The wife of missing Karen rights activist Porlajee Rakchongcharoen, alias Billy, on Monday filed an appeal with the Supreme Court against the Region 7 Appeals Court's decision to dismiss a case against Chaiwat Limlikit-aksorn, former chief of Kaeng Krachan National Park, for illegally detaining her husband.
Pinnapa Prueksaphan was accompanied by her daughter and Tipwimol Sirinupong, secretary of a human rights subcomittee for stateless people, transnational workers and displaced persons of the Lawyers Council of Thailand. The petition was filed through the Phetchaburi Court.
On Feb 26, 2015 the Region 7 Appeals Court upheld the Phetchaburi Court's decision to dismiss Ms Pinnapa's case against Mr Chaiwat.
Chaiwat Limlikit-aksorn, former chief of Kaeng Krachan National Park, is accused of detaining missing Karen activist 'Billy'. (Bangkok Post file photo)
The Appeals Court ruled that information in the testimony of Mr Chaiwat, four park officials and two student trainees confirmed that Mr Porlajee had been released, and the petitioner's evidence was not sufficient to prove that the Karen rights activist had been illegally detained.
Ms Pinnapa disagreed and has therefore petitioned the Supreme Court, asking it to overturn the lower courts' decision.
She said despite Mr Chaiwat's insistence that Mr Porlajee had been released, her husband was still missing.
Ms Pinnapa said in the petition that officials of the Kaeng Krachan National Park had a conflict with Mr Porlajee over the eviction of Karen people from the national park. This might have led to the illegal detention of Mr Porlajee.
She said it was the responsibility of the court to seek evidence proving whether or not Mr Porlajee had been released, not of the reponsibility of the family or relatives.
After filing the petition through the Phetchaburi Court, Ms Tipwimol said she would now wait for the court to decide whether to accept it for consideration.
On April 17, 2014, Mr Porlajee was arrested for possessing wild honey. Mr Chaiwat admitted arresting him, but claimed he released the activist after issuing him with a formal warning.
Mr Porlajee's wife and relatives said they believed the activist, who has not been seen since, was still being illegally detained. This led them to file the initial petition with Phetchaburi Court, which dismissed the case. The decision was subsequently upheld by the Appeals Court.