The Union for Civil Liberty, an advocate of human rights based in Thailand, has issued a statement calling for the National Legislative Assembly to reject the seven nominees for the National Human Rights Commission, because most are not qualified for the job.
The seven nominees for the NHRC were chosen on July 21 by a selection committee whose members include Direk Ingkaninant, president of the Supreme Court, Nurak Mapraneet, president of the Constitutional Court, and Pornpetch Wichitcholachai, president of the NLA.
The seven nominees selected by the committee are: Chatsuda Deeying, Boworn Yasinthorn, Prakairat Tanteerawong, Wat Tingsamit, Supachai Thanomsap, Surachet Sathitniramai, and Angkhana Neelapaijit.
The UCL said in the statement the selection made was contrary to the Paris Principles for the promotion and protection of human rights, which were defined at an international workshop in Paris on Oct 7-9, 1991.
It said most of the nominees selected are not qualified as they have no background in human rights and the selection was made without credible criteria to check the qualifications of the candidates.
"It may be concluded that the selection was made regardless of the principle of good governance, and it has not been clearly explained to the public how those selected have the qualifications required by the law," said the statement.
Without qualified members, the NHRC could be downgraded as a national human rights organisation recognised by the United Nations, it said.
The UCL called for the NLA to reject the NHRC nominees. Its statement was signed by 25 rights organisations and eight individuals.
On July 24, Human Rights Watch made a similar call to the NLA, saying most of the nominees are not qualified and the selection process does not meet international standards.
It said only one candidate, Angkhana Neelapaijit, has a background in human rights while another, Boworn Yasinthorn, has publicly supported the repression of fundamental freedoms and opposed universal human rights principles.
Mr Boworn is the leader of a volunteer citizen group to protect the monarchy.