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The enforced disappearance of Sombath Somphone

Crawford School of Public Policy | Resources, Environment and Development Group

Event details

Other

Date & time

Tuesday 02 October 2018
5.30pm–7.00pm

Venue

Acton Lecture Theatre, #132 JG Crawford Building, ANU

Speaker

Film screening

Contacts

Keith Barney

Directed by Rann Quinn, The Enforced Disappearance of Sombath Somphone surveys the life of Lao civil society leader Sombath Somphone. It places his development work within the historical and political context of Laos, a post-socialist country that gained independence after long years of struggle against colonialism and the geopolitical conflicts in Indochina. Sombath’s commitment for sustainable and equitable rural development in Lao PDR was recognised through a 2005 ASEAN Ramon Magsaysay Award. The documentary depicts the tragedy of Sombath’s disappearance on 15 December 2012, and its chilling aftermath. CCTV footage obtained by the family vividly shows the very act of Sombath’s abduction in downtown Vientiane.

Search for Truth and Justice

This documentary film is dedicated to the worldwide victims of state-enforced disappearance. It represents a major contribution to revealing at least part of the truth about the disappearance of Sombath. The international community continues to urge the Lao state to return Sombath. More than 5 years after his abduction, a key question remains: ‘What happened to Sombath Somphone?’

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