Regime irked over Europe rights rebuke

Regime irked over Europe rights rebuke

Thailand has expressed disappointment with a recent European Parliament resolution that urges Thai authorities to address what it says is a deteriorating human rights situation in the country.

The European Parliament’s press release says the resolution, which was supported by 581 to 35 votes during its Thursday session in the Belgian capital of Brussels, is non-binding.

However, the Foreign Ministry said on its website on Friday the resolution shows Europe’s “misunderstanding” of the government’s work to ensure that politics and the right to liberty remain on the right track.

In the 23-point resolution, human rights abuses are highlighted, with the parliament expressing worries over the “deteriorating human rights situation in Thailand following the illegal coup of May 2014”, according to the press release.

One of its calls was that the parliament wants Thai authorities “to overturn convictions and sentences, to withdraw charges and to release individuals and media operators” who have been prosecuted for peaceful gatherings or airing their opinions, the release says.

But the ministry argued on its website that the Thai government is aware of its commitment to human rights protection and introduced legal approaches to promote equality and steer away from violations.

The ministry's explanation was earlier mentioned by Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha while he was addressing the United Nations General Assembly in New York late last month on human rights development issues.

The premier said the government has enforced various laws to protect homeless people, provide equal access to resources and public services and secure gender equality.

In fact, according to the ministry, the European Parliament's resolution shows it recognises the value of the Thai Gender Equality Act, which took effect in March this year to safeguard the rights of lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and intersex citizens (LGBTI), as well as the government’s measures to solve labour rights abuses in the fishing industry.

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