Pubdate: Wed, 21 Apr 2004
Source: Nation, The (Thailand)
Copyright: 2004 Nation Multimedia Group
Contact:  http://www.nationmultimedia.com/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/1963
Author: Pravit Rojanaphruk

ACADEMIC URGES PROBE AFTER RIGHTS REPORT

Allegations of state sanctioned murder of human rights defenders have 
prompted Chulalongkorn law professor Vitit Muntarbhorn to call for the 
establishment of special committees to follow up on a rights report by Hina 
Jilani, the special representative of UN secretary general Kofi Annan.

Jilani's assessment of human rights in Thailand was heavily critical of the 
government.

She suggested human rights violations had occurred during the government's 
war on drugs and levelled new allegations of unmitigated surveillance and 
harassment of nongovernmental workers.

She highlighted alleged violence against human rights defenders during the 
gas pipeline protest in Songkhla, alleged or attempted murder of various 
human rights defenders addressing environmental, labour and land rights 
concerns, lax implementation of the Constitution and a "widespread sense of 
insecurity" among human rights workers, the general community and journalists.

Vitit yesterday told Foreign Ministry staff the government should not 
dismiss the report, but instead should be proactive about the matter. He 
said the government's credibility was at stake.

Thailand's permanent representative to the United Nations, Chaiyong 
Satjipanon, last week said the government would not accept generalised 
statements and unsubstantiated information.

But Vitit said: "The United Nations may not be a father to some Thais, but 
it can certainly be a mother to others," in reference to Thaksin's comment 
about Jilani's visit and subsequent report.

In Geneva, Jilani said "the current environment is no longer conducive for 
activities of defenders working from Thailand on human rights and democracy 
concerns in other countries in the region, including Myanmar [Burma]."

Former foreign minister Surin Pitsuwan was pessimistic about the 
government's stance, and expressed doubt the parliament would be interested 
in the 25page report.

He warned that Thaksin administration's "misconception" of human rights and 
the role of civil society would lead to the eventual replacement of the 
rule of law.

All that would be left was naked power - in which the end justified the 
means, such as the alleged abduction of human rights lawyer Somchai 
Neelaphaijit, he said.

"Our great leader held a meeting in the South with governors recently and 
asked them how many people were armed and resorting to violence [in the 
name of] separatism. A governor told him 60, said Surin.

He said police and the military needed to be educated about human rights, 
as they were the most likely to commit human rights violations.

Surin said much had changed for the worse in Thailand during the past three 
years, a period that corresponds with Thaksin's hold on power.
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MAP posted-by: Keith Brilhart