The Asian Human Rights Commission (AHRC) has challenged the government over lack of progress in the inquiry into the disappearance of human rights lawyer Somchai Neelaphaijit.

Replying to a letter from the minister of justice, AHRC executive director Basil Fernando said that the government had ``failed to fulfil its obligations'' in the matter.

His letter said that while Justice Minister Pongthep Thepkanjana had stated in August that ``a lot of progress'' had been made in the case and that ``every necessary measure'' was being taken to locate the missing man, the investigation had since gone nowhere.

There was no indication the ministry's Special Investigation Department was playing an active role, despite Mr Pongthep's earlier assertion that a special panel had been set up to work on the case.

Mr Somchai, the lawyer for police torture victims in the South, was taken from his car in Bangkok on March 12 and has not been seen since. ! The five policemen accused of removing him have not given any leads to the recovery of his remains.