Concern over NCPO 'request' to call off rights talks

“The cancellation of this event adds to other incidents indicating a deteriorating environment for human rights defenders in the country,” the press release stated. 

 

The National Council for Peace and Order (NCPO) reportedly called the organisers of the panel discussion on access to justice, which included Amnesty International Thailand and the Cross-Cultural Foundation, to ask that the event be called off. 

 

The event, which was scheduled to be held at the Foreign Correspondents’ Club of Thailand (FCCT) on Tuesday was eventually cancelled, but not before the organisers held a press conference criticising the NCPO of intimidating them and violating their right to freedom of expression. 

 

The UN regional office said that early last month, Amnesty International Thailand was similarly asked to call off a public event it had planned for the protection of civilians in Gaza. 

 

“OHCHR has raised concerns directly with the [Thai] government and reiterates its call to the government to comply with its international human-rights obligations. Thailand has ratified the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights, which guarantees rights to freedom of expression, association and assembly. Further, as a member of the United Nations, it should respect the United Nations Declaration on Human Rights Defenders, which provides that everyone has the right to conduct human rights work individually and in association with others and provides the right to discuss and bring public attention to human rights situations.”

 

Colonel Sirichan Ngathong, deputy spokesperson for the NCPO, said on Tuesday that the timing of the event was not right and that it should be delayed as it was not that much of an urgent matter. 

 

She also pointed out that people had other channels through which they can voice their thoughts, such as petitioning the National Reform Council or the government, adding that the topic of the seminar was “very sensitive” and that the organisers understood and complied without any problem. 

 

“As for expressing views, the NCPO does not force or forbid and accords fairness to all sides. Has there been any coercion in the past? The stress was more on requesting cooperation,” Sirichan said.

 

In a related development, a prominent human-rights activist yesterday sent an email to his colleagues asking if they would try to meet the NCPO and clarify what human-rights activities would be allowed under the “Thai democratic system”.