Lawyer Somchai Neelapaijit began his career as a lawyer in 1977. Khun Somchai was known for speaking out against unjust practices by the police and advocating for reform of the justice system. He disappeared in 2004.
His last engagement involved representing defendants in security-related cases in Thailand’s southern border provinces. Most of his clients were poor with little education. At the time of his disappearance in 2004, only a few lawyers paid attention to human rights abuses in the Deep South. Khun Somchai urged his fellow lawyers to recognize the importance of legal aid and to dedicate themselves to providing legal assistance to people whose rights were abused. He was driven by dedication and bravery.
Thailand-Disappearance Lawyer Neelapaijit-Article-2010-Eng (full text, PDF)
Thailand-Disappearance Lawyer Neelapaijit-Article-2010-Thai (full text in Thai, PDF)
