Protesters demand answers on missing Thai activist

BANGKOK: Protesters on Monday demanded a probe into the disappearance of a Thai pro-democracy activist last seen in Cambodia, defying state of emergency laws as anger and fear for his safety mounted online.

Wanchalearm Satsaksit has not been seen since Thursday, said Human Rights Watch, claiming he was dragged into an unmarked car in Phnom Penh where he was living in self-exile.

Wanchalearm ran an acerbic anti-government Facebook page and was a harsh critic of ex-army chief-turned-premier Prayut Chan-O-Cha and his administration. Cambodian and Thai police say they know nothing of his whereabouts, but his family has pleaded for his "release".

About two dozen protesters picketed the Cambodian Embassy in Bangkok on Monday, flouting anti-coronavirus laws which ban public gatherings. Under the gaze of police officers, they carried posters reading "Where is Wanchalearm?", and submitted a letter demanding an investigation.

Activist Somyot Prueksakasemsuk said he was worried about Wanchalearm´s fate. "We organized this protest to demand for the Hun Sen government of Cambodia... to protect the life of Wanchalearm Satsaksit," he told AFP. "I still have hope that he´s alive, but it´s been four days," added another activist, Chotisak Onsoong.

Wanchalearm is wanted by Thai authorities for allegedly breaching the Computer Crimes Act and Article 116, which criminalise writing that causes unrest. Since a coup in May 2014, Thailand has vowed to track down pro-democracy critics -- especially those accused of attacking the unassailable monarchy.