Amnesty International has called for an immediate investigation into the death of Malay Muslim human rights defender Roning Dolah, who was fatally shot in Thailand on Tuesday night. Roning, who was stationed in Pattani, worked with the Duay Jai Group, providing rehabilitation support for torture survivors. According to Amnesty International, Roning was shot by two unidentified men in front of his home in Pattani province, and the suspects are believed to be members of an armed Malay Muslim group. The organization has issued a statement decrying the attack and calling for justice.
Human Rights Watch has also added its voice to the demand for accountability. Roning’s contributions have been commemorated by Duay Jai Group, which highlighted his significant role in aiding victims of the insurgency and noted his personal resilience.
Chanatip Tatiyakaroonwong, Amnesty International’s Thailand researcher, underscored the risks human rights defenders face in Thailand’s southern border region. The area has been troubled by attacks and human rights violations, predominantly by insurgent Malay Muslim groups, since 2004. The Internal Security Operations Command Region 4 of Thailand has issued a statement seeking witnesses to the incident, but there is skepticism regarding the commitment to ensuring justice. Human Rights Watch emphasized that, during two decades of armed insurgency, no member of the security forces has been prosecuted for detentions, torture, or extrajudicial killings.
Tatiyakaroonwong has called for a thorough, transparent, and independent investigation into Roning’s death, emphasizing the need for justice as outlined by international human rights law. The absence of such an inquiry could have severe implications for human rights activism in the region. For more details, visit the full article on JURIST.