Thread by @zenjournalist

BREAKING—Chucheap Chewasut, a Thai activist also known as Uncle Sanam Luang, has been detained while trying to cross into Vietnam from Laos with 2 companions. They are being sent back to Thailand. Sources say they were trying to enter Vietnam on fake Indonesian passports 1/10

Chucheap is a leader of the Organisation for Thai Federation, a banned anti-monarchist group that wants Thailand to become a federal republic.

After the 2014 coup, many Thai activists had to flee the country. Many went to Cambodia, some to Laos prachatai.com/english/node/8… 2/10

Unfortunately Laos is not safe for Thai dissidents. There is a growing alliance among authoritarian states in Southeast Asia who ignore asylum rules and refuse to protect refugees fleeing political persecution who arrive from abroad seeking help. 3/10

A former leader of the Organisation for Thai Federation, maverick red shirt Wuthipong Kochathamakun aka Kotee, was assassinated in Laos by Thai special forces in 2017. 4/10

At least four other dissidents have been kidnapped and murdered in Laos by Thai special forces. In December last year well-known activist Surachai Danwattananusorn and two allies Chatcharn "Puchana" Buppawan and Kraidej "Kasalong" Luelert went missing from their home. 5/10

A few weeks later 3 corpses washed up on the Thai side of the Mekong River that marks the border with Laos. Their necks had been broken, their hands were cuffed, legs tied, and they had been disembowelled and their bodies stuffed with concrete. theguardian.com/world/2019/mar… 6/10

DNA tests identified two of the bodies as Chatcharn and Kraidej. The third corpse — believed to be Surachai — mysteriously vanished. hrw.org/news/2019/01/2… 7/10

Another activist, Ittipon Sukpaen aka DJ Sunho, vanished in Laos in June 2016 and is also assumed to have been abducted and murdered. khaosodenglish.com/politics/2016/… 8/10

Laos has become so dangerous that it appears that Chucheap and his allies sought to escape via Vietnam. However they have been captured and will be sent back to Thailand. 9/10

The only positive aspect is that because their capture by Vietnam is known, it will be very difficult for the Thais just to make them "disappear" by killing them. However, they face long years in jail, and if they are charged with sedition they could face the death penalty. 10/10