Abhisit advises PM to be cautious in his speech in NY

Abhisit said that Prayut’s typical tongue-in-cheek remarks could send confusing signals to the international community, adding that this was a good opportunity for the premier to explain Thailand’s situation to the world. 

Prayut, who left for the US last night, is scheduled to speak at the General Assembly next Tuesday. However, Abhisit said he was not certain whether Prayut’s explanations would help improve Thailand’s post-coup image.

“The prime minister should be more careful. On many occasions, he has spoken somewhat jokingly with the Thai media and caused misunderstanding among foreigners that he is denying media freedom,” the Democrat Party leader said. 

Prayut has also agreed to give an interview to Voice of America (VOA), the US govern-ment’s official external broadcast institution, while in New York, a source from the Foreign Ministry said yesterday. Meanwhile, another source said some other US-based media outlets would also be interviewing Prayut. 

The premier’s stay in New York is expected to be marked by protests from both pro- and anti-coup groups. However, Abhisit said Prayut should not be worried because they would be exercising their freedom of expression, though the former premier said the demonstrators should abide by the law and not use violence or inappropriate behaviour otherwise it would hurt the country’s reputation. Abhisit added that the premier should announce his political road map if he confident that it will be implemented on time. Also, he said, this was a good chance for the prime minister to shed light on His Majesty’s sufficiency-economy philosophy. 

Meanwhile, Human Rights Watch yesterday called on world leaders at the UN General Assembly to urge Prayut to end “repression of human rights” and quickly restore democratic civilian rule. 

“Thailand’s junta leader should get the welcome he deserves at the UN, which is an earful about the junta’s abysmal human rights record,” said Brad Adams, Asia director of the New York-based organisation. 

“The leaders attending the General Assem-bly should use their meetings with General Prayut to urge an end to the junta’s wave of repression and restore democratic civilian rule,” he said in a statement released yesterday. Thailand is campaigning for a non-permanent seat on the UN Security Council in an election that will be held in October 2016. While Thailand has promised collaboration with the UN, the junta has frequently raised what it terms Thailand’s “unique conditions” to deflect criticism of its human rights violations, the statement said. Its “roadmap” for a return to democratic rule has repeatedly been pushed back.

The General Assembly presents an important opportunity for concerned governments and UN officials to urge Prayut to act immediately on a broad range of human rights concerns, including the military’s sweeping and unchecked powers, HRW said. 

“By being forthright in raising concerns, concerned governments can help reverse the human rights crisis in Thailand and put the country on the path toward civilian democratic rule,” Adams said.