UPDATE: Chaiwat denies murdering Karen activist ‘Billy’ in western Thailand

UPDATE: Chaiwat denies murdering Karen activist ‘Billy’ in western Thailand

Former superintendent of Kaeng Krachan National Park, Chaiwat Limlikitaksorn, denies all allegations that he and three other national park officials abducted and murdered Karen activist Porlajee “Billy” Rakchongcharoen in 2014.

Last month, Chaiwat and three others were indicted after the Department of Special Investigation (DSI) found additional evidence that Billy was murdered. The charges filed against them include illegal confinement, premeditated murder, and concealing the victim’s body.

Today, Chaiwat, Boontaen Bussarakham, Thanaset Chaemthet, and Krisanapong Jitthet were summoned to the Central Criminal Court for Corruption and Misconduct Cases in Bangkok, where the DSI submitted their case against the four men.

The accused brought 1 million baht each, in cash, to the court in case they need to request bail, said Chaiwat’s lawyer Pornchai Phruekpichailert.

This morning, Chaiwat told the press he was “not worried.” He said he is ready for society’s questions to be answered and said he believes in the justice system.

Chaiwat was dismissed from his position as Superintendent of Kaeng Krachan National Park. He is currently working as Director of the 9th Conservation Area Administration Office in Ubon Ratchathani province in northeast Thailand.

SOURCE: KhaoSod | BangkokBizNews

ORIGINAL STORY: Four national park officials indicted over Karen activist’s murder in western Thailand

Four national park officials have been indicted for the murder of Karen activist Porlajee “Billy” Rakchongcharoen. The four men are accused of abducting and murdering Billy in Kaeng Krachan National Park in the western province of Phetchaburi in 2014.

Yesterday, the Office of the Attorney General informed the Department of Special Investigation (DSI) of its decision to indict the four men. The charges filed against them include illegal confinement, premeditated murder, and concealing the victim’s body.

The decision to indict the four officials comes after the DSI submitted additional evidence that Billy was murdered.

In 2019, the DSI found bone fragments in an oil barrel at the bottom of a reservoir in the national park which matched DNA samples taken from Billy’s mother, leading them to conclude that Billy was murdered. However, the Office of the Attorney General said the evidence was “unreliable.”

Billy was last seen on April 17, 2014, when he was unlawfully arrested by the then-superintendent of the national park Chaiwat Limlikitaksorn and other park officials for allegedly collecting wild honey in the forest.

The activist had previously filed a lawsuit against Chaiwat and the National Park, Wildlife and Plant Conservation Department of the Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment. Billy accused Chaiwat of burning houses and evicting 20 Karen families from the national park’s Pong Luk Bang Kloy village in 2011.

Billy was travelling to meet Karen villagers and activists to prepare for an upcoming court hearing in the lawsuit at the time of his disappearance.

Billy’s wife Pinnapa Prueksapan submitted a letter to the DSI to investigate her husband’s disappearance. She explained that Billy assisted villagers in filing a lawsuit against Chaiwat and other park officials, so they might have something to do with his unlawful detention and disappearance.

In December 2019, arrest warrants were issued for Chaiwat and three other officials on suspicion of murdering Billy. They were released on bail for 800,000 baht each. In 2020, the murder charges were dropped.

On Monday, Chaiwat said he will prepare to hand himself in to face the charges. Chaiwat wants to be reinstated as a civil servant after he was dismissed from his position at the Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment.

Today, Human Rights Watch said Thai authorities should fully prosecute everyone involved in Billy’s murder. Asia Director of Human Rights Watch Elaine Pearson said…

“Thai officials have long hindered justice for Billy through cover-ups and exploitation of legal loopholes. The authorities can right this wrong by ensuring that the attorney general’s decision to indict four officials moves promptly to an effective and fair prosecution.”

In 2019, Thailand’s Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha ordered the DSI to ensure Billy’s murderers were found and punished so that justice could be served for Billy.

According to Human Rights Watch, Thailand is obligated under international human rights treaties to investigate and prosecute against enforced disappearance, torture, custodial deaths, and other human rights violations.

Enforced disappearance is the secret abduction of a person by state officials, followed by a refusal to acknowledge the fate of that person.

Although the Thai government signed the International Convention for the Protection of All Persons from Enforced Disappearance in 2012, Thailand still doesn’t recognise enforced disappearance as a crime. Human Rights Watch has repeatedly asked Thailand to ratify the treaty by writing enforced disappearance into legislation as a criminal offense.

In 2016, independent film director Pimpaka Towira produced a 30 minute film entitled “The Purple Kingdom” inspired by Billy’s disappearance.

SOURCE: Human Rights Watch