Page 53 - Dignity and justice for all of us our voices are heard in Thailand

Article 8

is not what we want. What we want, above all else, is for the truth to be told and justice to be
served. Those who violated Somchai’s right to life should be brought to justice according to the
rule of law,” she says.

Through her experience in demanding justice for her husband’s case, Mrs. Neelapaijit is now
actively working to help the victims of the unrest in the southern region of Thailand. She has set
up a Working Group on Justice for Peace to promote justice for families of disappearance cases
in southern Thailand, and to ensure that those accused in cases related to the unrest receive
due treatment and fair trials.

Mrs. Neelapaijit thinks that the government has taken some positive steps in trying to protect
the rights of the victims of the unrest over the past years, including the establishment of a
number of remedial and compensatory mechanisms in Thailand for those affected by the unrest
in the South. However, financial compensation is not enough. “Without justice, the wounds will
never be healed,” she stresses. For her, it is imperative that human rights defenders are respected
and protected. “A reliable investigation system should be in place to provide the justice we all
deserve,” she adds.

Our Voices are Heard in Thailand 41