Murderous monarchists IV

As police in the northeast unconvincingly deny that a third body was found in the Mekong River in late December, Thailand’s military and police have unconvincingly denied  any involvement in the murders of Chatchai Bubphawan (Phoo Chana) and Kraidej Luelert (Kasalong).

Second Army Region Commander Lt-Gen Tharakorn Thammawinthorn, in charge of the Thai-Lao border region, said “military intelligence indicated that Surachai and his associates had taken refuge in Laos several years ago, but the military had not been following their movement outside Thailand.”

Given the efforts that the junta made some time ago in seeking extradition of Thai republicans, this seems little more than a lie that tells another truth.

With Surachai Sae Dan remaining missing it is widely assumed that the third  body was his, and that the authorities removed the body.

Meanwhile, Human Rights Watch has issued a statement calling on the Lao government to “urgently investigate the disappearance of three Thai political activists who were last seen in the capital, Vientiane, in December 2018…”. HRW confirms that “Thai authorities told Human Rights Watch that DNA samples from the bodies found in the Mekong River matched two of the missing activists, Phu Chana and Kasalong.” It added that “Lao authorities need to credibly investigate and prosecute this heinous case, which has raised alarms for Thai activists in exile in Laos.”