Thailand and Japan to back each other's bids to join UN rights body

[Lite Beer]

THAI-JAPANESE RELATIONS
Thailand and Japan to back each other's bids to join UN rights body
Nantida Puangthong
The Nation

Tokyo: -- Thailand and Japan have agreed to support each other in their respective bids to become members of the United Nations Human Rights Council, Foreign Ministry permanent secretary Sihasak Phuangketkeow said yesterday.

Sihasak reached the agreement with his Japanese counterpart, Vice Minister for Foreign Affairs Akitaka Saiki, during a meeting in Tokyo on the sidelines of the Asean-Japan Forum.

Japan will vote for Thailand when it applies for membership for the 2016-2018 United Nations Human Rights Council term and Thailand will vote for Japan in its bid for the 2017-2019 term, he said.

During the meeting the countries also discussed general bilateral relations, Sihasak said.

He said he reaffirmed that the Thai government would continue to implement the roadmap towards democracy and reconciliation while Saiki expressed his understanding of political developments in Thailand.

Commenting on the Asean-Japan Forum meeting, Sihasak said Asean and Japan agreed to forge more cooperation to give importance to Japan's role of maintaining peace, security and prosperity in the region.

Senior officials from Asean and Japan met in Tokyo on Wednesday and Thursday to review cooperation under the vision statement of the Asean-Japan Friendship and Cooperation, and a joint statement from the Asean-Japan Commemorative Summit.

The statements were issued last year to mark the 40th anniversary of relations between the two countries.

Particular importance was given to Thailand cooperating with Japan in combating non-traditional security threats such as terrorism, computer crime and natural disaster, Sihasak said.

The cooperation on terrorism would be conducted via the Asean-Japan Counter Terrorism Dialogue, while Tokyo had the Japan-Asean Integration Fund to support the cooperation on many issues such as disaster management, he said.

On economic matters, both sides agreed to enhance their economic cooperation in terms of trade and investment under the Asean-Japan Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement, he said.

The agreement would lead to a more comprehensive economic cooperation in East Asia, he said, with Japan playing a key role in bridging the development gap of countries in Asean - notably members of the Mekong Basin. Japan cooperates with countries in the Mekong under the Japan-Mekong Cooperation.

Source: http://www.nationmultimedia.com/national/Thailand-and-Japan-to-back-each-others-bids-to-joi-30242668.html

-- The Nation 2014-09-06

[bapoboy]

i dont understand why thailand want have friendship with japan, japanese pepole are so rude and rasistic.

[Bender]

thailand is a bonanza country, they dont have a real democracy and they want... what???

why not, also nominate Kim Jong II as the next UN secretary?

[Bluespunk]

thailand is a bonanza country, they dont have a real democracy and they want... what???

why not, also nominate Kim Jong II as the next UN secretary?

Because he's dead might be one reason.

[Bluespunk]

"Japan will vote for Thailand when it applies for membership for the 2016-2018 United Nations Human Rights Council term"

This country's got a lot of work to do over the next two years then, if it wishes to achieve this goal.

Edited September 6, 2014 by Bluespunk

[NongKhaiKid]

Is this the same UN body that Zimbabwe once chaired ?

[chainarong]

One thing about Thailand , they never give up , one moment they are getting their Arse kicked for Human rights abuse, migrant labour violations and now they want to sit on the Human rights council, , I won't go into the nitty gritty of the subject, but to sit on this committee you need to have and understanding of Human rights, your country has to have a good character track record in this field, perhaps Thailand thinks by sitting on this body you could improve your rating , nothing could be further from the truth. One thing in Thailand's favour, the UN on some occasions have not been fussy in appointments , however on this one I think the country where the UN is stationed might have something to say.

[Seastallion]

So, China and Japan are at odds over some islands, serious odds. Thailand is cosying up to China for trade and tourism. Thailand makes agreements with Japan only on non-traditional security threats....My guess is China has already got enough friendly countries to ensure Japan's bid will not succeed.

[Jingthing]

The U.N. has become an absurd institution anyway. So what difference does it make? Bring them on!

[Jeremy50]

Does Thailand also have a seat on the UN Road Safety committee ?

[Crazy chef 1]

may they give us some human rights(to own land,permission for work/business,residence,same prices and so on)-this would be a nice start!

[FangFerang]

You have got to be kidding!

With the Japanese Premier guilty of locking his own wife in their home under guard, and the pervasive human trafficking in Thailand..both countries want to be on the Human Rights Council?

It's like the permanent members of the UN Security Council wanting to be on the BWETOWSC (the Ban Wars Except The Ones We Start Council).

What a joke

[rkidlad]

https://news.vice.com/article/the-un-has-condemned-thailands-crackdown-on-human-rights-advocates?utm_source=vicenewstwitter

'You don't understand Thainess. Just because we talk about human rights a lot doesn't mean we actually partake in it. You know there's money to be made from abusing human rights"

[lemonjelly]

https://news.vice.com/article/the-un-has-condemned-thailands-crackdown-on-human-rights-advocates?utm_source=vicenewstwitter

'You don't understand Thainess. Just because we talk about human rights a lot doesn't mean we actually partake in it. You know there's money to be made from abusing human rights"

is that a quoe, rkid, or just your own thoughts?

[Keesters]

i dont understand why thailand want have friendship with japan, japanese pepole are so rude and rasistic.

perhaps it is because they are so similar that they get along.

[HiSoLowSoNoSo]

Last week a human rights meeting was thwarted by junta and now they believe they will be members of United Nations Human Rights Council!!!

[lemonjelly]

http://www.msf.org/international-activity-report-2011-thailand-m%C3%A9decins-sans-fronti%C3%A8res-closes-its-longest-mission

read this Prayuth, then explain why you think Thailand deserves anything more than a good spanking.

[NongKhaiKid]

Last week a human rights meeting was thwarted by junta and now they believe they will be members of United Nations Human Rights Council!!!

The other newspaper's article on this said the lawyers etc who were organising the meeting were ' advised ' not to go ahead as it would not be good for peace and order in Pathumwan area.

I wonder how the ' or else ' part of the advice was worded ?

[rickirs]

"Japan will vote for Thailand when it applies for membership for the 2016-2018 United Nations Human Rights Council term"

This may be an empty promise by Japan in exchange for more material benefits from Thailand. And for Thailand to have a serious chance at membership would require a lot of change in the Junta's governance of the nation. There might be a number of hurdles Thailand may face with gaining membership to HRC:

1) Membership in the Council is elected by the majority of members of the General Assembly of the United Nations through direct and secret ballot. The same democratic process that the Junta currently withholds from its citizens at least well into 2015.

2) The General Assembly takes into account the candidate States’ contribution to the protection of human rights. Thailand's track record on human rights up through the governance of the country by the current Junta hardly points to a stellar leadership on human rights issues. The Junta's continued martial law, absolute control over the branches of government, and suppression of freedom of speech may be cause for concern by some of the UN members.

3) The General Assembly takes into account the candidate States’ contribution to the promotion of human rights, as well as their voluntary pledges and commitments in this regard.The Junta has been very prodigious in its pledge and commitment in this regard. But Thailand's continued use Lese majeste, Defamation, and Computer Crime Act laws to challenge citizen freedom of speech makes its promotion of human rights less than enviable.

4) HRC members help UN member states meet their human rights obligations through dialogue, capacity building, and technical assistance. It's hard to export a philosophy that doesn't exist at home.

But there is cheer for Thailand looking over the current membership that includes China, Saudi Arabia, and Pakistan. But a majority of the General Assembly might feel enough is enough with "bad boys" in the HRC to increase their numbers.

[Rykbanlor]

Is this the same UN body that Zimbabwe once chaired ?

If it is, then a pass with flying colours will be in order.

[millwall_fan]

Thailand on the UN Human Rights committee???!!!

I had to look at my calendar to check it wasn't April 1st!!! A country with a military dictatorship that has banned freedom of speech, freedom of association, freedom to dissent and rules the country by force of arms wants to be on the Human Rights Committee!!

​The country that treats immigrant workers as slave labour, tows Rohingya boats back out to sea, causes a couple of hundred thousand Cambodian migrant workers to flee the country in fear, presents insurmountable obstacles to Farang husbands and parents getting residency, has an unacceptable disparity between rich and poor......wants to be on the Human Rights Committee.

The worrying thing is, they actually believe they are in the right!!

[DrLom]

I find it rather embarassing for both, that they publicly announce I'll scratch your back if you scratch mine - to look good - because we are both pathetic in this field play.

It's more than embarassing....... it's pathetic.

[bunuel]

"Japan will vote for Thailand when it applies for membership for the 2016-2018 United Nations Human Rights Council term"

This may be an empty promise by Japan in exchange for more material benefits from Thailand. And for Thailand to have a serious chance at membership would require a lot of change in the Junta's governance of the nation. There might be a number of hurdles Thailand may face with gaining membership to HRC:

1) Membership in the Council is elected by the majority of members of the General Assembly of the United Nations through direct and secret ballot. The same democratic

process that the Junta currently withholds from its citizens at least well into 2015.

2) The General Assembly takes into account the candidate States contribution to the protection of human rights. Thailand's track record on human rights up through the governance of the country by the current Junta hardly points to a stellar leadership on human rights issues. The Junta's continued martial law, absolute control over the branches of government, and suppression of freedom of speech may be cause for concern by some of the UN members.

3) The General Assembly takes into account the candidate States contribution to the promotion of human rights, as well as their voluntary pledges and commitments in this regard.The Junta has been very prodigious in its pledge and commitment in this regard. But Thailand's continued use Lese majeste, Defamation, and Computer Crime Act laws to challenge citizen freedom of speech makes its promotion of human rights less than enviable.

4) HRC members help UN member states meet their human rights obligations through dialogue, capacity building, and technical assistance. It's hard to export a philosophy that doesn't exist at home.

But there is cheer for Thailand looking over the current membership that includes China, Saudi Arabia, and Pakistan. But a majority of the General Assembly might feel enough is enough with "bad boys" in the HRC to increase their numbers.

Many thanks for providing the procedural context for admission to the UN Human Rights Council. Can only add that the source for this story is also worth considering with more than a few grains of salt,given the source"s track record of factual massages.

Now if the Japanese Foreign Ministry were to confirm this " agreement", it might have substance!

[Baerboxer]

A country that's in trouble because of current issues with human rights violations and people trafficking, and a country that refuses to admit to, apologies for or even recognize the horrendous crimes against humanity and war crimes committed by its armed forces before and during WW2; atrocities that it removes from its history books and tries to expunge from memory.

And they think they should be on the UN Human Rights body ..........................................

[tigermoth]

Thailand, UN human rights committee. They must be joking.

[I knew this would happen]

i dont understand why thailand want have friendship with japan, japanese pepole are so rude and rasistic.

That´s the total opposite of Thailand of course ........at least the Japanese are very polite racists (not the look! look! Farang style)

Edited September 6, 2014 by I knew this would happen

[Cake Monster]

Thailand joining a human rights body ?

I am laughing so much, the tears are running down the legs of my shorts.

[Jonmarleesco]

Sounds a lot like collusion. One of those two countries has a less than impressive record to write home about: it's well down - or up, dependent on one's viewpoint - the score tables. There is a case of so-say defamation now in front of its courts when the authorities should be investigating the allegations that led there. And HRW's site is blocked, surprise, surprise, by its Ministry of Obfuscation & Technology.