Thai DPM calls for Human Rights Watch's accountability

BANGKOK, May 4 (TNA) - Thai Deputy Prime Minister Suthep Thaugsuban on Wednesday called for the Human Rights Watch group to be accountable for its human rights reports, including those concerning political movements in Thailand.

Suthep, who oversees national security, said that the US-based human rights protection group should be more open and neutral in presenting its assessment reports on human rights cases and should not damage reputation of any organisation or country, namely Thailand.

The Thai deputy premier's comments were in response to a Human Rights Watch report issued recently, claiming that the Thai government appeared to abuse its power by violently cracking down anti-government red-shirt protesters during their political mass rallies in April-May last year.

The Human Rights Watch report also alleged that the Thai government’s suppression of the red-clad protesters was considered "over action” and that part of the 91 fatalities during last year's political unrest in Thailand were killed by the Thai government's security forces. (TNA)