VIENTIANE — 2012 · Missing Person
The Disappearance of Sombath Somphone
Sombath Somphone, one of Laos's best-known development workers and a Ramon Magsaysay Award winner, disappeared on the evening of 15 December 2012 while driving home in Vientiane. CCTV footage from a police post showed his car being stopped by police and Sombath shortly afterwards being taken away in another vehicle. The Lao government denied responsibility and suggested the case might stem from a personal or business dispute. The United Nations, European parliamentarians and human rights groups described it as an enforced disappearance and demanded a transparent investigation. Nothing has been heard of Sombath since that night.
- Date
- 2012
- Place
- Vientiane, Laos, Vientiane, LA
- Category
- Missing Person
- Case Status
- Unsolved
- Coordinates
- 17.9660, 102.6100 ↗
Timeline of Events
- 15 December 2012Sombath Somphone was stopped at a police post in Vientiane and vanished.
- December 2012CCTV footage emerged; the government denied responsibility.
- August 2013European parliamentarians accused Lao authorities of hiding the truth.
- December 2022International appeals were renewed on the tenth anniversary.
Sources
- BBC News — Laos accused of lying over Sombath Somphone abduction bbc.co.uk ↗
- ABC News — Lao government confirms possible kidnap of activist abc.net.au ↗
- Wikipedia — Sombath Somphone en.wikipedia.org ↗
- BBC News
- ABC News (Avustralya)
- Wikipedia
Source grade A: several independent sources, at least one an official record or reference work. If you spot a mistake or something missing, report it with "Suggest a correction" in the app.
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🕯️ This record was prepared with respect, in memory of those who lost their lives.