Thailand’s leaders, including the prime minister and foreign minister, sidestepped a meeting with the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights, Volker Türk, during his Bangkok visit on June 5 and 6.

 

Instead of rolling out the red carpet, Thailand’s leaders turned a blind eye, reducing Türk’s visit to a mere stopover, unlike his official engagements in Malaysia where he met with government officials and spoke openly about human rights.

 

But Thailand’s attempt to sideline Türk won’t erase its mounting human rights issues. Ignoring the UN’s concerns, especially highlighted during Thailand’s recent Universal Periodic Review, won’t pacify the international community’s unease over ongoing rights abuses.

 

Since the pro-democracy protests erupted in July 2020, Thai courts have prosecuted at least 1,954 individuals, including 286 minors, for exercising their rights to free speech and peaceful assembly. The death of Netiporn Sanesangkhom, an anti-monarchy activist who succumbed after a hunger strike in pretrial detention on lèse-majesté charges, has cast a harsh spotlight on Thailand’s stringent enforcement of laws punishing insults to the monarchy with up to 15 years in prison.

 

Over 270 people face lèse-majesté charges linked to protests or social media posts, with some also charged under ambiguous computer and sedition laws. Even former Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra hasn’t escaped, facing lèse-majesté charges for comments made in 2015.

 

Despite growing international criticism, Thailand’s ruling Pheu Thai Party and its allies staunchly oppose amending the lèse-majesté law or offering amnesty to those charged. Adding fuel to the fire, the Constitutional Court recently deemed the Move Forward Party’s bid to amend the law as treasonous, potentially leading to the party’s dissolution and political bans for its leaders, reported Human Rights Watch.

 

As Thailand campaigns for a seat on the UN Human Rights Council for 2025 to 2027, it must realise that membership comes with the responsibility to uphold the highest human rights standards and cooperate fully with the Council.

 

By Puntid Tantivangphaisal

Photo courtesy of Watcharawit Phudork via AP Photo

 

Source: The Thaiger 2024-06-07

 

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Thailand can run but it cannot hide 

2 hours ago, snoop1130 said:

Thailand’s ruling Pheu Thai Party and its allies staunchly oppose amending the lèse-majesté law or offering amnesty to those charged.

 

so, taxsin,who is accused of this very crime, lets his party support lese majeste? he must have been on his knees begging forgiveness not too long ago...

3 hours ago, snoop1130 said:

As Thailand campaigns for a seat on the UN Human Rights Council for 2025 to 2027, it must realise that membership comes with the responsibility to uphold the highest human rights standards and cooperate fully with the Council.

Sadly, that is never going to happen in my lifetime.

3 hours ago, JoePai said:

Thailand can run but it cannot hide 

You sure about that?  The UN is a powerless waste of money crippled by bureaucracy corruption.

 

Just ignore it, and it will go away .... as Russia and China have known for years.

Thailand never dare to face the truth as they would loose face

The UNHRC is not my father

5 hours ago, Peabody said:

The UNHRC is not my father

Nor is DEMOCRACY.

13 hours ago, JoePai said:

Thailand can run but it cannot hide 

Thailand won't give a $hit as long as the tourists still keep coming.

13 hours ago, snoop1130 said:

Since the pro-democracy protests erupted in July 2020, Thai courts have prosecuted at least 1,954 individuals, including 286 minors, for exercising their rights to free speech and peaceful assembly. The death of Netiporn Sanesangkhom, an anti-monarchy activist who succumbed after a hunger strike in pretrial detention on lèse-majesté charges, has cast a harsh spotlight on Thailand’s stringent enforcement of laws punishing insults to the monarchy with up to 15 years in prison

Thailand 2024.... disgusting

14 hours ago, snoop1130 said:

As Thailand campaigns for a seat on the UN Human Rights Council for 2025 to 2027, it must realise that membership comes with the responsibility to uphold the highest human rights standards and cooperate fully with the Council.

Not in Thailand... it wants to join everything and abide by nothing.

15 minutes ago, hotchilli said:

As Thailand campaigns for a seat on the UN Human Rights Council for 2025 to 2027

Not merely failure to gain a seat but clear & explicit and detailed condemnation by the UNHRC would represent major loss of face for Thailand. 

 

The government would surely wish this ...

At least they didn't arrest him for giving Thailand a bad image.

Thailand really does not care what the international community thinks, especially now that Thailand is in bed with pure clean ethical moral China.

 

But, if the day ever comes when most foreign tourists stop coming to Thailand and there are effective international boycotts of Thai produce, then things may change.

 

 

Thailand only worry about taxing the pensioners already taxed in there home country and getting more tourist in the country.The government don't appear to care much about the people living in the country and there life styles.

The moral compass, or lack of, shown by Thailand will affect tourism, and also investment by companies and countries like those in Scandinavia which have high moral standards.

 

Continuing to ignore outside pressure will affect the Thai economy in a negative way, especially with competition for manufacturing and cheap labour from other countries.

Thailand's constitution specifically allows for the abuse of human rights.

Good for the Thais. I hope that someday we withdraw from the UN, kick them out and stop funding.

 

Time for a new organization. 

Edited June 8, 20242 yr by Yagoda

Nice to see the UN ignored by Thai officials.   Not that I agree with how protesters are treated in TH, but the UN is a self serving, politicalized joke ... IMHO

 

Simply doesn't deserve any respect from any nation.  Simply wasted USA tax $$$ for the tax payers.

16 hours ago, snoop1130 said:

 

Thailand’s leaders, including the prime minister and foreign minister, sidestepped a meeting with the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights, Volker Türk, during his Bangkok visit on June 5 and 6.

 

Instead of rolling out the red carpet, Thailand’s leaders turned a blind eye, reducing Türk’s visit to a mere stopover, unlike his official engagements in Malaysia where he met with government officials and spoke openly about human rights.

 

But Thailand’s attempt to sideline Türk won’t erase its mounting human rights issues. Ignoring the UN’s concerns, especially highlighted during Thailand’s recent Universal Periodic Review, won’t pacify the international community’s unease over ongoing rights abuses.

 

Since the pro-democracy protests erupted in July 2020, Thai courts have prosecuted at least 1,954 individuals, including 286 minors, for exercising their rights to free speech and peaceful assembly. The death of Netiporn Sanesangkhom, an anti-monarchy activist who succumbed after a hunger strike in pretrial detention on lèse-majesté charges, has cast a harsh spotlight on Thailand’s stringent enforcement of laws punishing insults to the monarchy with up to 15 years in prison.

 

 

Over 270 people face lèse-majesté charges linked to protests or social media posts, with some also charged under ambiguous computer and sedition laws. Even former Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra hasn’t escaped, facing lèse-majesté charges for comments made in 2015.

 

Despite growing international criticism, Thailand’s ruling Pheu Thai Party and its allies staunchly oppose amending the lèse-majesté law or offering amnesty to those charged. Adding fuel to the fire, the Constitutional Court recently deemed the Move Forward Party’s bid to amend the law as treasonous, potentially leading to the party’s dissolution and political bans for its leaders, reported Human Rights Watch.

 

As Thailand campaigns for a seat on the UN Human Rights Council for 2025 to 2027, it must realise that membership comes with the responsibility to uphold the highest human rights standards and cooperate fully with the Council.

 

By Puntid Tantivangphaisal

Photo courtesy of Watcharawit Phudork via AP Photo

 

Source: The Thaiger 2024-06-07

 

Get our Daily Newsletter - Click HERE to subscribe

It's not only UN which is concerned but also EU. There is a free trade treaty pending and the implementation is connected to fulfill minimum standards of human rights. This includes Fishery 😕

Chicken-hearted "leaders" afraid they would have to answer some inconvenient questions.

Human rights? What about no taxation without representation, for a start? Someone please tell the lamebrains in the TRD that their recent changes are also making Thailand a pariah.

8 hours ago, JimHuaHin said:

Thailand really does not care what the international community thinks, especially now that Thailand is in bed with pure clean ethical moral China.

 

But, if the day ever comes when most foreign tourists stop coming to Thailand and there are effective international boycotts of Thai produce, then things may change.

 

 

Foreign tourists are not that mature

A further disgrace to the nation and human rights of free speech as the country is still being run by unelected idiots, while the winners are yet again likely to be banned.

 

The Army's hand is firmly up to Muppets buttocks and are effectively still running the country.