Washington/Phnom Penh, Cambodia—

Cambodian authorities say they have concluded their investigation into the missing Thai pro-democracy activist Wanchalearm Satsaksit, who was allegedly kidnapped in Phnom Penh four years ago.

Witnesses told VOA’s Khmer reporter at the time that Wanchalearm was pushed into a black Toyota Highlander SUV near the Mekong Garden Apartments where he lived on June 4, 2020.

Cambodian authorities said last week they could not confirm he had lived in the building or find details about the vehicle in which he was allegedly taken.

“We have submitted a report to the court and the investigation has been completed,” Khieu Sopheak, state secretary and spokesman for the Ministry of Interior, told VOA Khmer on February 27.

Despite the department’s remarks, it is unclear whether the Phnom Penh Municipal Court has concluded the case. Sam Chamroeun, a Cambodian lawyer for Wanchalearm’s family, told VOA’s Khmer service last week that he had not yet received notification that the case had been closed.

VOA Khmer asked a court spokesman for comment but did not receive a reply.

Vanchalem’s family and advocacy groups have criticized the investigation’s lack of transparency and called on the Thai government to pressure Cambodia to explain why it ended the investigation.

“It’s been four years. I want them to tell the family what happened and what the investigation is like. It shouldn’t be a secret anymore,” Wanchalearm’s sister Sitanun Satsaksit told VOA Thai by phone on February 28.

On March 5, the United Nations Committee on Enforced Disappearances called on Cambodia to ensure that allegations of enforced disappearance in Wanchalearm “are promptly, thoroughly, effectively and impartially investigated.” It also called on the Cambodian government to keep Vanchalem’s family briefed throughout the investigation.

Pornpen Khongkachonkiet, director of the Intercultural Foundation, said Cambodia should be more open about what it knows and prove its claims that no state agents were involved. The foundation has appointed lawyers to represent the activist’s family.

“Investigations into cases of human rights violations cannot be kept secret,” she told VOA Khmer on Monday.

Vanchalem was a political science graduate who worked at a series of nonprofit organizations before entering politics and holding various positions in Pheu Thai, according to friends and relatives.

Wanchalearm was one of the Thai activists who fled to Cambodia after the 2014 military coup, though it is unclear exactly when. Cambodia’s Ministry of Home Affairs confirmed that he obtained a visa to stay in the country in 2017.

But the department said there are no records of where he lived in subsequent years or what happened on June 4, 2020, the date he was allegedly abducted.

When Wanchalearm disappeared, the Pheu Thai party opposed Thailand’s military government.

In December 2020, Wanchalearm’s legal team and his sister Sitanun appeared in a Phnom Penh court and submitted evidence to support their allegations that he had been kidnapped, including a copy of his purported Cambodian passport.

Sam Chamroeun said a prosecutor took note of the complaint and a Cambodian investigative judge summoned them, a move that indicated a criminal case had been opened.

However, PornKhongkachonkietSithanon’s Thai lawyer said the legal team had not heard anything from the Cambodian court after that or subsequent visits.

“Cambodian police told us they could not find anything,” she told VOA Khmer via email on Tuesday.

National police spokesman Chhay Kimkhoeun has not yet responded to VOA Khmer’s request for comment.

On February 22, former Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Sen met with former Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra in Bangkok, and Sithanon once again tried to draw attention to the case. However, she was unable to pass the former Cambodian leader’s request.

Thaksin’s daughter and Pheu Thai Party leader Pethonta Shinawatra has accepted the invitation to visit Cambodia from March 18 to 19.

At a press conference on February 27, Pheu Thai party spokesman Danuporn Punnakan was asked whether Wanchalearm’s disappearance would be discussed during the visit.

The spokesman said officials “would rather discuss the economy and society than bring anyone’s personal issues to the table. But if the issue comes to public attention, [party’s] The Executive Committee will consider this at its meeting. “

Sitanu said she was disappointed with the government’s response, telling officials: “Don’t forget [Wanchalearm] It’s Thai. “