Missing Karen activist Porlajee “Billy” Rakchongcharoen was never released following his arrest on a petty offence by Kaeng Krachan National Park officials, according to police officers in charge of Billy’s case.
Ethnic Karen grassroots activist Porlajee Rakchongcharoen, aka Billy
The findings were revealed by National Human Rights Commissioner Niran Pithakwatchara after his Monday meeting with three officers on the investigation team - Pol Col Traiwitch Namthongthai, deputy chief of Provincial Police Region 7's investigation division, Pol Col Chuan Chitprasert, Phetchaburi investigative chief, and Pol Lt Col Wachapol Ruanjoy, Phetchaburi investigator.
Mr Niran, head of the commission's sub-committee on civil and political rights, said the officers confirmed that the 30-year-old Karen-rights defender had never been released by Kaeng Krachan National Park authorities based on evidence taken from CCTV footage at the park and the time he was said to disappear.
Mr Porlajee was briefly detained by officials of Phetchaburi's Kaeng Krachan National Park on April 17 for carrying illegally harvested wild honey. Park chief Chaiwat Limlikitaksorn told police the villager was released shortly after his arrest. But his whereabouts have been unknown since then.
Before his appearance, he was on his way to meet ethnic Karen villagers and activists to prepare for a court hearing in a lawsuit that accused park officials of burning and destroying the homes and property of more than 20 families in the area in 2011, as well as to collect signatures for a royal appeal over Mr Chaiwat's alleged abuse of power.
This coincided with retracted statements made by witnesses, including two students from North Bangkok University, who were interns at the park. The witnesses previously told police they saw the activist arrested, and later spotted him after his release. They later recanted their statement in court, saying they actually did not see Mr Porlajee.
Mr Niran said the commission also received information that Mr Porlajee's mobile phone had pictures and video clips of logging being carried out by unidentified men and the investigation also confirmed that illegal logging had been carried out in the Kaeng Krachanpark park for a long time.
It was not known if park officials were involved in the racket, he said, but that could have been a reason for Mr Porlajee's disappearance, he said.
The commission will wrap its report and forward to concerned agencies, including the Department of Special Investigation and the Royal Thai Police, Mr Niran added.