"Argh, can't breath": Thai political exile kidnapped in Phnom Penh
Submitted on Thu, 4 Jun 2020 - 10:57 PM

Wanchalearm Satsaksit, a Thai political activist accused of lèse-majesté in exile in Phnom Penh, was allegedly kidnapped from in front of his condominium earlier this evening (4 June).

A source, whose name has been withheld for security concerns, claimed to be speaking on the phone with Wanchalearm as he was taken, and heard him said “argh, can’t breathe” before the call was cut.

The source said that they thought he has had an accident, but when they later ask a friend to go check on Wanchalearm at the condominium, the friend would that he has already been taken.

Video footage shows that he was taken away in a black car. A security guard at the scene also tried to help, but said that the kidnapper was armed with a gun.

Student activist Parit Chiwarak also posted on his Facebook earlier today (4 June) that Wanchalearm was taken away in a black car.

Wanchalearm is a critic of Thai politics and on 3 June published a video clip criticizing Prime Minister Gen Prayuth Chan-o-cha while speaking in the northeastern Thai dialect.
https://prachatai.com/english/node/8561

This does not look good for Wanchalearm. On previous occasions, Thais in exile for crimes of lese-majeste have been found floating in rivers, or they have disappeared without a trace:
thailand-news-and-discussion/death-squa ... ml#p311335

Yet another reason why I have some disdain for Thailand. The question is whether or not the local cops will be investigating this actively, or will be told to mind their own business.

^^ Unhelpful speculation, unless you have further information. He may be also be alive.

Exiled Thai activist abducted in Cambodia, rights group says
June 5, 2020 / 12:13 PM / Updated 2 hours ago
3 Min Read

PHNOM PENH/BANGKOK (Reuters) - Unknown gunmen abducted a Thai political activist in Cambodia’s capital, rights advocates said on Friday, the latest in a series of mysterious disappearances of Southeast Asian dissidents living in exile.

Thai police spokesman Kritsana Pattanacharoen said his agency had no role in the disappearance.
“Thai police only work within Thailand,” he said.

Wanchalearm fled Thailand after he was summoned by military authorities following the 2014 coup.

Full article: https://www.reuters.com/article/us-camb ... 9&&rpc=401

I as a westerner wouldn't dare feel safe with only one border beetween state-related chasers and me.

How come locals underestimate this kind of situation, as they are supposed to know better about abductions and wild shit like this ?

Especially in Kow, come on...

I suppose the simple question if you ignore the obvious is what other reason could there possibly be for his abduction? Any local based wild theories would be interesting to hear.

Cowshed Cowboy wrote: ↑Sat Jun 06, 2020 12:21 am I suppose the simple question if you ignore the obvious is what other reason could there possibly be for his abduction? Any local based wild theories would be interesting to hear.

On Wednesday, he [Mr Wanchalearm] posted an expletive-laden video on his Facebook page castigating Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha.

https://www.bangkokpost.com/thailand/ge ... n-cambodia

The Thai activist was abducted the next day.

Ghostwriter wrote:I as a westerner wouldn't dare feel safe with only one border beetween state-related chasers and me.

How come locals underestimate this kind of situation, as they are supposed to know better about abductions and wild shit like this ?

Especially in Kow, come on...

I don't think a Thai passport allows you to go many places on short notice.