ID :
101992
Sat, 01/23/2010 - 13:48
Auther :
Shortlink :
http://m.oananews.org//node/101992
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Thailand prepared to explain its record to Human Rights Watch
HUA HIN, Jan 23 (TNA) -- Thai Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva said Saturday that he is prepared to clarify to New York-based Human Rights Watch on its recent charges that his government violated several human rights in 2009.
Expressing puzzlement regarding the NGO’s report to journalists, Mr Abhisit said his government treated anti-government protesters, the ongoing violence-plagued in the three restive southern provinces and alleged lese majeste violators with fairness through law enforcement.
Defending his government’s treatment of law violators, Mr Abhisit said it is necessary for his government to explain to Human Rights Watch.
In its World Report 2010 which was released on Wednesday, Brad Adams, the NGO’s Asia director, said: “While Prime Minister Abhisit sometimes said the right things about human rights in 2009, his actions didn’t match his words. The government continually undermined respect for human rights and due process of law in Thailand.”
The report charged Mr Abhisit of “not honour[ing] his pledge to uphold human rights principles and international law in 2009. Getting Thailand back on track as a rights-respecting nation in 2010 is crucial both for the country and the region.”
Thai Foreign Affairs Minister Kasit Piromya told journalists in Krabi that he too had not yet read the report.
Defending the government’s actions in the past year, Mr Kasit said the government did not intervene in legal procedures against anti-government protesters, but that independent continued investigations on the issues.
He said the reports obtained by Human Rights Watch may be out of date and that the foreign ministry would “continue to clarify such charges” in future. (TNA)
Expressing puzzlement regarding the NGO’s report to journalists, Mr Abhisit said his government treated anti-government protesters, the ongoing violence-plagued in the three restive southern provinces and alleged lese majeste violators with fairness through law enforcement.
Defending his government’s treatment of law violators, Mr Abhisit said it is necessary for his government to explain to Human Rights Watch.
In its World Report 2010 which was released on Wednesday, Brad Adams, the NGO’s Asia director, said: “While Prime Minister Abhisit sometimes said the right things about human rights in 2009, his actions didn’t match his words. The government continually undermined respect for human rights and due process of law in Thailand.”
The report charged Mr Abhisit of “not honour[ing] his pledge to uphold human rights principles and international law in 2009. Getting Thailand back on track as a rights-respecting nation in 2010 is crucial both for the country and the region.”
Thai Foreign Affairs Minister Kasit Piromya told journalists in Krabi that he too had not yet read the report.
Defending the government’s actions in the past year, Mr Kasit said the government did not intervene in legal procedures against anti-government protesters, but that independent continued investigations on the issues.
He said the reports obtained by Human Rights Watch may be out of date and that the foreign ministry would “continue to clarify such charges” in future. (TNA)
