Sombath Somphone (, ; 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.
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).Sombath Somphone: Farmer, Scholar, Scientist, Community Developer
Career Returning to his home country after the Vietnam War and the establishment of the Lao People's Democratic Republic, Sombath's earliest work was to demonstrate methods of sustainable farming that contribute to food security. He also pioneered the use of participatory rural appraisal techniques in Laos. In 1996 he was given permission by the Ministry of Education to establish the Participatory Development Training Center, PADETC, to provide training for young people and local government officials in community-based development. For some years, this was the only civil society organisation of this kind in Laos.PADETC - 10 years in balance (report)
According to a biography of Sombath Somphone published in 2005, PADETC has undertaken numerous initiatives in promoting eco-friendly technologies and micro-enterprises, including the introduction of organic fertilizers, garbage recycling, fuel-efficient stoves, and new processing techniques for small agribusiness enterprises. These initiatives are undertaken as part of a learning program for teams of young volunteers and trainees (high school, college, and graduate levels). Through PADETC, the youth are afforded opportunities for learning leadership, teamwork, project management, and a diverse range of life-based, locally grounded knowledge in areas like environmental awareness, good farming practices, entrepreneurship, and urgent social issues like drug-abuse prevention.Sombath Somphone: Biography
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."An Open Letter to Sombath's Well-Wishers, From Ng Shui Meng, wife of Sombath Somphone
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,http://www.gnh-movement.org/conference_detail.php?id=11 3rd International Conference on Gross National Happiness - Speakers and Resource Persons 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. This work was closely related to Sombath's involvement in the International Network of Engaged Buddhists, led by his friend Sulak Sivaraksa.'Unhappy Laos' - article at website of International Network of Engaged Buddhists
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".The 2005 Ramon Magsaysay Award for Community Leadership, Citation for Sombath Somphone Sombath remains the only person from the Lao PDR to receive this award.
In 2010, the East-West Center recognised his work in their anniversary publication '50 Years, 50 Stories'.Sombath Somphone - Preparing a Generation of Leaders in Laos in 'East West Centre: 50 years, 50 stories', University of Hawaii, 2010 In 2011, Sombath made the keynote address at the 10th API Regional Workshop; API is a network of Asian Public Intellectuals supported by fellowships from the Nippon Foundation. In 2012, he made the keynote address at the 9th Meeting of the Asia-Europe People's Forum (AEPF) in Vientiane; the International Organising Committee of the AEPF have called Sombath "one of the most respected and influential voices for sustainable people-centred and just economic and social development in Laos".AEPF statement of concern over the disappearance of Mr. Sombath Somphone
Disappearance and response Sombath Somphone was abducted in Vientiane on the evening of 15 December 2012. CCTV footage shows that he was stopped by police and then taken away in a pickup truck. The Lao Government immediately denied responsibility for his disappearance.
The disappearance of Sombath Somphone was immediately followed by statements of concern from around the world. The European Union High Representative for Foreign Affairs, the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights, Parliamentarians from Asia and Europe, International nongovernmental organization (NGOs) – and many others – have urged the Lao Government to undertake all actions necessary to ensure the safe release of this respected figure.A collection of statements of concern relating to the disappearance of Sombath Somphone Winner of the Nobel Peace Prize, Desmond Tutu, wrote to the Lao Prime Minister, Thongsing Thammavong, calling for an urgent investigation but he received no response.Archbishop Tutu speaks out for Sombath
In January 2013, Amnesty International issued a call for urgent action.Amnesty International: Lao Citizen Abducted, Not Seen or Heard From, 18 January 2013 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.Amnesty International: Laos must ensure return of disappeared civil society leader, 13 June 2013
The Centre for Public Policy Analysis, a Washington, D.C., and Southeast Asia-based, non-governmental public policy research organization (NGO) has repeatedly issued appeals and statements calling on the Laos government and security forces to immediately release Sombath Somphone.The Centre for Public Policy Analysis (CPPA), Washington, D.C. http://www.centerforpublicpolicyanalysis.org The CPPA has frequently raised concerns about Sombath Somphone as well as human rights violations, and the persecution of Laotian and Hmong political and religious dissidents, in Laos.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
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".Press Statement by Hillary Clinton, U.S. Secretary of State, 16 January 2013 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."Press Statement by John Kerry, U.S. Secretary of State, 24 March 2013
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".Statement of Rep. Walden Bello on the Preliminary findings of ASEAN Parliamentary Delegation to the Lao PDR on the disappearance of Sombath Somphone 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."The clock is ticking for Laos with the case of Sombath Somphone 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".Statement of the Third Parliamentary Delegation to the Lao PDR on the enforced disappearance of Sombath Somphone
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 Enforced Disappearances in Geneva".European Development Partners’ Statement at Lao PDR’s Round Table Meeting Vientiane, 19 November 2013
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,Global Concern - a complete list of statements made by international organisations and demonstrations outside the Lao Embassies in Bangkok,Bangkok Post - Rally at Lao embassy for missing activist TokyoAction in front of the Lao embassy in Tokyo (article in Japanese) and Canberra. Amnesty International issued another appeal for action,Laos: Further information: Fears grow for Lao civil society leader while 62 Asian NGOs called for a new investigation.Sombath Somphone one year on: 62 NGOs call for a new investigation into his enforced disappearance At the same time, the United Nations Special Rapporteur on the rights to freedom of peaceful assembly and of association, called on the Government of Lao PDR "to fully cooperate with the Human Rights Council and its Special Procedures, particularly as it seeks election to the Human Rights Council for 2016."A year on, the enforced disappearance of Sombath Somphone continues with impunity in Lao PDR
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.
See also Houayheuang Xayabouly Sivanxai Phommalath Anousa Luangsuphom Od Sayavong Sisay Luangmonda List of people who disappeared mysteriously: post-1970
References
External links
Website dedicated to the safe return of Sombath Somphone Website of the Training Center founded by Sombath Somphone Amnesty International briefing on the disappearance of Sombath Somphone The Centre for Public Policy Analysis, Washington, D.C.