Fears for Surachai I

Activists and human rights advocates remain deeply concerned about the fate of red shirt and anti-monarchist Surachai Danwattananusorn or Surachai Sae Dan who disappeared about two weeks ago from his home-in-exile, together with two comrades.

His disappearance remains largely unmentioned in the mainstream media.

Khaosod reports the discovery of a mutilated body found on the banks of the Mekong River near Nakhon Phanom, which caused great concern among his supporters.

However, police say “it’s too early to tell if a dead body found in the Mekong River belongs to a prominent anti-monarchy activist who went missing two weeks ago,” saying it might be a “victim of narcotics traffickers…”.

The body of the “unidentified” man was found in a sack, with his “throat … cut, intestines removed and hands locked in handcuffs…”. The report states that “[a]nother dead body was found in a similar manner just two days earlier.”

Surachai’s wife believes that the two bodies were men in the 30-40s so it is unlikely to be Surachai.

Like the sudden removal of the 1932 plaque, the Lak Si constitutional memorial and the disappearance Surachai has received little mainstream media attention, suggesting that many “understand” that commentary on these events is best left alone as they are likely attributable to very powerful and  very dangerous forces.