Asian Human Rights Commission Calls For Greater Global Attention

[permanent_disorder]

THAILAND: Watershed moment for democracy and rule of law

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

AHRC-STM-298-2008

November 26, 2008

A Statement by the Asian Human Rights Commission

THAILAND: Watershed moment for democracy and rule of law

The takeover of the main international airport in Bangkok by protestors going under the banner of the People's Alliance for Democracy is a watershed moment for democracy and the rule of law in Thailand. It follows some months of increasingly aggressive strategies to get the current government to resign and to block it from making amendments to the 2008 Constitution, which was prepared under the watch of the 2006 military coup leaders and their supporters and pushed through via a deeply flawed referendum.

Alliance members have since August gone from merely occupying spaces like roads and parks to occupying public buildings, in particular, the Government House. Organised armed "guards" have defended their positions both from opponents and from state security personnel. They have also illegally obtained and openly carried an array of manufactured and homemade weapons, including guns from caches that had reportedly been kept in the government premises. They have illegally detained other citizens. They have vandalised, destroyed and stolen public and private property. In the last day or two it has been reported that in addition to occupying the Suvarnabumi airport they have seized busses, and have refused to allow police into the airport to investigate explosions there during the night. They are now reportedly preparing for the latest phase in the "final battle", which is supposedly being instigated under codenames like Hiroshima and Nagasaki, the cities on which the United States military dropped nuclear bombs at the close of World War Two.

The alliance has exhibited a number of features that from past lessons of Thailand and other countries around the world pose grave dangers to the future of the country's imperilled democracy. Of these, the following can be said.

1. They spring from a far-right ideology that has for decades driven successive military-bureaucratic administrations in Thailand, which dramatic changes to political and social life of the last two decades have increasingly threatened.

2. Their coordinated attacks and actions on the pretext of self-defence and national interest are designed to cause a widespread feeling of insecurity and uncertainty and allow reactionary elite forces to push Thailand back to a 1980s model of "half-sail" semi-elected government.

3. The alliance leaders have occupied the public space and forced people throughout Thailand to either take sides for or against them, or to opt out completely, thus alienating millions of people and denying them the opportunity to have a say on the key political and social questions of their time.

Some commentators and opponents of the alliance have described its agenda as fascist. This is not an exaggeration. Experience shows that the types of systemic changes and regimes that follow such movements, although they may not describe themselves as fascist, have fascist qualities. Indeed, successive dictatorships in Thailand's modern history appreciated, expressed and used many fascist symbols and policies, and the residue of these can be found in the language and behaviour of the alliance leaders today.

If these events are allowed to continue, and it is self-evident that they are being allowed, they will effectively undo everything that was done to build a culture of democratic rights and participation in public life in Thailand during the 1990s. The damage that they are now in a position to effect will surpass anything of that caused by the ousted government of Thaksin Shinawatra, and could even provoke a greater disaster than the 2006 coup and scrapping of the 1997 Constitution. Whatever institutional and legal gains were made in the last decade or two will be undone.

Already, the criminal justice system of Thailand has been reduced to an utter joke, its agencies and personnel either unable or unwilling to intervene effectively to protect public property and people's lives, or even prosecute wrongdoers. That the security forces can carry out coups on the whimsy of generals and engage in battles over trifles with those of neighbouring countries but not responsibly protect the Government House or international airport is sheer farce. That government agencies have been forced to negotiate and cut their losses rather than insist that the law be enforced is dangerous folly. And that the senior judiciary, which through a succession of highly politicised judgments has played a major part in contributing to the current mess has nothing useful to contribute when lives are at stake and the country is in greatest need of intelligent guidance is altogether shameful.

Peaceful protest is not only a part of democratic process; it is integral to it. But the rallies and blockades in Bangkok of recent days, weeks and months have not been peaceful. Nor can they properly be called protests at all, as they are not merely demonstrations of a wish, but acts aimed at achieving goals at all costs. And the costs to Thailand have already been very high. They will get higher, and be felt in terms of the lives and liberties of all people in the country if they are not brought to an end. All people in Thailand have a right to oppose this ultra-conservative project for state dominance at their expense.

The Asian Human Rights Commission especially takes this opportunity to call for far greater global attention on events in Thailand, which have passed for these few months without any discernible reaction from international bodies, especially the United Nations. Having vacillated on the 2006 coup the world community cannot afford to this time let things just go on without some meaningful intervention. If Thailand slips further backwards it will be to the detriment not only of its own millions but the entire region. At a time that repressive anti-democratic forces are either making comebacks or strengthening their positions almost everywhere, Thailand cannot afford to be lost.

# # #

About AHRC: The Asian Human Rights Commission is a regional non-governmental organisation monitoring and lobbying human rights issues in Asia. The Hong Kong-based group was founded in 1984.

http://www.ahrchk.net/statements/mainfile....tatements/1779/

[londonthai]

I am not sure why non governmental organisation talks about the "rule of law" - which is an intrument of a rulling class opression against the population - but I do agree with the statement

[lannarebirth]

"The Asian Human Rights Commission " Now there's an oxymoron if ever there was one.

Can you refresh my memory on their actions towards the government in Burma?

[londonthai]

[AHRC Forwarded Open Letter] BURMA: An Open Letter from the International Bar Association forwarded by the Asian Human Rights Commission (AHRC) - 2008-11-28 http://www.ahrchk.net/statements/mainfile....tatements/1784/

BURMA: Mad rush to convict exposes criminal injustice system - 2008-11-14 http://www.ahrchk.net/statements/mainfile....tatements/1770/

BURMA: A call to all lawyers to defend U Aung Thein and U Khin Maung Shein – two senior Burmese lawyers and human rights defenders illegally sentenced under the pretext of contempt of court - 2008-11-10 http://www.ahrchk.net/statements/mainfile....tatements/1762/

BURMA: Closed courts, absurd law and the exception as norm - 2008-08-29 http://www.ahrchk.net/statements/mainfile....tatements/1668/

and hundreds older more

http://www.ahrchk.net/statements/mainfile....2008statements/

[WinnieTheKhwai]

BRILLIANT.. I completely agree with AHRC from the first paragraph to the last.

PLEASE READ, everyone who's still wearing yellow tinted spectacles...

(Now we wait for this post to be merged into back page 23 of a random topic in the News Clippings forum.. Let's hope enough people get to read it before that happens)

Edited December 2, 2008 by WinnieTheKhwai

[Smithson]

"The Asian Human Rights Commission " Now there's an oxymoron if ever there was one.

Can you refresh my memory on their actions towards the government in Burma?

Visit their website, they do some good work. They have a lot of their plate as you could imagine.

[cmsally]

A very good article and interesting to read in conjunction with Philip Bowring's article in IHT on Dec. 1.

[BangkokBP]

I detect a certain lack of insight here on the part of AHRC.

I can not help but to feel that the current events are part of a vital metamorphosis for Thailand, and a well needed one, but tragic in many ways. Perhaps this country will soon get out of the grip of corruption and nepotism, I think many Thais have gained an interest in politics they never had before, and eventually that may lead to votes and decisions based on knowledge rather than money and shortsighted popular policies.

Lets hope the phoenix will step out of the ashes soon.

/bbp

[clausewitz]

yes, an extremely well-written piece. I said several months ago that Thailand might end up like Phillipines- now even the Phillipines warns its citizens about travel here. The PAD and their supporters are a fascist group.

BTW has anyone been watching the Jonestown documantary on CNN and noticed the same factors (fanatical gun-toting guards, meglamanic leaders, dimwitted followers who clap at every inane lie)

[Smithson]

I detect a certain lack of insight here on the part of AHRC.

/bbp

Care to elaborate?

[misterman21]

I detect a certain lack of insight here on the part of AHRC.

I can not help but to feel that the current events are part of a vital metamorphosis for Thailand, and a well needed one, but tragic in many ways. Perhaps this country will soon get out of the grip of corruption and nepotism, I think many Thais have gained an interest in politics they never had before, and eventually that may lead to votes and decisions based on knowledge rather than money and shortsighted popular policies.

Lets hope the phoenix will step out of the ashes soon.

/bbp

What absoulute rubbish - you consider your insight superior to the AHRC

[BangkokBP]

I detect a certain lack of insight here on the part of AHRC.

I can not help but to feel that the current events are part of a vital metamorphosis for Thailand, and a well needed one, but tragic in many ways. Perhaps this country will soon get out of the grip of corruption and nepotism, I think many Thais have gained an interest in politics they never had before, and eventually that may lead to votes and decisions based on knowledge rather than money and shortsighted popular policies.

Lets hope the phoenix will step out of the ashes soon.

/bbp

What absoulute rubbish - you consider your insight superior to the AHRC

Quick answer, yes. Else i would not have made that statement.

Have a look at Universal Declaration of Human Rights, and try to see the flaws i see.

Their statement is very one sided and biased.

/bbp

[misterman21]

I detect a certain lack of insight here on the part of AHRC.

I can not help but to feel that the current events are part of a vital metamorphosis for Thailand, and a well needed one, but tragic in many ways. Perhaps this country will soon get out of the grip of corruption and nepotism, I think many Thais have gained an interest in politics they never had before, and eventually that may lead to votes and decisions based on knowledge rather than money and shortsighted popular policies.

Lets hope the phoenix will step out of the ashes soon.

/bbp

What absoulute rubbish - you consider your insight superior to the AHRC

Quick answer, yes. Else i would not have made that statement.

Have a look at Universal Declaration of Human Rights, and try to see the flaws i see.

Their statement is very one sided and biased.

/bbp

Biased towards what or who ?

Oh, and the phoenix allways returns to the ashes

Edited December 2, 2008 by misterman21

[BangkokBP]

I detect a certain lack of insight here on the part of AHRC.

I can not help but to feel that the current events are part of a vital metamorphosis for Thailand, and a well needed one, but tragic in many ways. Perhaps this country will soon get out of the grip of corruption and nepotism, I think many Thais have gained an interest in politics they never had before, and eventually that may lead to votes and decisions based on knowledge rather than money and shortsighted popular policies.

Lets hope the phoenix will step out of the ashes soon.

/bbp

What absoulute rubbish - you consider your insight superior to the AHRC

Quick answer, yes. Else i would not have made that statement.

Have a look at Universal Declaration of Human Rights, and try to see the flaws i see.

Their statement is very one sided and biased.

/bbp

Biased towards what or who

They state as a fact "They spring from a far-right ideology", "Some commentators and opponents of the alliance have described its agenda as fascist. This is not an exaggeration." while it may be true. That is their human right, but the AHRC use of it in this int this context indicated that they are not really working for human rights but in political interest.

From the

Universal Declaration of Human Rights

Article 18

Everyone has the right to freedom of thought, conscience and religion; this right includes freedom to change his religion or belief, and freedom, either alone or in community with others and in public or private, to manifest his religion or belief in teaching, practice, worship and observance.

Article 19

Everyone has the right to freedom of opinion and expression; this right includes freedom to hold opinions without interference and to seek, receive and impart information and ideas through any media and regardless of frontiers.

Article 20

1. Everyone has the right to freedom of peaceful assembly and association.

2. No one may be compelled to belong to an association.

Reason for edit: HTML burps

Edited December 2, 2008 by BangkokBP

[Gary A]

These are simply peaceful legal demonstrations. RIGHT!! Who said that? I have always said that PAD leaders are a paid group who were able to dupe their less intelligent followers into more and more outrageous acts of treason. Those well paid PAD leaders should be tried for treason, PERIOD.

To think that some farangs actually support this anarchy is appalling to me. It's certainly not clear which elite group is supporting and planning this but it is at least obvious that they have big money and that tourism and foreign businesses are NOT in their interests.

At least someone understands what is happening. Thailand has gone from a quickly emerging third world country to a banana republic. The damage to this point has set the country back many years and perhaps the worst has not come yet.

[BangkokBP]

I detect a certain lack of insight here on the part of AHRC.

I can not help but to feel that the current events are part of a vital metamorphosis for Thailand, and a well needed one, but tragic in many ways. Perhaps this country will soon get out of the grip of corruption and nepotism, I think many Thais have gained an interest in politics they never had before, and eventually that may lead to votes and decisions based on knowledge rather than money and shortsighted popular policies.

Lets hope the phoenix will step out of the ashes soon.

/bbp

What absoulute rubbish - you consider your insight superior to the AHRC

Quick answer, yes. Else i would not have made that statement.

Have a look at Universal Declaration of Human Rights, and try to see the flaws i see.

Their statement is very one sided and biased.

/bbp

Biased towards what or who ?

Oh, and the phoenix allways returns to the ashes

Re the phoenix; true, the reference was merely to the Garuda (National symbol of Thailand) being the Indian version of the Phoenix.

/bbp

[BangkokBP]

At least someone understands what is happening.

Thank you, I wish more people would understand.

//bbp

[permanent_disorder]

I detect a certain lack of insight here on the part of AHRC.

I can not help but to feel that the current events are part of a vital metamorphosis for Thailand, and a well needed one, but tragic in many ways. Perhaps this country will soon get out of the grip of corruption and nepotism, I think many Thais have gained an interest in politics they never had before, and eventually that may lead to votes and decisions based on knowledge rather than money and shortsighted popular policies.

Lets hope the phoenix will step out of the ashes soon.

/bbp

you want talk about thaksin, right? and not ashemed of the bad taste Gen. Chamlong brings with, the hypocite?

"New Politics" and Gen. Carrot Chamlong & The Moralistic Tarmac Campers..

if you know better, that is your board, here is your stage and start to talk. in short, i like to listen.