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

[connda]

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"The military overthrew a democratically elected government, repealed the constitution, and severely limited civil liberties," Kerry said.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.

1. The US democratically elected government is a farce; it is manipulated both at the polls and the electors. Civil liberties in America are increasingly a farce both with the citizens and police/federal and journalists and federal government. Civil liberties in the US remain, but it is an empty container, aping its former glory.

2. Americans no longer have the ability to change government- 6 of one, 1/2 dozen of the other, always the lesser of two evils while America moves inexorably toward oligarchy and corporatocracy.

3. The Obama administration is oppressive to a free press and this results in America's freedom of speech rating to be increasingly lowered. Contrary to what one might imagine freedom of the press in the US is way down the list compared to many other countries.

4. The abuses of the US federal and local governments into outright assaults on the 1st, 2nd, 4th, 5th, 10th, and 14th Amendments. The US government is the most intrusive stasi like State in the history of planet earth. Under the stalking horse of "for the children" "stop the bad guys" and other Emmanuel Goldstein cliches, the US has become as oppressive as East Germany was. The only difference is the mechanics of going through the motions of same ole same ole. In other words, business as usual is only a shadow of its former self.

5. The US has passed indefinite detention laws suspending habeus corpus.

There is not really much more to say. If I were Thailand I would be equally aghast at the presumption of this stalking evil to pass judgement. So, why does it matter. Because while the US has lost even a fig leaf of credibility around the world it still wields a big stick and has repeatedly demonstrated it will attack allies and befriend enemies.

Ditto!

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

what a bunch of BS - go crawl back in your hole. If it weren't for America, your country would probably speak German/Italian/Japanese right now.

Post WWII, the United States still had a semblance of a Constitutional Republic, and within Congress you could still find 'statesmen' who retained a moral compass and worked for the betterment of the US people as a whole.

No reason to rewrite arjunadawn's post. That's a pretty accurate description of where those who control America have taken her between post-WWII and the present. And being a post-WWII kid, I've been alive long enough to see and understand the change.

BTW, have you read much Saul Alinsky. Like most of your type of clones, you strike me as someone who's perused "Rules for Radicals" at least once. Base on the utter lack of intelligence in your inane, asinine, childish comment, I assume you know rule 5:

"Ridicule is man’s most potent weapon. There is no defense. It’s irrational. It’s infuriating. It also works as a key pressure point to force the enemy into concessions.”

Now go home and get your shinebox.

[bamnutsak]

Someone should inform the ~ 300,000+ Thais living in the U.S., the thousands of Thais attending schools, colleges, universities in the U.S.A., the thousands of Thais who travel to the U.S. for work and pleasure and the hundreds of Thais who daily congregate at the Consular section of the U.S. Embassy on Wireless Road, that the U.S. is bad, evil and dangerous.

I assume the three Americans who've emigrated to Thailand (citizens, not PR) understand what they've got themselves into?

[AYJAYDEE]

Not to justify there actions but to open some eyes how would have dealt with the people who were water boarded to get information to save countless innocent lives? Serve them tea and crumpettes? Or is it the you feel beheading people just? In War innocent people die a sad but true fact. If you never fought in combat then you can never understand.

america signed conventions. if they didnt intend to honour them, they should not have signed them. no one respects a phoney liar.

[AYJAYDEE]

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.

All of those things are sort of subjectively true. But note also that it is due to the work of other American institutions, both within and outside of the government, that you know this. Because of the broad American committment to fairness and reason, we are free to discuss such things and would be even within the United States itself. As a result real information, however unattractive it may be, is usually available. Concerned citizens like billd766, informed by this information, may agitate for change in either policy or leadership without fear of retribution from on high, and like-minded officials are largely free to join them. The ballot box ensures that in the long term they must be listened to.

Democratic systems are not perfect. Consider that well and truly proven. But they are self-correcting and capable of autonomous improvement. Which is a huge improvement over the alternative.

Princeton University disagrees with you. http://talkingpointsmemo.com/livewire/princeton-experts-say-us-no-longer-democracy

Princeton University had nothing officially to do with it. Two researchers there do not a university make.

universities are inanimate. their paid professors are not

[AYJAYDEE]

But the fact remains in the US you have a right to speak out against there actions with out fear, and if they fail to heed your voice you can vote them out of office or demand they be impeached. Also if guilty of crimes tried and convicted to serve jail time not moved to inactive post. Even a non citizen is afforded the right of free speech they just can't vote but can buy property and land.

vote them out of office?? lol. america is a one party state. tried and convicted? lol. nixon, north, reagan, bush, all criminals, all untouchable.

[thaibeachlovers]

The US has supported some of the worst dictatorships in the world eg Egypt, Chile, Nicaragua, Phillipines. How dare they attack a long time ally that is better off by far under the current arrangement than under the previous Taksin related corrupt governments.

Edited June 28, 2015 by thaibeachlovers

[LomSak27]

How dare they attack

What attack are you going on about ?

This was a "paper" and the only reason you even know it even exists is because The Nation is squawking about it

[Cardiff1963]

All a bit kettle and black

[smotherb]

Yeah , right ! The US owes you an explanation about their actions/authority, like Eli Wallach, in a very old western film who said " we don't need no ----ing badges " !

Actually, it was the 1948 Bogart movie, Treasure of Sierra Madre. The line was, "Badges, we don't need no stinking badges," and it was uttered by Alfonso Bedoya a Mexican actor who played the bandit leader.

https://www.google.co.th/search=cast+of+Treasure+of+Sierra+madre&oq=cast+of+Treasure+of+Sierra+madre&aqs=chrome..69i57.14505j0j7&sourceid=chrome&es_sm=93&ie=UTF-8

Well, I will say it again. Reading and comprehension are not used by a lot of TV readers. If you have to Google something just to try and prove someone wrong and/or humiliate them, at least read and absorb all the information, before you try. Having read the 'The Treasure of the Sierra Madre" (I still have the book) and seen the movie adaptation in black and white (several times). Those words you credit to the actor, were not the actual words he spoke. You are only quoting what you thought you needed, to further your agenda. So that is where you lack reading comprehension and the original poster quote was correct. The posters quote was from "The Magnificent Seven" starring Yul Brynner and Eli Wallach.

I saw Treasure of Sierra Madre in the movies as a kid and on TV several times; always liked the line--"Badges? We ain't got no badges. We don't need no badges. I don't have to show you any stinking badges" is the quote. Since the quote did not originate from Eli Wallach's character in Magnificent Seven, it needed to be corrected. Too bad it adversely affected you.

[MrBanks]

Im my humble opinion the USA has no right whatsoever to judge others. Not until they get their own house in order. If I were Thailand, I would not ask them to explain their position, I would tell them to take it and shove it where the sun don't shine.

[connda]

There is no doubt that America has done great things for the World in its past history and has used its influence and wealth to assist others. This is in the past . I remember growing up in the United States where I was proud that my country had helped make the World a safer place and stemmed the advance of Nazism and totalitarianism during the Second World War. My father was proud to serve with the British, Australians, New Zealander's and many others in a righteous quest for peace and tranquillity. The administration of Franklin Roosevelt and Sir Winston Churchill knew that our very survival depended upon mobilizing our populations. Where did it all go wrong. We all became prosperous, however we forgot one thing- we forgot that we are all in this World together. People become greedy and the greed became infectious. We started to lose our ethical compass and forget the things our parents taught us like compassion, be a good neighbour and being humble. We also forgot the golden rule. Now it's every person for themselves and the US government once the envy of the World has become the scourge of the World. Yes, America lost almost 3,000 people during the 9-11 attack but we lost a lot more since- our moral compass and the good part of those ideals that make a great people. We can't fix this until we admit it.

Ironic that the greatest generation grew up through hardship and sacrifice living through the Great Depression and WWII before coming home and building the nation. In their noble desire that their children never face the hardships they faced, they produced the baby boomers. The rest is history

Yeah agreed. And it's about time you Millennials move the hell out of the house and start a life of your own. And now ya'll are moving into 'leadership' positions. That should be a hoot!

Lol...I wish I were a Millennial. I was a young child when Eisenhower correctly warned of the direction the country was taking.

That would have made me about nine. Welcome to the club.

[LomSak27]

Im my humble opinion the USA has no right whatsoever to judge others. Not until they get their own house in order. If I were Thailand, I would not ask them to explain their position, I would tell them to take it and shove it where the sun don't shine.

Don't be so humble Mr Banks, let it out ...

However as with any country, the US can import and export as it see's fit and if it does so based on human rights reports and or "democracy" while this might be abhorrent, sleazy, despicable, and downright hypocritically evil, really you just have to deal with it.

In Thailand's case this is extremely important because the economy is in recession, tourism is down, we have a semi drought going and the US is Thailand 2nd largest export market, wedged in there between China and Japan. If they decide to compound the report by throwing a fit and telling them just where they can shove it. Likely the US will find other sellers of long grain rice, fish, farmed shrimp and processed textiles from any number of other countries to buy from.

This is what is called cutting off your nose to spite your face.

Chances are you have heard about it .. lol

[lostoday]

But the fact remains in the US you have a right to speak out against there actions with out fear, and if they fail to heed your voice you can vote them out of office or demand they be impeached. Also if guilty of crimes tried and convicted to serve jail time not moved to inactive post. Even a non citizen is afforded the right of free speech they just can't vote but can buy property and land.

vote them out of office?? lol. america is a one party state. tried and convicted? lol. nixon, north, reagan, bush, all criminals, all untouchable.

You are not even close on this one. RICHMOND, Va. — Former Virginia governor Bob McDonnell, who asked a judge Tuesday for mercy for his wife and himself, was sentenced to two years in federal prison for public corruption.

"Any time an elected official is sent to prison, it sends a message," said the FBI's lead agent in the investigation, Adam Lee.

Of Illinois' last seven governors, four have ended up going to prison. They are: --Rod Blagojevich -- Governor from 2002 through 2009, when he became the first Illinois governor in history to be impeached.

US politicians in prison see below.

http://www.washingtontimes.com/multimedia/collection/politicians-in-prison/

Presidents Andrew Johnson and Bill Clinton were impeached.

Thousands of US politicians have been thrown in the slammer. You really should google a bit before you post.

[lostoday]

Im my humble opinion the USA has no right whatsoever to judge others. Not until they get their own house in order. If I were Thailand, I would not ask them to explain their position, I would tell them to take it and shove it where the sun don't shine.

The USA has every right to judge. Thailand has every right not to listen. It's like on Thai Visa. A lot of posters here insult other people. Sometimes those same posters need help, with a visa question, or health question or transportation question.

[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.

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.

Where have I overstated anything here.

Simple yes or no answers please.

Did the USA not invade Iraq using the excuse of "Iraq had weapons of mass destruction"?

How many people were "arrested" by US Forces outside of the USA and transported to Guantanamo Bay and some are still there?

What civilian authority provided their defense lawyers?

Does the USA fly drones over Afghanistan, Pakistan, Yemen and Syria attacking "targets of opportunity" where innocent civilians are killed.

Are civilians regularly shot in the USA by civilian police forces?

Ask Julian Assange about Wikileaks?

It supports Egypt and Saudi Arabia which are far larger offenders of human rights than Thailand?

Yet with all that and probably a lot more it has the temerity to critisize other countries on how they treat people in their own countries.

[aussieinthailand]

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.

Yu'p your right, the US is guilty as charged, fair call! Serious double standards here and that is one reason why there are so many US bashers...

Now the OP say's the US needs to explain it's harsh report, Well the report is very well explained and documented with fact accompanied with evidence, So why do they need to "explain" again? has the current [junta] government refuted ANY of the claims made in the report and backed it up with evidence??? NO!!!

The problem is the [junta] government don't like being criticized that's why they criminalized it, and the don't like the idea that other countries can criticize it and they have no power to stop it unless they change their repressive policies, so it's explained away as they don't understand Thainess, Thailand is special,,,,,,,,,,

[kovaltech]

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.

@ Bamnutsak

As Obama said lately to someone in the during his speech... "You'r in my house..." so, living in Thailand, i respect the house rules of Thailand...

Freedom of speech in USA ? Try to speak a foreign language with your wife when you are at the Immigration check in...

Try to exercise you'r rights against an police officer who disagree with your rights... ( many movie's on youtube )

The basics of the USA are, without any doubt, to be an example of good..

But so many bad examples comes in the open. So, clean your house first... Thailand is cleaning his own house already... and they are doing a good job...

[lostoday]

Where have I overstated anything here.

Simple yes or no answers please.

Did the USA not invade Iraq using the excuse of "Iraq had weapons of mass destruction"?

How many people were "arrested" by US Forces outside of the USA and transported to Guantanamo Bay and some are still there?

What civilian authority provided their defense lawyers?

Does the USA fly drones over Afghanistan, Pakistan, Yemen and Syria attacking "targets of opportunity" where innocent civilians are killed.

Are civilians regularly shot in the USA by civilian police forces?

Ask Julian Assange about Wikileaks?

It supports Egypt and Saudi Arabia which are far larger offenders of human rights than Thailand?

Yet with all that and probably a lot more it has the temerity to critisize other countries on how they treat people in their own countries.

Why not? Thailand is the fiddlier and the USA is paying for the tune. If Thailand does not want to fiddle it can stop fiddling.

Since when do a cops morals have to be beyond reproach? A cop rode up to a guy riding a motorcycle without a helmet and wrote the guy a ticket. The policeman was not wearing a helmet when he caught the guy. Do you think the fact that the cop was not wearing a helmet is a good defense? Come on.......

[off road pat]

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.

All the points you have noted are so true.....! The US should be the last country to teach others !!!! regarding it's own shortcomings...!

[lostoday]

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.

All the points you have noted are so true.....! The US should be the last country to teach others !!!! regarding it's own shortcomings...!

Good point if the thread was about the shortcomings of the USA.

There was an ax murder going on and the police told the murderer to stop and the murderer said you are the last one to tell me to stop because your penal system executes people.

[meltingpot2015]

The report has clearly hit a nerve.

[TheAppletons]

Where have I overstated anything here.

Simple yes or no answers please.

Did the USA not invade Iraq using the excuse of "Iraq had weapons of mass destruction"?

How many people were "arrested" by US Forces outside of the USA and transported to Guantanamo Bay and some are still there?

What civilian authority provided their defense lawyers?

Does the USA fly drones over Afghanistan, Pakistan, Yemen and Syria attacking "targets of opportunity" where innocent civilians are killed.

Are civilians regularly shot in the USA by civilian police forces?

Ask Julian Assange about Wikileaks?

It supports Egypt and Saudi Arabia which are far larger offenders of human rights than Thailand?

Yet with all that and probably a lot more it has the temerity to critisize other countries on how they treat people in their own countries.

Uh....no? Yes? (Are these even yes/no questions?)

You should start a thread about how much America sucks. Oh right....this is a forum about Thailand.

[off road pat]

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.

All the points you have noted are so true.....! The US should be the last country to teach others !!!! regarding it's own shortcomings...!

Good point if the thread was about the shortcomings of the USA.

There was an ax murder going on and the police told the murderer to stop and the murderer said you are the last one to tell me to stop because your penal system executes people.

No, but the ax murderer is not teaching anybody how to be nice....? that would be hypocritical....no?

[lostoday]

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.

All the points you have noted are so true.....! The US should be the last country to teach others !!!! regarding it's own shortcomings...!

Good point if the thread was about the shortcomings of the USA.

There was an ax murder going on and the police told the murderer to stop and the murderer said you are the last one to tell me to stop because your penal system executes people.

No, but the ax murderer is not teaching anybody how to be nice....? that would be hypocritical....no?

Teaching? The U.S. Department of State submits reports on all countries receiving assistance and all United Nations member states to the U.S. Congress in accordance with the Foreign Assistance Act of 1961 and the Trade Act of 1974.

http://www.state.gov/j/drl/rls/hrrpt/

Teaching? No. It is a report for the US Congress.

[Dogbreath]

Fact: America imprisons more of it's citizens than any other country on the planet. i.e. 2.2 million people in America are in prison compared to 1.5 million in China. (you may wish to consider that China has more than 4 times the population).

America also holds the world record for death by police.

Just a couple of little factoids for those sitll living with the idea that America is a force for good

Americans are imprisoned for relatively trivial violations of law, unlike say, China who whips its citizens into line with a repressive regime, thereby obviating the need for prisons. China also kills its citizens at a far greater rate, so there is no need for imprisonment for those lawbreakers.

I am no champion of America's increasingly militarized police forces, but your statement does not stand up to any kind of scrutiny.

Having said all that, America's crime rate has been dropping dramatically over the past twenty years. (FBI statistics)

You seem to be a cranky Leftist just getting your daily dose of vitriol slagging the US as a good little apparatchik.

[dotpoom]

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

Am here 14 years now, never was afraid to go anywhere in the country.

[Emster23]

Some may feel safer in Thailand than USA, but seems numbers would indicate otherwise. Homicide numbers from firearms (admittedly from 2002) showed total of 20,000 in Thailand vs 9,300 in USA. Per capita works out to 314 for LOS and 32.5 for USA per million. Yes police shoot citizens, who often turn out to be criminals who want to shoot them. It makes the news when exceptions (which seem to be happening far too much) occur. Are any of you out protesting the non arrest and non trial of that police officer in Phuket a few years ago who walked into bar and shot dead that man? No one dares to testify. I wonder why? Those of you who think it is great that traffic laws aren't enforced or result in small pay off haven't been in ICU and seen friend dying due to that lack of enforcement (cause of accident fined 1500 baht, worked for government). Maybe you don't want to live in nanny state and prefer soiled nappies....

I would love to see Bush and friends tried for murder regarding whole Iraq mess, perhaps Obama too. Suggest book "Prosecution of George W Bush for Murder" by ex DA Bugliosi for details.

Comparison saying rights in USA worse than East Germany was is preposterous. Prison populations in US insane, great percentage due to drug laws. Obama is quietly granting clemency to many (not enough) over these charges. If population would stop trying to keep up with Kardashians and took some interest in government, they do have the power to change the political game through ballot box and Constitutional amendments. Freedom of press and speech still exist there (I could be put in jail in Thailand if I were to insult Obama in perfectly legal manner in USA, but here LM law includes "foreign heads of state".)

Enough defense of USA. This report is about Thailand, as so many voices have said. Attacking USA is tacit admission that you can't refute the allegations in report.

[pattayasnowman]

"while also causing more than 900 people to be temporarily detained without charge."

Oh so what about Guantanamo Bay Detention Camp .

779 prisoners have been held at Guantánamo since the prison opened on January 11, 2002.

While this does not excuse any other countries Human Rights abuses - Countries that have worst Human Rights offenses should clean up their own act first before they have the right to criticise others

[TheAppletons]

"while also causing more than 900 people to be temporarily detained without charge."

Oh so what about Guantanamo Bay Detention Camp .

779 prisoners have been held at Guantánamo since the prison opened on January 11, 2002.

While this does not excuse any other countries Human Rights abuses - Countries that have worst Human Rights offenses should clean up their own act first before they have the right to criticise others

Those f@%$king Castro brothers.

[phoenixdoglover]

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.

Where have I overstated anything here.

Simple yes or no answers please.

It is not possible to answer simply yes or no to your questions.

Did the USA not invade Iraq using the excuse of "Iraq had weapons of mass destruction"?

Yes. And a massive debate erupted thereafter in the US in which tens of millions of people vociferously opposed the invasion, but were ignored. (George W Bush, sigh)

How many people were "arrested" by US Forces outside of the USA and transported to Guantanamo Bay and some are still there?

About 800. Remaining now about 115. It's really tough to find anyone who will take them. There's a reason for that.

What civilian authority provided their defense lawyers?

A variety of lawyers provided defense, mostly coordinated by the Center for Constitutional Rights

Does the USA fly drones over Afghanistan, Pakistan, Yemen and Syria attacking "targets of opportunity" where innocent civilians are killed.

Of course, but as you well know their intent is not to kill civilians. The alternative is using live planes, with similar results, or doing nothing. Go ahead, argue for that.

Are civilians regularly shot in the USA by civilian police forces?

Yes, there are approximately 600-700 deaths per year caused by the police. In most cases, these deaths are found to be "justified". However, the whole guns issue, which is the major reason US police are using force so often, is itself a "Rights" issue - in this case "the right to bear arms".

Ask Julian Assange about Wikileaks?

Did you talk to him? No? I would assume he knew he would get in trouble when he started publishing stolen documents.

It supports Egypt and Saudi Arabia which are far larger offenders of human rights than Thailand?

I am sure the US provides no foreign aid to Saudi Arabia, but does permit arms sales by US companies. Just about every country sucks up to the Saudis, for obvious reasons. As for Egypt, your perceptions are likely out of date.

Yet with all that and probably a lot more it has the temerity to critisize other countries on how they treat people in their own countries.

The State Department writes the reports because the US Congress ordered them to. Why? Because the Congress wants to (in most cases) reduce foreign aid and other activities directed toward countries with poor human rights records. In other words, the reports serve a useful purpose.

See my comments above.

You do overstate things. For example, by describing the US as a country which also tramples on the rights of its own citizens

you give an erroneous impression of what life is like for people in the US. In comparison to Thailand, the following attributes of the US are far superior at present:

- Freedom of association and freedom of assembly

- Freedom of speech

- Freedom of the press

- Right to vote

- Right to public specification of criminal charges

- Right to be tried in a civilian court

So, get all hot and bothered about the US if you will; but that's beside the point, and a weak rebuttal.