مذكرات إحاطة صحفية بشأن جمهورية لاو الديمقراطية الشعبية

Spokesperson for the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights: Ravina Shamdasani
Location: Geneva
Date: 17 December 2013

Lao People's Democratic Republic

This past Sunday, 15 December, marked one year since the disappearance of Sombath Somphone, a human rights defender in the Lao People’s Democratic Republic (Lao PDR). Mr. Somphone was well-respected for his work on development and education, and also on contentious issues surrounding land confiscation.

While noting the explanations provided on a number of occasions in the past year by the Government of Lao PDR on the status of the official investigation, the High Commissioner has appealed to the Government once again to strengthen its efforts to undertake a transparent and thorough investigation and to devote all available resources to ensure Mr Somphone's immediate and safe return to his family.

New information continues to emerge that Mr Somphone was held in police and military custody immediately following his disappearance.

A group of UN independent experts also issued a joint statement yesterday highlighting the case and their concerns, including the chilling effect Mr. Somphone’s continued disappearance is having on human rights defenders operating in the country.

ENDS
For further information and media requests, please contact Rupert Colville (+41 22 917 9767 or + 41 79 506 1088 /rcolville@ohchr.org) or Ravina Shamdasani (+41 22 917 9169 / rshamdasani@ohchr.org)

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