Radklao Raises Concerns on Enforced Disappearance Act Report, Points Out Data Inaccuracies and Delayed Mechanisms - Thairath English

"Radklao" raises concerns about the Enforced Disappearance Act report, pointing out data inaccuracies and delayed mechanisms, and leaves a reflection: "How can we protect the living if we have not fully counted the dead?"

On 5 Nov 2026 GMT+7, Mrs. Radklao Intawong Suwankiri, a party-list Member of Parliament from the Democrat Party, debated the 2023–2025 annual report on torture and enforced disappearances. She highlighted flaws that may reflect bureaucratic delays. A key issue was data discrepancies, such as the summary citing 125 cases while tables list 163, and a total of 27 deaths during custody missing due to calculation errors. This could undermine the report's credibility before the parliament.

Regarding operational mechanisms, Radklao noted that the main committee met only five times in nearly three years, potentially affecting case reviews and victims’ appeal rights. She requested clarity on the resignation of Somchai Homlao, a human rights expert committee member, to reassure the public of the committee's independence. Concerns were also raised over the absence of any prosecutions for enforced disappearance cases and the imbalance in compensation standards—for example, a conscript’s death receiving 250,000 baht compensation versus a student punished with 150 sit-ups receiving 500,000 baht. She emphasized that holding perpetrators accountable protects the good and upholds the military’s honor.

Toward the end, Radklao left a firm message to the government and the committee, urging them to expedite improvements in their work, stating: "Delayed justice is injustice, and a report that has not fully accounted for the dead cannot shield those still living."