Critics on Friday rounded on the government over plans to ask United Nations secretary-general Ban Ki-moon to help mediate talks to resolve the political crisis.
The proposal was inviting foreign intervention in domestic affairs, they said.
United Nations secretary-general Ban Ki-moon (Photo by Pattanapong Hirunard)
Caretaker Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Surapong Tovichakchaikul revealed on Wednesday that officials had drawn up an letter to Mr Ban inviting him to help settle the dispute.
The Senate committee on foreign affairs on Friday met with the ministry’s permanent secretary Sihasak Phuangketkeow to discuss the matter.
Committee chairwoman, Pikulkaew Krairiksh, told the permanent secretary the plan would violate Article 2 (7) of the UN charter, and that the civil servants handling the issue would be held accountable.
The article indicates that the UN cannot intervene in matters within the domestic jurisdiction of its members or call on members to submit such matters to a settlement procedure under the UN charter, she said.
"The current problems are simply protests against graft or a corrupt government [and is a domestic matter]," Ms Pikulkaew said.
The panel also told Mr Sihasak the unrest has not yet reached a level which requires UN intervention.
Meanwhile, an anonymous letter circulating at the ministry, and shown on social media, expressed strong opposition to the minister’s proposal to invite Mr Ban.
It [the invitation] would mean Thais cannot solve their own problems and be an admission that the country’s political system and conflict management had failed, it says. The letter also urges the minister to hear concerns raised by his subordinates about the matter.
National Anti-Corruption Commission (NACC) chairman Panthep Klanarongran also said the crisis should be solved at home.
Mr Ban may offer his experience in dealing with conflicts in other countries, but the matter is a Thai problem and must be handled by us, the NACC chairman said.
A UN spokesman in New York confirmed Mr Ban did have a telephone conversation with Mr Surapong to discuss Thailand's political situation.
He said the secretary-general was closely monitoring the situation in Thailand and was deeply concerned about the recent violence.
Chuchai Supawong, former deputy chairman of the 2007 Constitution Drafting Committee, expressed outrage at Mr Surapong's proposal.
UN participation would lead the international community into believing that Thailand has become a failed state, which could undermine the security and credibility of the country, he said.
"I believe Thais, Foreign Ministry officials as well as security officers will not sit idly by and allow this disgraceful act to happen," Dr Chuchai said.