US report details Thai rights abuses

By THE SUNDAY NATION

 

 

THAILAND’S military junta remained a human rights abuser over the past year by limiting civil liberties, notably restriction of freedom of speech and assembly, according to the US State Department’s annual report on human rights.

 

The report, released on Friday local time in Washington DC, said that numerous National Council for Peace and Order (NCPO) decrees limiting civil liberties remained in effect during the year. NCPO Order No 3/2015, which replaced martial law in March 2015, grants the military government sweeping power to curb “acts deemed harmful to national peace and stability”, it said.

 

Political prisoners and detainees were highlighted in the report, which noted that the NCPO routinely detained those who expressed political views. The report said that, as of August, the Department of Corrections had reported 135 persons were detained or imprisoned in the country under lese majeste laws. Human rights groups have claimed that the prosecutions and convictions of several lese majeste offenders were politically motivated. Police arrested student activist Jatupat “Pai Dao Din” Boonpattararaksa in December 2016 for sharing on Facebook a link to a Thai-language BBC profile of the new monarch that allegedly contained defamatory information. In addition to limitations on civil liberties imposed by the NCPO, other significant human rights issues included: excessive use of force by government security forces, including harassing or abusing criminal suspects, detainees and prisoners; arbitrary arrests and detention by government authorities; abuses by government security forces confronting the continuing ethnic Malay-Muslim insurgency in the southernmost provinces; corruption; sexual exploitation of children; and human trafficking.

 

The report said that while the authorities had taken steps to investigate and punish officials who abused human rights, official impunity continued to be a problem, especially in the southernmost provinces.

 

The report detailed many cases of disappearance in different contexts, such as that of Pholachi “Billy” Rakchongcharoen, a prominent Karen human rights defender missing since 2014, and activist Withipong “Koh Tee” Kodthammakul.

 

Source: http://www.nationmultimedia.com/detail/politics/30343680

 

 

-- © Copyright The Nation 2018-04-22

19 minutes ago, rooster59 said:

THAILAND’S military junta remained a human rights abuser over the past year by limiting civil liberties, notably restriction of freedom of speech and assembly, according to the US State Department’s annual report on human rights.

ok, now bring on some brainless thai official claiming 'they don't understand us'; mind-numbing

land of the free

25 minutes ago, rooster59 said:

THAILAND’S military junta remained a human rights abuser over the past year by limiting civil liberties, notably restriction of freedom of speech and assembly, according to the US State Department’s annual report on human rights.

And the US State department is going to do exactly what about it?

 

I am all for Human Rights Reports, but if there is no follow-up, then one has to wonder what the point is...

 

Anyone?

 

Anyone?

 

18 minutes ago, Samui Bodoh said:

And the US State department is going to do exactly what about it?

 

I am all for Human Rights Reports, but if there is no follow-up, then one has to wonder what the point is...

 

Anyone?

 

Anyone?

 

Well, the US might have Thailand next in its crosshairs for trade abuses and hit its economy. It's a compound effect. Human rights abuses, trade abuses, ect. The US could maim Thailand's tiny, fragile economy without much effort at all. 

How is it that the world sees this current government for what it is but the military and the wealthy elite cannot see that ruling by force is wrong! Thailand's quiet majority will eventually crack under the weight of the Jack boot and rise up as one against the evil oppressors! Hopefully, a new legally democratic government appointed through the ballot box will overturn the amnesty which the current junta have given themselves and severely punish this self appointed rabble.

Sent from my Lenovo A3000-H using Thailand Forum - Thaivisa mobile app

Human rights? Thailand?

Not now.

The US should look at their own human rights issues

Thailand's current government reminds one of thuggish eight your old boys on a playground after eating sugary snacks. 

 

If nothing else, the US at least has told the Thai people their current government is abusive and poorly represents them.  Nobody else has said as much.    Thailand is transparent and deserves NO special consideration. 

6 minutes ago, FritsSikkink said:

The US should look at their own human rights issues

They do. It is actually possible to walk and chew gum at the same time.

Fake news again everything Lilly white the generals say so.

1 hour ago, graemeaylward said:

and rise up as one against the evil oppressors!

Hence the junta is stocking up on tanks.  Can't understand the need for submarines though.

11 minutes ago, mikebell said:

Hence the junta is stocking up on tanks.  Can't understand the need for submarines though.

Shark hunting ?

1 hour ago, graemeaylward said:

How is it that the world sees this current government for what it is but the military and the wealthy elite cannot see that ruling by force is wrong! Thailand's quiet majority will eventually crack under the weight of the Jack boot and rise up as one against the evil oppressors! Hopefully, a new legally democratic government appointed through the ballot box will overturn the amnesty which the current junta have given themselves and severely punish this self appointed rabble.

Sent from my Lenovo A3000-H using Thailand Forum - Thaivisa mobile app
 

"the evil oppressors"

what have you been drinking? They saved the country from devastating red shirt bombing attacks.

Abuse of both human plus animal rights for decades.

 

 

2 hours ago, AntDee said:

Well, the US might have Thailand next in its crosshairs for trade abuses and hit its economy. It's a compound effect. Human rights abuses, trade abuses, ect. The US could maim Thailand's tiny, fragile economy without much effort at all. 

The US would be reluctant to act against Thai, as they could have done so long time ago, any restrictions only serves against the people, something The US would avoid at all costs, bad publicity isn't something to ignore especially in the Tourism area

5 minutes ago, chainarong said:

The US would be reluctant to act against Thai, as they could have done so long time ago, any restrictions only serves against the people, something The US would avoid at all costs, bad publicity isn't something to ignore especially in the Tourism area

https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2018-03-07/capital-outflows-don-t-scare-thailand-as-it-wrestles-with-baht

 

"Thailand could face greater U.S. scrutiny after its trade surplus with the world’s biggest economy exceeded $20 billion last year." 

5 hours ago, Samui Bodoh said:

And the US State department is going to do exactly what about it?

 

I am all for Human Rights Reports, but if there is no follow-up, then one has to wonder what the point is...

 

Anyone?

 

Anyone?

 

It's called 'Name & Shame'

 

3 hours ago, mikebell said:

Hence the junta is stocking up on tanks.  Can't understand the need for submarines though.

To Torpedo 'would be' escaping refugees?

3 hours ago, FritsSikkink said:

"the evil oppressors"

what have you been drinking? They saved the country from devastating red shirt bombing attacks.

I totally agree Frits, you have to break a few rules to create a constitution....IMO The military have done a masterful job taking control, and taking their time to carefully create a constitution which hopefully will allow for the best interests of the people.

Armchair idiots can criticise all the faults, but in fact the Thai bureaucracy and system has been broken for decades. The progress made although small in comparison, just shows how much the people need a new system. Denying certain privileges until then is a small price to pay. 

Well sanction every country which does not respect freedom of speech including Thailand would be better way to help solve the problems, instead of exposing them because dictatorship regimes would never consider reading these reports.

4 hours ago, FritsSikkink said:

The US should look at their own human rights issues

Children often respond with such a counter comment.

1 minute ago, Benmart said:

Children often respond with such a counter comment.

Only when they are accused, I am from neither country. So your answer isn't very smart.

5 hours ago, BuaBS said:

Shark hunting ?

In Hua Hin... that bastard who bitten the tourist is doing wrong to Thailand image!

1 hour ago, Curmudgeon1 said:

I totally agree Frits, you have to break a few rules to create a constitution....IMO The military have done a masterful job taking control, and taking their time to carefully create a constitution which hopefully will allow for the best interests of the people.

Armchair idiots can criticise all the faults, but in fact the Thai bureaucracy and system has been broken for decades. The progress made although small in comparison, just shows how much the people need a new system. Denying certain privileges until then is a small price to pay. 

Just installing unelected MP's is a huge price to pay, and is vote steeling, not buying.   If not liking autocracy makes one an idiot, then I am proud to be called just that. 

 

What kills me about westerners like you, who had the benefits of a representative government, is that you are so quick come agree  martial law remedy in Thailand that would not be tolerated for even one second in your country.   Where does your civic philosophy come from ? 

"Those who would give up essential Liberty, to purchase a little temporary Safety, deserve neither Liberty nor Safety." Ben Franklin ?

A leader is best when people barely know he exists, when his work is done, his aim fulfilled, they will say: we did it ourselves. - Lao Tzu ?

Timid men prefer the calm of despotism to the tempestuous sea of liberty. - Thomas Jefferson ?

 

You probably like watching history repeat itself, as well as, train wrecks

8 hours ago, YetAnother said:

ok, now bring on some brainless thai official claiming 'they don't understand us'; mind-numbing

Tomorrows morning news.

8 hours ago, baboon said:

They do. It is actually possible to walk and chew gum at the same time.

 

It's also possible to fart at the same time. And that's what these reports usually are - useless hot air. 

3 hours ago, Benmart said:

Children often respond with such a counter comment.

 

Sounds like the Democrats are all children then!

Looking forward to the response from the NCPO, maybe a poem or a Thai Niyom song from the PM

9 hours ago, FritsSikkink said:

The US should look at their own human rights issues

As an American, I would encourage a country cited to study and make a public finding known to the rest of the world. What is stopping this but fear of bullying.