Sombath Somphone
Sombath Somphone | |
---|---|
ສົມບັດ ສົມພອນ | |
Khammouane Province, Laos | |
Disappeared | 15 December 2012 (aged 60) Vientiane, Laos |
Status | Missing for 11 years, 5 months and 27 days |
Occupation | Community development worker |
Sombath Somphone (Lao: ສົມບັດ ສົມພອນ, pronounced [sǒm.bǎt sǒm.pʰɔ́ːn]; born 17 February 1952) is an internationally acclaimed community development worker and prominent member of Lao civil society. Sombath was abducted from a Vientiane street in 2012 and has not been seen since.[1]
Early years
Sombath Somphone was born into a poor farming family, the eldest of eight brothers and sisters. He attended high school in the US state of Wisconsin. In the early-1970s he received a scholarship to study at the University of Hawaiʻi where he received a bachelor's degree in education (1974) and a master's degree in agriculture (1978).[2]
Career
Returning to his home country after the
According to a biography of Sombath Somphone published in 2005, PADETC has undertaken numerous initiatives in promoting eco-friendly technologies and
Throughout his life, Sombath avoided any involvement in politics. In 2013, Sombath's wife issued a statement saying, "In many recent articles and statements related to Sombath’s disappearance, he has sometimes been billed as a human rights defender or a social/civil society activist. These terminologies do not accurately depict Sombath, the man or his work. It is true that Sombath through his projects has worked tirelessly to advance the well‐being and support the building of human resource capacity of the rural poor. But, Sombath's work has never been confrontational or antagonistic to government policy. Every project and every activity that Sombath has carried out, has been with the approval of the relevant government sector, and in cooperation with the local officials."[5]
In later years, Sombath played an important role in introducing the concept of Gross National Happiness into Laos. In 2007, he was one of the organisers of the 3rd International Conference on Gross National Happiness,[6] while in 2012 he was the senior adviser for a film called "Happy Laos", shown at the closing of the 9th Asia-Europe People's Forum.[7] This work was closely related to Sombath's involvement in the International Network of Engaged Buddhists, led by his friend Sulak Sivaraksa.[8]
Recognition
In 2001, Sombath Somphone received the Human Resource Development Award for empowering the rural poor in Laos from the United Nations Economic and Social Commission for Asia and the Pacific.
In 2005, he was awarded the Ramon Magsaysay Award for Community Leadership. The citation for his award "recognizes his hopeful efforts to promote sustainable development in Laos by training and motivating its young people to become a generation of leaders".[9] Sombath remains the only person from the Lao PDR to receive this award.
In 2010, the
Disappearance and response
Sombath Somphone was abducted in Vientiane on the evening of 15 December 2012.
The disappearance of Sombath Somphone was immediately followed by statements of concern from around the world. The
In January 2013, Amnesty International issued a call for urgent action.[16] This was followed in June 2013 by the release of a 26-page briefing document titled Laos: Caught on Camera - the enforced disappearance of Sombath Somphone.[17]
One month after Sombath disappeared, United States Secretary of State, Hillary Clinton, issued a statement urging the Lao Government "to pursue a transparent investigation of this incident and to do everything in its power to bring about an immediate and safe return home to his family".[20] On 24 March, John Kerry who had taken over as Secretary of State, issued a statement marking the 100th day since Sombath was abducted in which he said, "Regrettably, the continuing, unexplained disappearance of Mr. Sombath, a widely respected and inspiring Lao citizen who has worked for the greater benefit of all of his countrymen, raises questions about the Lao government’s commitment to the rule of law and to engage responsibly with the world."[21]
Three delegations of parliamentarians from Asia and Europe visited Vientiane in 2013 to discuss Sombath's disappearance with the Lao Government. Following the first visit in January, Walden Bello, member of Congress from the Philippines and founder of Focus on the Global South, stated that "we are far from satisfied with the answers we got".[22] Dutch Senator, Tuur Elzinga, said after the visit in March, "If Lao officials think the issue of Sombath’s disappearance will go away, they are wrong."[23] In September, a third delegation consisting of representatives from Denmark and Belgium, concluded that "the Lao authorities have so far not shown adequate willingness or capacity to find a solution to this case and have refused any offer of technical assistance for the investigation".[24]
During the High-Level Round Table Meeting with the Government of Laos held in Vientiane in November 2013, a number of foreign donors expressed their concern about the disappearance of Sombath. The statement from the European Development Partners called upon the Lao Government "to conduct a comprehensive and transparent investigation of this case and to fully cooperate with UN bodies such as the Working Group on
On 15 December 2013, the one-year anniversary of Sombath's disappearance was marked by new statements from the governments of Switzerland, the UK, and the US,
International media coverage of Sombath's disappearance includes reports by the BBC, Al Jazeera, Fox News, Deutsche Welle, Le Monde, The Guardian, The Wall Street Journal, ABC Australia and others.[32]
See also
- Houayheuang Xayabouly
- Sivanxai Phommalath
- Anousa Luangsuphom
- Od Sayavong
- List of people who disappeared
References
- ^ Joshi, Vijay (5 September 2016). "Rare focus on little-known Laos as it hosts major summit". Associated Press (AP). Retrieved 5 September 2016.
- ^ Sombath Somphone: Farmer, Scholar, Scientist, Community Developer Archived 2013-01-06 at the Wayback Machine
- ^ PADETC - 10 years in balance (report) Archived 2013-09-21 at the Wayback Machine
- ^ Sombath Somphone: Biography
- ^ An Open Letter to Sombath's Well-Wishers, From Ng Shui Meng, wife of Sombath Somphone Archived 2013-12-19 at the Wayback Machine
- ^ http://www.gnh-movement.org/conference_detail.php?id=11 3rd International Conference on Gross National Happiness - Speakers and Resource Persons
- ^ "'Happy Laos' video at website of AEPF9". Archived from the original on 19 December 2013. Retrieved 18 December 2013.
- ^ 'Unhappy Laos' - article at website of International Network of Engaged Buddhists Archived 19 December 2013 at the Wayback Machine
- ^ The 2005 Ramon Magsaysay Award for Community Leadership, Citation for Sombath Somphone
- ^ Sombath Somphone - Preparing a Generation of Leaders in Laos in 'East West Centre: 50 years, 50 stories', University of Hawaii, 2010
- ^ AEPF statement of concern over the disappearance of Mr. Sombath Somphone
- YouTube
- ^ rsbtws (20 December 2012). "Statement of the Lao Spokesman on the Missing of Mr. Sombath Somphone". Sombath Somphone | ສົມບັດ ສົມພອນ. Retrieved 9 June 2024.
- ^ A collection of statements of concern relating to the disappearance of Sombath Somphone
- ^ Archbishop Tutu speaks out for Sombath
- ^ Amnesty International: Lao Citizen Abducted, Not Seen or Heard From, 18 January 2013
- ^ Amnesty International: Laos must ensure return of disappeared civil society leader, 13 June 2013
- ^ The Centre for Public Policy Analysis (CPPA), Washington, D.C. http://www.centerforpublicpolicyanalysis.org
- ^ Business Wire (4 March 2013) "Laos: Attacks Intensify Against Lao, Hmong People" http://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20130304006755/en/Laos-Attacks-Intensify-Lao-Hmong-People
- ^ Press Statement by Hillary Clinton, U.S. Secretary of State, 16 January 2013
- ^ Press Statement by John Kerry, U.S. Secretary of State, 24 March 2013
- ^ Statement of Rep. Walden Bello on the Preliminary findings of ASEAN Parliamentary Delegation to the Lao PDR on the disappearance of Sombath Somphone
- ^ The clock is ticking for Laos with the case of Sombath Somphone
- ^ Statement of the Third Parliamentary Delegation to the Lao PDR on the enforced disappearance of Sombath Somphone
- ^ European Development Partners’ Statement at Lao PDR’s Round Table Meeting Vientiane, 19 November 2013
- ^ Global Concern - a complete list of statements made by international organisations
- ^ Bangkok Post - Rally at Lao embassy for missing activist
- ^ Action in front of the Lao embassy in Tokyo (article in Japanese)
- ^ Laos: Further information: Fears grow for Lao civil society leader
- ^ Sombath Somphone one year on: 62 NGOs call for a new investigation into his enforced disappearance
- ^ A year on, the enforced disappearance of Sombath Somphone continues with impunity in Lao PDR
- ^ "Links to more than 175 news reports on the disappearance of Sombath Somphone". Archived from the original on 10 July 2013. Retrieved 13 June 2013.