be transferred back to the Police Commission.  DSI 
is in charge of the ongoing investigation into Somchai's 
disappearance.  DSI, and Sombat in particular, have been 
harshly criticized by human rights organizations, Somchai's 
wife, and by renowned forensic pathologist Khunying Porntip 
Rojanasunan who heads the MOJ's Central Institute of Forensic 
Science for failure to make any significant progress in the 
case.  (Note. In January 2006, after the verdict acquitting 
all but one of the five police officers charged with 
abducting Somchai (see reftel), Thaksin stated that he knew 
Somchai was dead and that he expected additional arrests by 
the end of February 2006 based on the ongoing work of DSI. 
Since that time, no significant developments in the 
investigation have been made public.  End note.) 
 
¶4. (SBU) Given the increased attention on the case, human 
rights organizations have expressed concern for the safety of 
Somchai's wife, Angkhana.  Angkhana is an outspoken human 
rights advocate on the topic of forced disappearances and the 
situation in southern Thailand.  Over the past two years she 
has reported receiving multiple death threats, harassing 
telephone calls, and surveillance.  On November 1, Poloff 
called Angkhana to express the USG's continuing interest in 
Somchai's case, and concern for her safety.  Angkhana 
confirmed that she feared for her safety given the increased 
attention on the case, and said that she planned to remain at 
home for the next several days.  We will continue to monitor 
this case closely and will remain in contact with Angkhana. 
BOYCE