More than four years after the disappearance of Karen rights activist Porlajee "Billy" Rakchongcharoen, the Department of Special Investigation (DSI) is starting to feel the heat.
Last week, the DSI agreed to accept the case as a special case as urged by the activist's common-law wife Pinnapa "Mueno" Prueksapan. It's a major U-turn decision by the agency, albeit a bit too late, which last year tersely threw out her petition.
Before he disappeared, Mr Porlajee fought against eviction orders and had been in conflict with government officials at Kaeng Krachan National Park in Phetchaburi. He was last seen on April 17, 2014, in the custody of state officials led by then-park chief Chaiwat Limlikit-aksorn chief who accused him of having wild honey in his possession.
