Bangkok Post : PM meets activists over cruelty claims

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PM meets activists over cruelty claims

Published: 19/01/2009 at 02:00 PM
Online news: Breakingnews

Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva on Monday assured Thai human rights groups of the government’s intention to clear all cases concerning alleged human rights violations including maltreatment of Rohingya boat people.

Mr Abhisit gave the assurance during his meeting with members of the National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) including Somchai Homla-or, chairman of the Campaign for Human Rights, Angkhana Neelapaichit, a human rights advocate, and Gothom Arya, director of Mahidol University’s peace study centre who called on him at Government House this morning.

Mr Somchai said after the meeting that the NHRC urged the government to be patient and refrain from use of violence in solving problems because social conflict in the past always led to human rights violation, and the prime minister was open to all suggestions.

Concerning the situation in the South, Mr Abhisit is interested in an Amnesty International’s report on systematic torture and beating up of suspects. Moreover, the government wants to limit use of special laws, including the law for administration in emergency situation and martial law, in the three troubled southern border provinces, Mr Somchai said.

According to Mr Somchai, the prime minister vowed to use these laws only as necessary.

Mr Abhisit also promised to push for agencies concerned to look into all human rights violation cases on which little progress has been made during the past four to five years. They include the cases on drug-related killings and assassination of human rights lawyer Somchai Neelapaichit.

Concerning allegations that the navy had ill-treated Rohingya boat people, Mr Abhit said he has ordered all agencies concerned to investigate, said Mr Somchai. The NHRC urged the government to clarify this case to set a precedence regarding democratic development and human rights promotion to other countries in the region, he added.

Mr Gothom, meanwhile, said he urged the government to clear this matter. On an observation raised by the military that the illegal entry of the Rohingya boat people might be for some clandestine activities that might affect national security, Mr Gothom said no matter what the real motive might be Thai authorities are duty-bound to adhere to the human rights principle and guarantee safety for them.

Since photos of the Rohingyas having their hands and feet tied up are evidence of human rights violation, the government should investigate to see if Thai authorities had overacted, Mr Gothom said.

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Evald Berntson

Discussion 11 : 20/01/2009 at 12:09 PM11
Thai power structure defined:
Invisible hand > PAD > Armed forces > Democratic party > Government > Bangkok Governor > Bangkok people > UDD, Thaksin and his supporters.
Sathorn P

Discussion 10 : 20/01/2009 at 10:45 AM10
This is the most disgusting piece of news I have ever heard of Thailand. This is of course nothing new and it has been going on for decades. Thai army, navy and police are notorious for such human rights violations. This is the first time it is news all over the world. I think it is time for the tourists to keep away from a country who treat their poor neighbours like animals.
Udom

Discussion 9 : 19/01/2009 at 07:44 PM9
How can we blame this poor puppet, Abhisit? He only does what he was told to do. He does not want to be ousted so soon.

The root cause of this is the unprofessional conduct of Thai military.

Thai military has never been a professional force. It’s their as a tool for royalist dictator.

Thai politics is very complex. There are dark forces in every action. What you see is not what it really is.

Thai people would be very happy to have writer-researchers publish the secret of Thai politics and its dark forces. You will help 65 million Thai people greatly.
michael#2

Discussion 8 : 19/01/2009 at 07:34 PM8
Do you see the similarities between stacking people with hands tied behind in the south, and the sending out to sea, people also with their hands tied?
Joy

Discussion 7 : 19/01/2009 at 06:42 PM7
My dear "Love", are u paid by the PAD to slander other people?You comment is hateful and is an insult to me. However, I guess u simply do not know how to argue yr points properly or are simply ignorant, so I guess I need to 'educate' u a bit.
If u want to know my view of Thasin: look up these works by Thai and foreign academics. They discuss what Thaksin had done while he was in power, mostly what's detrimental and destructive to Thailand
- Thak Chaloemtiarana: "Distinctions with a Difference": In this work Thak points out a number of parallels and differences between Thaksin and Sarit Thanarat, mainly the two men's dark side e.g. authoritarianism, corruption, etc.
-Pasuk and Baker : Thaksin: the Business of politics
- recently Thanet Aphornsuvan also writes abt how the Thaksin regime helped to escalate the violence in southern Thailand
-You can also check out on-line articles about how the Taskin gov condoned extra-judicial killings and heavy-handed suppression of sourthern insurgency..
I guess everyone with common sense (except u?) knows enough of the dark side of Thaksin and his reign so there is no need to elaborate on that.
SPEAK FOR YOURSELF ONLY

Discussion 6 : 19/01/2009 at 06:00 PM6
Khun Khemara, you wrote "We all highly doubt Abhisit would go reprimanding the army as he owed his job to them basically..."

You said 'we'. You have no right to speak on my behalf or to assume what other people think Khu Khemara.

You do have every right to state your own views and opinions but you have no right whatever to speak on my or anybody else's behalf.

In fact Khun Khemera, it's quite possible that the new government could achieve a level of public respect whereby the military does have to listen to the new PM. Think about it, times have changed, a lot.
Jacko

Discussion 5 : 19/01/2009 at 05:27 PM5
It's the same guy, I know his writing. He's a paid farang living in Thailand with a thai wife and kid.
John Wynn

Discussion 4 : 19/01/2009 at 05:15 PM4
Today Thia military, tomorrow another country willl push these Rohingya unlucky people to the sea. Instead of blaming Thialand, why not we find out the main culprits who have created inhuman atmosphere for these people in their native country.
Love

Discussion 3 : 19/01/2009 at 04:56 PM3
Joy + khemara = maew PR machine
Joy

Discussion 2 : 19/01/2009 at 03:46 PM2
Khemara: i agree with you. Those proud military men always think that they are above everyone and never stop messing up with politics, obviously for self-serving purpose. Sad thing is that this gov is too indebted to the military and the PAD ,and the PM himself is highly conservative (despite some weak attempts to show his 'concern for human rights issues')