Update: At around 3:30 pm, the pro-democracy activist abducted by individuals believed to be military officers in plainclothes was set free, two hours after his friends went to report the abduction to the police at Saen Suk Subdistrict Police Station.   

Less than one week after Sirawit Serithiwat, a well-known pro-democracy activist, was abducted by military officers and reportedly abused under custody, another student activist has been abducted.

According to Resistant Citizen, an anti-junta Facebook group, at 10:30 am on Monday, 25 January 2016, what are believed to be military officers in plainclothes abducted Chakraphon Phonla-o, aka Kankan, a member of Villagers’ Children, a pro-democracy student activist group based in Burapha University in the eastern province of Chonburi.  

The activist was reportedly taken to Nawamintharachini Army Base in Chonburi Province.

Last week, Villagers’ Children issued a public statement to condemn the Thai authorities over the abduction of Sirawit Serithiwat and the arrest of other activists who went to support Sirawit while he was detained.

Shortly after the activist was abducted, New Democracy Movement (NDM) and Villagers’ Children issued statements condemning the authorities over the arbitrary arrest of Chakraphon Phonla-o and calling for his immediate release, saying that the abduction is an example of the barbaric use of power of the Thai military junta.  

Chakraphon is a third year student of the Faculty of Political Science of Burapha University. He has been an active member of Villagers' Children.

Chakraphon Phonla-o, aka Kankan, a member of Villagers’ Children, a pro-democracy student activist group (photo from Resurgent Truth)