US should explain its harsh rights report on Thailand, govt says

[Lite Beer]

US should explain its harsh rights report on Thailand, govt says
The Nation

BANGKOK: -- THE United States has a duty to explain why it put Thailand alongside countries experiencing the most significant human rights setbacks in its latest human rights report, deputy government spokesman Maj-General Sansern Kaewkamnerd said yesterday.

"The assessment in its human rights report that Thailand has seriously curbed the freedom of people is its own point of view towards the situation in many countries. However the US should say what the basis is and the sources of the facts that led to the assumption."

Sansern said Thailand placed the most importance on the real situation in the country and the restoration of peace and happiness when the National Council for Peace and Order ended the political conflict.

Now peace has returned to the Kingdom and people can travel to any place in the country without fear, he said.

He was responding to the US' 2014 human rights report released on Thursday, which criticised the staging of the coup in 2014 and the declaration of martial law.

It said the military government had sharply curbed freedom of speech and press freedom and the ability for people to assemble, while also causing more than 900 people to be temporarily detained without charge.

In the report's preface, US Secretary of State John Kerry placed Thailand alongside China, Egypt, Iran, Russia and Saudi Arabia as countries that are stifling the development of civil society.

"The military overthrew a democratically elected government, repealed the constitution, and severely limited civil liberties," Kerry said. "Subsequent efforts by the military government to rewrite the country's constitution and recast its political intuitions raised concerns about lack of inclusivity in the process."

The report also stated that Thais no longer had the ability to change the government in a free and fair election, while noting that the junta had stifled academic freedom, ordered scholars not to speak to the press and cancelled academic seminars.

The junta had also restricted press content deemed critical, leading to widespread self-censorship.

The US also mentioned what it described as abuses by government security forces and local defence volunteers in the deep South.

Other rights problems included arbitrary arrests and detentions, overcrowded and unsanitary prisons and detention facilities, and insufficient protection for vulnerable populations, including refugees.

Source: http://www.nationmultimedia.com/politics/US-should-explain-its-harsh-rights-report-on-Thail-30263256.html

-- The Nation 2015-06-27

[Somtamnication]

Nothing to explain, really.

[JoePai]

"The assessment in its human rights report that Thailand has seriously curbed the freedom of people is its own point of view towards the situation in many countries. However the US should say what the basis is and the sources of the facts that led to the assumption."

When they are in that state of denial what hope has Thailand

[Jingthing]

Here we go again.

I was kind of shocked to see that list and Thailand included in it.

[MaxLee]

Plug of the Internet and you'll be at the bottom of the list,.....

[OccamsRazor]

US should explain its harsh rights report on Thailand, govt says

Which part on this list does the government not understand?

"The military overthrew a democratically elected government, repealed the constitution, and severely limited civil liberties," Kerry said. "Subsequent efforts by the military government to rewrite the country's constitution and recast its political intuitions raised concerns about lack of inclusivity in the process."

The report also stated that Thais no longer had the ability to change the government in a free and fair election, while noting that the junta had stifled academic freedom, ordered scholars not to speak to the press and cancelled academic seminars.

The junta had also restricted press content deemed critical, leading to widespread self-censorship.

The US also mentioned what it described as abuses by government security forces and local defence volunteers in the deep South.

Other rights problems included arbitrary arrests and detentions, overcrowded and unsanitary prisons and detention facilities, and insufficient protection for vulnerable populations, including refugees.

[billd766]

But this is coming from a country which also tramples on the rights of its own citizens, invades other countries on the flimsiest of excuses, detains citizens of other countries without trial and those persons only defenders are appointed by the the US military. Some of those people have been arrested in countries other than the USA and many of them have been awaiting trial for years.

It regularly sends drones to kill people in other countries and worries little if anything about "collateral damage" to that countries citizens.

Civilians in the USA are regularly killed by the police forces within the USA.

It supports freedom of speech but when it comes to Wikileaks it wants to prosecute to the nth degree those people that expose the truth.

It supports dictatorial regimes in some parts of the world.

When you live in a glass house it is not always a good idea to throw stones.

Edited June 27, 2015 by billd766

[Always18]

I thought the whole report was kind of, well, "self-explanatory".....................

[kblaze]

But this is coming from a country which also tramples on the rights of its own citizens, invades other countries on the flimsiest of excuses, detains citizens of other countries without trial and those persons only defenders are appointed by the the US military. Some of those people have been arrested in countries other than the USA and many of them have been awaiting trial for years.

It regularly sends drones to kill people in other countries and worries little if anything about "collateral damage" to that countries citizens.

Civilians in the USA are regularly killed by the police forces within the USA.

It supports freedom of speech but when it comes to Wikileaks it wants to prosecute to the nth degree those people that expose the truth.

It supports dictatorial regimes in some parts of the world.

When you live in a glass house it is not always a good idea to throw stones.

And those transgressions are regularly condemned by other countries who have blood on their own hands. Despite what you think, in this world, the faults of a country do not preclude it from speaking out against those of other countries

[LomSak27]

What do they need to explain? They have voiced these criticisms for the last year, did Thailand somehow think it was all going to change, magically go away?

The great thing is Thailand doesn't have to do a thing, they can just go on there merry way, who cares about the usa. That said, they can expect a reduction in exports to the US which is only fair. Best thing for Thailand to do is just sell there excess Tuna, farmed shrimp and clothing to China.

[zaphod reborn]

I thought the report was self-explanatory. The only thing missing was an admission by the US that it was guilty of the same transgressions, ie torture and detention without charges.

[bangkokfrog]

Now peace has returned to the Kingdom and people can travel to any place in the country without fear, he said.

The clowns in government just don't understand. Yes, what he said might be true, but when they get where they are going these same people can't openly say what they think or gather in protest without fear.

[canuckamuck]

Crystal clear to rest of the world, except for those also on the naughty list.

[bamnutsak]

Suggest Maj-General Sansern Kaewkamnerd should read the report, then rebut or request clarification? Or he could just rant and rave like a a five-year old?

http://www.state.gov/j/drl/rls/hrrpt/humanrightsreport/index.htm?year=2014&dlid=236480

EXECUTIVE SUMMARY

Thailand is a constitutional monarchy. The king serves as head of state and has traditionally exerted strong influence. On May 22, in a bloodless coup, military and police leaders, taking the name of the National Council for Peace and Order (NCPO) and led by General Prayut Chan-Ocha, overthrew the interim government led by the Puea Thai political party. Puea Thai, led by Yingluck Shinawatra, had governed since 2011 following National Assembly lower house elections that were generally viewed as free and fair. The military-led NCPO maintained effective control over the security forces.

The coup leaders repealed the constitution (except for provisions related to the monarchy), suspended parliament, continued martial law imposed two days earlier on May 20, and issued numerous decrees severely limiting civil liberties, including restrictions on freedom of speech, freedom of assembly, and freedom of the press. The NCPO summoned and detained, without charge, more than 900 political leaders, academics, journalists, and others, holding many for up to seven days. The NCPO promulgated an interim constitution on July 22 and appointed individuals to a National Legislative Assembly on July 31, the members of which unanimously selected coup leader and head of the army, General Prayut, as prime minister on August 21.

[Just1Voice]

Gee, I don't know. I thought the report was pretty clear, concise and directly to the point. What's so hard about understanding that?

[BigBadGeordie]

Gee, I don't know. I thought the report was pretty clear, concise and directly to the point. What's so hard about understanding that?

But is it available in Thai? I am unaware as to whether or not the members of the Junta can read ........................another language?

[billd766]

But this is coming from a country which also tramples on the rights of its own citizens, invades other countries on the flimsiest of excuses, detains citizens of other countries without trial and those persons only defenders are appointed by the the US military. Some of those people have been arrested in countries other than the USA and many of them have been awaiting trial for years.

It regularly sends drones to kill people in other countries and worries little if anything about "collateral damage" to that countries citizens.

Civilians in the USA are regularly killed by the police forces within the USA.

It supports freedom of speech but when it comes to Wikileaks it wants to prosecute to the nth degree those people that expose the truth.

It supports dictatorial regimes in some parts of the world.

When you live in a glass house it is not always a good idea to throw stones.

And those transgressions are regularly condemned by other countries who have blood on their own hands. Despite what you think, in this world, the faults of a country do not preclude it from speaking out against those of other countries

Whilst it does not preclude the USA from speaking out it makes a mockery of their condemning other nations who have far lesser problems. I could understand it if the USA and to a lesser extent the UK and the EU were squeaky clean but they are far from it.

Just consider what happened in the Iraq war in both versions, Afghanistan and Libya compared to what the US is accusing Thailand and many other countries of doing.

[diehard60]

It sounds as if it was explained to me but maybe not enough to them.

[magnacarta]

Here we go again.

I was kind of shocked to see that list and Thailand included in it.

posters here not surprised as you have always been an apologist,how is your bum

[faraday]

But lets forget to mention the Black Sites that the US allegedly have in Thailand, for enhanced torture.

Sorry, my mistake, Michael Morell says it isn't actually torture.

That's alright then, just blame those pesky Thais.

[jcsmith]

But this is coming from a country which also tramples on the rights of its own citizens, invades other countries on the flimsiest of excuses, detains citizens of other countries without trial and those persons only defenders are appointed by the the US military. Some of those people have been arrested in countries other than the USA and many of them have been awaiting trial for years.

It regularly sends drones to kill people in other countries and worries little if anything about "collateral damage" to that countries citizens.

Civilians in the USA are regularly killed by the police forces within the USA.

It supports freedom of speech but when it comes to Wikileaks it wants to prosecute to the nth degree those people that expose the truth.

It supports dictatorial regimes in some parts of the world.

When you live in a glass house it is not always a good idea to throw stones.

Ignoring your knack of overstating things in a pretty ridiculous manner, what does any of that have to do with Thailands transgressions? Slavery still exists here. Refugees are sold into it. Camps are burned to "prevent them from being used again", or more likely to get rid of the evidence. Blocking voting booths, arresting people for speaking their mind, and overthrowing elected governments time and time again with military coups. Face it, Thailand deserves the rating it has received. It deserves to have its fishing industry boycotted. The US is far from perfect, but that doesn't invalidate what has been said.

[RamblingSam]

Pot, Kettle, Black.

[cumgranosalum]

They have but in many cases it's self-evident.

Edited June 27, 2015 by cumgranosalum

[cumgranosalum]

Pot, Kettle, Black.

maybe, but it doesn't alter the fact that kettle is black.

Edited June 27, 2015 by cumgranosalum

[cumgranosalum]

But this is coming from a country which also tramples on the rights of its own citizens, invades other countries on the flimsiest of excuses, detains citizens of other countries without trial and those persons only defenders are appointed by the the US military. Some of those people have been arrested in countries other than the USA and many of them have been awaiting trial for years.

It regularly sends drones to kill people in other countries and worries little if anything about "collateral damage" to that countries citizens.

Civilians in the USA are regularly killed by the police forces within the USA.

It supports freedom of speech but when it comes to Wikileaks it wants to prosecute to the nth degree those people that expose the truth.

It supports dictatorial regimes in some parts of the world.

When you live in a glass house it is not always a good idea to throw stones.

This always happens on this type of subject...a totally spurious argument.....the misdeeds of one country in no way can mitigate or justify the misdeeds of another.

[jonesthebaker]

hmmmm, does the report mention that more Americans have been killed by their own police - in America - than soldiers killed in Iraq and Afganistan since they invaded those country to restore law and order. (or was it because of weapons of mass destruction ... pfffft)

any country that is criticized by the great satan must be doing things right. the auld yanks simply do not like goverments that can not be bought. simple as

[cms22]

Citizens no longer have the ability to change the government through the right to vote in free and fair elections. Other human rights problems included arbitrary arrests and detention; poor, overcrowded, and unsanitary prison and detention facilities; insufficient protection for vulnerable populations, including refugees; violence and discrimination against women; sex tourism; sexual exploitation of children; trafficking in persons; discrimination against persons with disabilities, minorities, hill tribe members, and foreign migrant workers; child labor; and some limitations on worker rights.

Pretty clear, actually.... Anything else you don't understand?

Edited June 27, 2015 by cms22

[SaamBaht]

Strange comment. Just read the report.

[cumgranosalum]

Many of us are disgusted by US hypocrisy but one has to realise that it is a country of many extremes and facets - whilst Guantanamo is a blatant offence aginainst the rights of man, there are some major bodies in the States doing some fantastic work.

so firstly it is a spurious argument to suggest the the sins of one country justify the sins of another.

secondly it would show a huge misunderstanding of US culture to assume that all and everyone is behind their own civil rights abuses - the means that whether you like it or not the US is one of the best information gathering machines we have to monitor such things as human rights......it's a country of contrasts....unlike Thailand at represent which has a strangled press and a non-elected government with absolute power.......if there was a a "Guantanamo" run by the government and you exposed it, what do you think would happen to you? You can't even expose a fruit factory without some government-back reprisal.

[cumgranosalum]

Many of us are disgusted by US hypocrisy but one has to realise that it is a country of many extremes and facets - whilst Guantanamo is a blatant offence aginainst the rights of man, there are some major bodies in the States doing some fantastic work.

so firstly it is a spurious argument to suggest the the sins of one country justify the sins of another.

secondly it would show a huge misunderstanding of US culture to assume that all and everyone is behind their own civil rights abuses - the means that whether you like it or not the US is one of the best information gathering machines we have to monitor such things as human rights......it's a country of contrasts....unlike Thailand at represent which has a strangled press and a non-elected government with absolute power.......if there was a a "Guantanamo" run by the government and you exposed it, what do you think would happen to you? You can't even expose a fruit factory without some government-back reprisal.