(Note : An summarized version has been published on newmandala.org)
In the mountainous southern Thailand,
adjacent to Kaeng Krachan National Park, a group of students gathered at a
bamboo house surrounding by sugar cane and livestock. At the centre of the
house was Pinnapa “Mueno” Prueksapan, a mother turned activist who campaigned
for justice for her disappeared husband since two years ago.
Dressed in ethnic Karen’s
traditional costume, Mueno recalled that her husband Porlajee “Billy” Rakchongchaeron,
a human rights defenders, was arrested by the national park officials on 17
April 2014 and went
missing after that. The national park officials accused
Bill of illegally possessed wild bee honeycomb and released him after giving
warning.
In fact, before he went missing,
Billy had been actively assisting Bangkloybon
villagers in preparing an upcoming hearing of a lawsuit,
which in relation to burning of 20 ethnic Karen’s houses and rice barns by the
national park officials in July 2011. Mysterious disappearance of Billy
thwarted the villagers’ effort to reclaim their land rights and to seek
reparation.
