ID :
147598
Tue, 10/26/2010 - 20:39
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Shortlink :
http://m.oananews.org//node/147598
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UN chief: Thailand's political conflict is internal affair
BANGKOK, Oct 26 - United Nations Secretary General Ban Ki-moon on Tuesday said Thailand's political divisions and related conflict are an internal affair which must be solved by stakeholders through reconciliation rather than by other avenues.
The UN secretary-general made the statement following the receipt by his team of a letter from anti-government 'Red Shirt' United Front for Democracy against Dictatorship representatives complaining of Thai government actions and seeking a UN role in resolving the recent demonstrations which turned violent and deadly.
The UN chief arrived in Bangkok Tuesday morning for his one day visit as a guest of the Thai government before heading to Cambodia in the evening and then Vietnam to attend the summit of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations, scheduled to be held in Hanoi on Friday.
Upon arrival in Bangkok, Mr Ban met with Thai Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva at Government House and then held a joint news conference with the Thai premier.
The UDD Red Shirt representatives at the same time gathered at nearby the United Nations Economic and Social Commission for Asia and the Pacific (ESCAP) office on Ratchadamnern Road.
They presented the group’s letter to the UN chief's team, a letter describing with detailed text and pictures of the ten-week Red Shirt demonstrations which ended with at least 89 deaths and over 1,900 injured from several clashes between the protesters and the military.
Reinforced security measures were prepared as Bangkok is still under a state of emergency. The Red Shirt activity at the UN office is however conducted peacefully under a close watch of 300 police deployed in the area.
Mr Ban commented at the news conference that the political conflict is an internal affair and that the Thai people must help one another solve the problem.
The UN chief said the national reconciliation process is in progress and the reconciliation committee has been set up, adding that he hopes the committee will release all the facts to the public soon.
Mr Ban pledged the United Nations is ready to give technical assistance if needed.
Regarding Thailand's severe floods which have killed at least 56 people, the UN chief expressed his sorrow over the natural disaster. He said the disaster serves as a warning to the people that climate change has an adverse impact on human beings and that every party has to take part to solve the problem, adding the matter will be raised in the upcoming ASEAN summit.
Mr Ban also praised Thailand for playing a leading role in environmental protection and with peacekeeping missions, saying that Thailand is the first non-African country dispatching military personnel for a mission to restore peace in Sudan's Dalfour. He said the UN welcomes if Thailand will send women police officers to help fight crimes and sexual abuse in some countries such as quake-hit Haiti.
Meanwhile, the Thai premier said he has discussed over the cooperation between Thailand and UN during the past four decades which have achieved the goals in several issues including humanitarian aid and marine security.
Regarding the diplomatic spat between the two neighbouring countries of Thailand and Cambodia in which the latter earlier urged for intervention of international bodies, Mr Abhisit said he told the UN chief that he has met with Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Sen many times and both pledged to resolve border dispute peacefully through existing framework. (MCOT online news)
The UN secretary-general made the statement following the receipt by his team of a letter from anti-government 'Red Shirt' United Front for Democracy against Dictatorship representatives complaining of Thai government actions and seeking a UN role in resolving the recent demonstrations which turned violent and deadly.
The UN chief arrived in Bangkok Tuesday morning for his one day visit as a guest of the Thai government before heading to Cambodia in the evening and then Vietnam to attend the summit of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations, scheduled to be held in Hanoi on Friday.
Upon arrival in Bangkok, Mr Ban met with Thai Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva at Government House and then held a joint news conference with the Thai premier.
The UDD Red Shirt representatives at the same time gathered at nearby the United Nations Economic and Social Commission for Asia and the Pacific (ESCAP) office on Ratchadamnern Road.
They presented the group’s letter to the UN chief's team, a letter describing with detailed text and pictures of the ten-week Red Shirt demonstrations which ended with at least 89 deaths and over 1,900 injured from several clashes between the protesters and the military.
Reinforced security measures were prepared as Bangkok is still under a state of emergency. The Red Shirt activity at the UN office is however conducted peacefully under a close watch of 300 police deployed in the area.
Mr Ban commented at the news conference that the political conflict is an internal affair and that the Thai people must help one another solve the problem.
The UN chief said the national reconciliation process is in progress and the reconciliation committee has been set up, adding that he hopes the committee will release all the facts to the public soon.
Mr Ban pledged the United Nations is ready to give technical assistance if needed.
Regarding Thailand's severe floods which have killed at least 56 people, the UN chief expressed his sorrow over the natural disaster. He said the disaster serves as a warning to the people that climate change has an adverse impact on human beings and that every party has to take part to solve the problem, adding the matter will be raised in the upcoming ASEAN summit.
Mr Ban also praised Thailand for playing a leading role in environmental protection and with peacekeeping missions, saying that Thailand is the first non-African country dispatching military personnel for a mission to restore peace in Sudan's Dalfour. He said the UN welcomes if Thailand will send women police officers to help fight crimes and sexual abuse in some countries such as quake-hit Haiti.
Meanwhile, the Thai premier said he has discussed over the cooperation between Thailand and UN during the past four decades which have achieved the goals in several issues including humanitarian aid and marine security.
Regarding the diplomatic spat between the two neighbouring countries of Thailand and Cambodia in which the latter earlier urged for intervention of international bodies, Mr Abhisit said he told the UN chief that he has met with Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Sen many times and both pledged to resolve border dispute peacefully through existing framework. (MCOT online news)
