Don defends police treatment of protesters

Don defends police treatment of protesters

Yellow-clad royalists gather at Lumpini

Foreign Minister Don Pramudwinai said on Tuesday the international community understood why authorities had dispersed the street protesters at the Oct 16 rally, despite criticism by three UN human rights experts.

Mr Don said the matter had been raised during a meeting between a Thai diplomat in Geneva and the director of the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR), who was aware that Thailand was complying with the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights (ICCPR).

According to Mr Don, the political situation was being monitored by foreign media outlets, the business community and international organisations in several countries.

He said there was nothing unusual about criticism being expressed by international non-government organisations such as Amnesty International or Human Rights Watch -- it was their task to monitor the situation and write up reports if something out of the ordinary took place.

"But there is no statement from officials from any country," Mr Don said. "This is because they see the situation is being addressed and in compliance with international standards. They are just following the situation without issuing any statements, except Australia's travel advisory for their citizens.

"Some people are asking if the handling of the protesters on Oct 16 is uncommon and violent but many countries don't think so because in their countries it's more than Thais. They're aware of this."

Meanwhile, yellow-clad royalists converged on Tuesday evening at the statue of King Rama VI at the entrance to Lumpini Park in Bangkok for a show of solidarity and support for the monarchy.

The gathering was organised by Taya Teepsuwan, a former core member of the now-defunct People's Democratic Reform Committee (PDRC) and wife of Education Minister Nataphol Teepsuwan.

Tul Sittisomwong told those present to go to the Japanese and French embassies and ask them to look into how Pavin Chachavalpongpun and Somsak Jeamteerasakul are being treated. Both men are facing lese majeste charges.

Warong Dechgitvigrom, leader of the royalist Thai Pakdee group, asked members to turn up in greater numbers on Saturday at a hotel in Nonthaburi.

Earlier on Tuesday, a group of pro-monarchy activists met in front of the United States embassy in Bangkok, holding signs accusing the US of hybrid warfare and interfering in Thailand's internal affairs.

One of the signs read: "Stop hybrid war. Please return peace to the world."

Another, addressed to ambassador Michael George DeSombre, said: "Your job in Hong Kong was good but it doesn't work for Thailand."

Former singer Haruethai "Ooh" Muangboonsri, who led the group, said they wanted to relay a message to the US to respect the internal affairs of Thailand.

She said there were attempts to attack the royal institution and divide the Thai people. The royal institution was key to national security, she said.

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