UN Chief Ban Ki-Moon Rejects Red-Shirts Appeal For Intervention

[webfact]

BAN'S WORKING VISIT

UN chief rejects reds' appeal for intervention

By Supalak Ganjanakhundee

The Nation

United Nations Secretary General Ban Ki-moon has brushed off an appeal by red-shirt groups for him to intervene in connection with the deaths of their colleagues during the military crackdown in April and May, saying the issue must be resolved domestically.

"This is a Thai issue and the issue should be resolved by Thais," Ban told a press conference yesterday after a meeting with Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva.

Red-shirt groups yesterday lodged their petitions with the UN chief over the crackdown of a series of political protests earlier this year that led to the deaths of 91 people, mostly unarmed civilians.

Jatuporn Promphan of the opposition Pheu Thai Party led some 300 red shirts in submitting their appeal for assistance to Ban through officials at the UN regional building on Rajdamnoen Avenue.

A similar number of riot police were deployed in the area.

The government has maintained a state of emergency in the capital and its outskirts since the bloody protests began in April.

Yesterday's gathering of the red shirts was conducted peacefully. Jatuporn said they only wanted to inform the UN chief that the protesters earlier this year were not terrorists, despite the picture painted by the government. They were merely ordinary people seeking justice, he added.

The red shirts accuse the government of using military force to crack down on their protest, leading to scores of casualties. Meanwhile, the government claims the slain protesters were terrorists that died in attacks by unknown armed men dressed in black.

Jatuporn said the red-shirt groups also sought the UN's assistance to force the government to lift the state of emergency in Bangkok and its outskirts, as well as to release their leaders who have been detained since the final crackdown in May.

They also provided documents, pictures and video clips to the UN as evidence to back up their petitions.

Ban, who was in a meeting with Abhisit when the red shirts submitted the petitions, said he had discussed the matter with the prime minister.

He said he was aware of the fact that the government-sponsored commissions on reconciliation had started their work to establish what happened in April and May, and that they had demonstrated openness in carrying out their task.

They have also sought international assistance on technical and specific matters, he added.

"I expressed my readiness to the prime minister that the UN would provide any technical assistance to these commissions," he said.

The UN chief expressed his hope that "we should learn from what happened in the incidents, and I do hope that all issues will be addressed in a transparent manner as regards any violation of human rights, as this will make your society even stronger and more participatory in addressing your own social-political issues".

New York-based Human Rights Watch yesterday issued an opened letter to Ban, claiming that the government had used the emergency law to suppress basic human rights and provide the authorities with effective immunity from prosecution.

"Crucial for national reconciliation and ending the vicious cycle of violence and impunity in Thailand are credible, independent and impartial inquiries into politically motivated abuses committed by all sides, and sustained measures to hold accountable all those responsible," it said.

"We are deeply concerned by reports that the government's Centre for the Resolution of the Emergency Situation has not fully cooperated with parliamentary inquiry commissions, the National Human Rights Commission or the newly appointed Independent Fact-Finding Commission for Reconciliation," it added.

-- The Nation 2010-10-27

[givenall]

Umm I guess they can ask for Ahmadinejad help now since no one else cares

[yellow1red1]

"Crucial for national reconciliation and ending the vicious cycle of violence and impunity in Thailand are credible, independent and impartial inquiries into politically motivated abuses committed by all sides, and sustained measures to hold accountable all those responsible," it said.

Have truer words ever been spoken on TV? change out one word, is all. corruption motivated instead of politically motivated. Thailand does NOT have politics it has a DOG PILE fighting for the bones! is all,,,, on all sides,,,, and make that all!!!

[craigt3365]

"Crucial for national reconciliation and ending the vicious cycle of violence and impunity in Thailand are credible, independent and impartial inquiries into politically motivated abuses committed by all sides, and sustained measures to hold accountable all those responsible," it said.

Have truer words ever been spoken on TV? change out one word, is all. corruption motivated instead of politically motivated. Thailand does NOT have politics it has a DOG PILE fighting for the bones! is all,,,, on all sides,,,, and make that all!!!

Well put...a mess for sure.

I thought the army chief said there were not suppose to be any political gatherings regarding Khun Ban. But then 300 reds showed up.

-------------------------------------------------------

Prayuth vowed he would allow no red shirts to assemble in front of the UN regional office and said only 10 representatives from the group should be there today.

"I beg [you] to consider that this is about national honour. Whatever you do, do it as civilised people. If you have problem and want the UN to be informed about [it], you can send documents but [must] not assemble in a large group and cause an inconvenience to peo?ple [and] to be seen by foreign?ers. I think it's shameful. Let we warn that you shouldn't do it because it is of no use."

A member of the Progressive Democracy Group, a radical wing of the red shirt movement told The Nation yesterday they would defy Prayuth's ban on the right to assemble.

"[We] don't care [what the Army chief said]. Nobody cares," said a female member of the group, who asked not to be named due to her daytime work as a government official. "This [bid to stop them gathering] reflects their fear."

-------------------------------------------------------

What happened?????

[alstaxi]

Not too surprising that the UN would not want to get involved with terrorists, complaining about their peaceful demonstration being cracked down on, what absolute delusional lunatics , I suppose Thaksin will never suffer a shortage of astounding claims. He will need to buy the National Enquirer, an excellent way for him to get the truth out.

Thai PM is really an alien, film at 11.

[fire and ice]

Interesting how the Red shirts protest about the 'unarmed civilians' but neglect to mention how 'unarmed civilians' managed to kill soldiers. Naturally they neglect to mention at all the fact that people died on BOTH sides of the protests.

[SergeiY]

Interesting how the Red shirts protest about the 'unarmed civilians' but neglect to mention how 'unarmed civilians' managed to kill soldiers. Naturally they neglect to mention at all the fact that people died on BOTH sides of the protests.

Who killed them?

[rubl]

Mr. Ban said

He said he was aware of the fact that the government-sponsored commissions on reconciliation had started their work to establish what happened in April and May, and that they had demonstrated openness in carrying out their task.

The Human Right Watch

"We are deeply concerned by reports that the government's Centre for the Resolution of the Emergency Situation has not fully cooperated with parliamentary inquiry commissions, the National Human Rights Commission or the newly appointed Independent Fact-Finding Commission for Reconciliation," it added.

Mr. Ban may not have heard a lot, the Human Right Watch seems to have. Not sure they also heard that PTP and UDD / red-shirts have refused to co-operated in even providing info to the government appointed commission as part of the PM's road-map. Usual comments like 'we don't trust them', 'afraid will be apprehended', 'we have our own plan', etc.

A coin has two sides if I remember correctly.

[HakimKlunker]

Help! Help! I started an argument with my neighbour next door. Now I lose controll. Please send me the Army, Air Force and Navy and a priest.

[chantorn]

Interesting how the Red shirts protest about the 'unarmed civilians' but neglect to mention how 'unarmed civilians' managed to kill soldiers. Naturally they neglect to mention at all the fact that people died on BOTH sides of the protests.

Who killed them?

Many be army kill army. Just may be, like this clip.

[george]

Transcript Of Ban Ki-Moon Press Conference Following His Meeting With PM Abhisit

Full transcript:

[craigt3365]

Interesting how the Red shirts protest about the 'unarmed civilians' but neglect to mention how 'unarmed civilians' managed to kill soldiers. Naturally they neglect to mention at all the fact that people died on BOTH sides of the protests.

Who killed them?

I bet it was those sneaky Russians....

[cdnvic]

Posts containing personal attacks and those quoting them deleted.

[MaiChai]

Ban Ki-moon is Korean according to wiki.org. I am sure the South Koreans would not have tolerated a protest like the Red Shirts (or the Yellow shirts for that matter) and would have stamped down on the terrorist acts that occurred. It goes beyond belief that what happened was allowed to happen; no civilised society would have tolerated unrest like this.

[IAMSOBAD]

Now Jatuporn and Prompong will speak of the U.N. like Thaksin did. Saying bad things about them like a child having a temper tantrum.

They are all about smoke and mirrors and never about reality!

I am so sick of these morons trying to act like they did no wrong.

They tried to burn down BKK. Ban Ki-moon knows.

Anyone with a brain knows.

That leaves out red shirt leaders and their dumb followers.

Edited October 27, 2010 by IAMSOBAD

[SiangDeeMahk]

Umm I guess they can ask for Ahmadinejad help now since no one else cares

Ohhh.. you're so close! It's not "since no one else cares"; it's "since no one else is FALLING for their ruse" (aka, a "paid for" revolution)

I think world opinion on these red folks was pretty much locked in place after the INTERNATIONAL media captured and broadcast (in clear, up close daylight footage) the "black ops" in action up on that footbridge.

[asiawatcher]

At least the UN ignored the obvious!!!

[peacefulwarrior]

The U.N. : the follow up corporation to the "League of Nations" : has their headquarters on a former slaughterhouse turf in New York sponsored by the Rockefeller family. The other bankers Warburg et al founded this "Institution" which is above ANY national law and can intervene anywhere it likes. It's goal is the amalgamation of all sovereign nations into a 'one world government' and proper indoctrination of it's citizens.

"A world government can intervene militarily in the internal affairs of any nation when it disapproves of their activities."

- Kofi Annan, U.N. Secretary General

This is a club of gangsters which looks away in coutries like China, Burma, Thailand, Congo, Kosovo etc. And when they finally "intervene" the devastation has happened already or it won't stop. How many wars did they stop. How many of the one billion people still starving away did they help. It is purely an instrument of indoctrination and global-private partnerships, like in their vaccination projects (that actually sterilize people more than it does help them plus making nice profits for the pharma-mafia. They might built up a few schools here and there - but for what - to create brave new citizens, conforming to the new laws.

Simply saying when the "blue helmets" come in, your officially being taken over, or re-taken, see Haiti where Cholera starts despite the great savior being there.

"Today, America would be outraged if U.N. troops entered Los Angeles to restore order [referring to the 1991 LA Riot]. Tomorrow they will be grateful! This is especially true if they were told that there were an outside threat from beyond [i.e., an "extraterrestrial" invasion], whether real or *promulgated* [emphasis mine], that threatened our very existence. It is then that all peoples of the world will plead to deliver them from this evil. The one thing every man fears is the unknown. When presented with this *scenario*, individual rights will be willingly relinquished for the guarantee of their well-being granted to them by the World Government."

- Dr. Henry Kissinger, Bilderberger Conference, Evians, France, 1991

[jayboy]

Ban Ki-moon is Korean according to wiki.org. I am sure the South Koreans would not have tolerated a protest like the Red Shirts (or the Yellow shirts for that matter) and would have stamped down on the terrorist acts that occurred. It goes beyond belief that what happened was allowed to happen; no civilised society would have tolerated unrest like this.

You show a remarkable ignorance of South Korean history where popular movements and street demonstrations have played an important part in securing a vibrant democratic culture.A more relevant question is whether a country like South Korea would tolerate a greedy and corrupt ruling elite of the military, feudalists and monopolistic capitalists criminally obstructing the views of the majority through illegal coups, directed courts and hysterical uber nationalism.

As to Ban Ki-Moon's visit he merely pointed out that the current political difficulties were an internal Thai matter - which of course they are.

[whybother]

... a greedy and corrupt ... military, feudalists and monopolistic capitalists criminally obstructing the views of the majority ...

That describes both sides of the current problems doesn't it?

[chantorn]

At least the UN ignored the obvious!!!

Great job Mr. Moon.

You are over the Moon.

[pooket]

His answer to the red shirts should've been, "You burned down half of Bangkok and you want me to help you?!? ARE YOU INSANE?"

[Robby nz]

His answer to the red shirts should've been, "You burned down half of Bangkok and you want me to help you?!? ARE YOU INSANE?"

Nope they didnt burn down half of BKK.

But they probably would have if they hadnt been stopped.

After all it was what their brave leaders told them to do.

No sorry they said to burn it all didnt they? and the rest of the country if I remember rightly.

Would like to see a transcript of the "evidence" the reds presented to the UN.

[Buchholz]

Spurned by the UN Secretary-General and spurned by Surat Thani voters.

There's not been a Red Banner day for quite awhile now.

Edited October 30, 2010 by Buchholz

[Spee]

"United Nations Secretary General Ban Ki-moon has brushed off an appeal by red-shirt groups for him to intervene in connection with the deaths of their colleagues during the military crackdown in April and May, saying the issue must be resolved domestically."

What a crock! This is typical UN hypocrisy and disingenuous response. The UN is the world's buttinski. More than likely, the UN was put on notice to "stay the <deleted> outta Dodge" and this media posturing is the way for the UN to take the easy way out, while maintaining the charade of nobility and concern for Thailand.

Edited October 31, 2010 by Spee

[whybother]

"United Nations Secretary General Ban Ki-moon has brushed off an appeal by red-shirt groups for him to intervene in connection with the deaths of their colleagues during the military crackdown in April and May, saying the issue must be resolved domestically."

What a crock! This is typical UN hypocrisy and disingenuous response. The UN is the world's buttinski. More than likely, the UN was put on notice to "stay the <deleted> outta Dodge" and this media posturing is the way for the UN to take the easy way out, while maintaining the charade of nobility and concern for Thailand.

"Put on notice" by who?

[Ricardo]

"United Nations Secretary General Ban Ki-moon has brushed off an appeal by red-shirt groups for him to intervene in connection with the deaths of their colleagues during the military crackdown in April and May, saying the issue must be resolved domestically."

What a crock! This is typical UN hypocrisy and disingenuous response. The UN is the world's buttinski. More than likely, the UN was put on notice to "stay the <deleted> outta Dodge" and this media posturing is the way for the UN to take the easy way out, while maintaining the charade of nobility and concern for Thailand.

The U.N. isn't a world-government, and doesn't have the resources or political-power to become one, but that doesn't stop people from 'knocking' them, at times.

It must be frustrating, for people who work there, when this happens. Guess they'll just have to be satisfied with sometimes being a force-for-good (working for refugees or the starving poor of the planet), or defusing some wars across national-boundaries.

That's not perfect, but it's still better than nothing, isn't it ?

[Spee]

"United Nations Secretary General Ban Ki-moon has brushed off an appeal by red-shirt groups for him to intervene in connection with the deaths of their colleagues during the military crackdown in April and May, saying the issue must be resolved domestically."

What a crock! This is typical UN hypocrisy and disingenuous response. The UN is the world's buttinski. More than likely, the UN was put on notice to "stay the <deleted> outta Dodge" and this media posturing is the way for the UN to take the easy way out, while maintaining the charade of nobility and concern for Thailand.

"Put on notice" by who?

Uhhh ... those Thai authorities who have the power to make such notifications.

[whybother]

"United Nations Secretary General Ban Ki-moon has brushed off an appeal by red-shirt groups for him to intervene in connection with the deaths of their colleagues during the military crackdown in April and May, saying the issue must be resolved domestically."

What a crock! This is typical UN hypocrisy and disingenuous response. The UN is the world's buttinski. More than likely, the UN was put on notice to "stay the <deleted> outta Dodge" and this media posturing is the way for the UN to take the easy way out, while maintaining the charade of nobility and concern for Thailand.

"Put on notice" by who?

Uhhh ... those Thai authorities who have the power to make such notifications.

..... riiight

[Spee]

That's not perfect, but it's still better than nothing, isn't it ?

Ah, the noble high road, always an easy straight well-paved path to follow. Makes it easy to turn a blind eye to the realities:

http://www.aim.org/media-monitor/corruption-plagues-the-un/

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2008/10/20/AR2008102003277.html?hpid=sec-world

http://www.globalgovernancewatch.org/docLib/20100120_UN_Scales_Back_Effort.pdf

http://www.unpost.org/?p=5927

Compare th UN charter with the UN's current state of affairs:

http://www.un.org/en/documents/charter/index.shtml

Article 6 seems to stand out among others, as it discusses the right of the assembly to kick people out if they don't follow the rules. When can anyone recall the UN ever threatening to kick anyone out, despite perennial abuses of the charter in the treatment of their own citizens? It just doesn't happen.

Back in the day, Harlem heroin dealers used to hand out turkeys at Thanksgiving and Christmas. Feeding the hungry and needy is certainly a noble endeavor on the surface. But it does little to mask the corruption and hypocrisy taking place throughout the rest of the year.

In some respects, the UN is not much different. It doles out food, clothing, shelter and medical care to a relative few nations in need, but largely at the urging and funding of the western nations that provide the bulk of the financial and political backing. The rest of the time, it sits idly by, turning a blind eye to the corruption and abuse of citizens by governments that cause these problems in the first place.

I'll go back to what I suggested earlier, that Thailand wants no part of the UN meddling in its internal affairs, and Thai authoritities have made this clear to Mr. Ban in no uncertain terms. The press release is just the face-saving charade.