Thailand claims international concern over its coup has eased, but vows to put more effort into selling the idea further in Latin America and Africa.

Norachit: Justifying coup to UN members

It believes these countries could help it win a seat on the United Nations Human Rights Council. 

Thai ambassador and permanent representative to the United Nations Mission in New York, Norachit Singhaseni, said he had explained the Thai political situation to the UN's members, even though the UN has not raised additional concerns over the situation.

“We have chosen to clarify the situation with those who were interested and who expressed concerns,’’  Mr Norachit told the Bangkok Post.

Foreign Ministry permanent secretary Sihasak Phuangketkeow has asked Mr Norachit to focus on briefing the ambassadors from Latin America and Africa.

He will explain why the coup was necessary, and the National Council for Peace and Order's plans to restore democracy.

A diplomatic source said Thailand is campaigning for a seat on the HRC, which will hold a vote in November.

Other rivals for the seat include Qatar, Bangladesh, India, and Indonesia, but the information obtained by the Thai diplomatic mission suggests Thailand's chances could be hurt by the coup.

In recent briefings, Mr Norachit told his foreign counterparts the coup was staged out of necessity since the political violence was about to get out of control.

Military intelligence suggested trouble was on the way, concerns underscored by the large number of heavy weapons seized by the military since the coup.

The number of clashes which took place at political rallies, leading to deaths and injuries, were another factor which persuaded the military to step in.

Mr Norachit said the Thai coup was different from similar coups in other countries, including ways in which the ruling NCPO has dealt with dissidents. 

“Most of them express concerns about detentions of political dissidents leading to torture, arrests without trial and trial by the military court, which are common practices following coups in other countries. But it was different in Thailand,’’ he said.

Mr Norachit said Thailand was given a chance to clarify its political situation to the UN meeting, while African countries which had suffered military coups in the past were not given such an opportunity due to heavy lobbying by their African country peers.

He said the government was having some success in easing foreign countries' concerns, partly because coups were not a new thing to Thailand.

He said Thailand would continue clarifying the situation with foreign governments, partly to ease their concerns, but also because the government was interested in a seat on the Human Rights Council.

“I think other countries have understood Thailand because this was not the first time a military coup has taken place in the country. But following the coup, they were afraid that it might violate human rights,’’ he said.