: Missing Human Rights Lawyer Latest Of Thai Muslims’ Woes

For 30 years, Thai Muslim attorney Somchai Neelahphaijit used his legal talents to serve the six million Muslims living in Thailand’s southern provinces (Narathiwat, Yala, and Pattani), many of whom did not have to pay for his services. He took on the government in many high profile cases, including the alleged torture of Muslims in police custody. It was during this most recent case that Mr. Neelahphaijit disappeared in Bangkok, and two weeks later government and Muslim officials concede that he may be dead, although no evidence has been found. The story of his life is the story of Thailand’s Muslims – a restive minority who has found itself on the low end of the Thai economic ladder, and who have been caught in the crossfire in the ongoing war on terror (alleged al-Qaida operative Hambali, believed to have been involved with the Bali blasts, was captured there last year). “He always defends the cases of human rights violations, including the case that the accused are tortured,” said Somchai Homla-or, a colleague from the Muslim Law Professionals’ Association, of which Mr. Neelahphaijit was the chair. “Policemen in many cases use the brutality, use the abuse of power in making the investigation of the crime.” Adding to the woes is the imposition of martial law on the south since a January 4th attack on a Thai army base, and a series of bombings throughout the region that have increased tensions between Thai security forces and the Muslim population. Meanwhile, Thailand’s National Human Rights Commissioner Dr. Pradit Chroenthaithavee led a team of doctors who confirmed that the five Muslims in police custody that Mr. Neelahphaijit investigated had indeed been beaten and tortured. “I don’t want to give more details,” Dr. Chroenthaithavee told journalists. “[I don’t want] to go missing like Somchai.”

Shahed Amanullah is editor-in-chief of altmuslim.com.