SAPA Working Group on ASEAN Solidarity Message December 15, !

1" SAPA Working Group on ASEAN Solidarity Message December 15, !1" We, t#e con$eners o% t#e Solidarity %or Asian Peoples& Ad$ocacy Working Group on ASEAN, stand in solidarity 'it# t#e rest o% t#e 'orld in e(pressing our strongest condemnation o$er t#e continued disappearance o% our colleague, internationally kno'n de$elopment 'orker, Sombat# Somp#one) *or #is %amily and %riends and to all people '#o #a$e 'orked 'it# Sombat# Somp#one, one year is like a li%etime o% pain and anguis#) We #old t#e go$ernment o% +ao accountable %or #is en%orced disappearance) ,#e inconsistencies in t#e +ao go$ernment&s policy pronouncements o$er #is case pro$e our point t#at it #as somet#ing to do 'it# '#at #appened to Sombat# Somp#one) We c#allenge +ao o%%icials to, once and %or all, pro$ide a credible action and resolution on #is case) -t must prosecute indi$iduals and institutions responsible %or #is en%orced disappearance) *ailure to do so 'ill continue to tarnis# its already damaged reputation o$erseas) We 'ill not be surprised i% +ao 'ill be considered as ASEAN&s ne' paria# state) E(actly %i$e years since t#e coming into %orce by t#e ASEAN .#arter, ASEAN, t#e organi/ation, s#ould s#o' its commitment to up#old Article 0 o% t#e .#arter '#ic# states t#at one o% its purposes is to 1promote and protect #uman rig#ts and %undamental %reedoms,2 and pressure t#e +ao aut#orities and call %or t#e immediate release o% Sombat# Somp#one) -% ASEAN 'ants t#e 'orld to take it seriously t#en it s#ould do no less t#an t#at) 3n t#is day, 'e promise t#at 'e 'ill continue to raise our $oices and speak out against t#e 'rongdoing committed against our

dear Sombat# and many ot#ers '#o #a$e been %orcibly taken in +ao and in all countries in t#e region) We 'ill not stop until #e is sa%ely back at #ome)