Ban expresses concern over democracy to PM
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Prayut assures implementation of road map will strengthen nation
UNITED NATIONS secretary- general Ban Ki-moon has told Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha that he remains concerned over the shrinking democratic space in Thailand.
Prayut had a bilateral meeting with the UN chief yesterday on the sidelines of the UN summit for the adoption of the Post-2015 Development Agenda in New York.
It was the first UN meeting for the general who staged a military coup to topple an elected civilian government in May last year.
Freedom of expression has been restricted since the coup and many dissidents have been arrested for criticising the government and the junta.
Ban emphasised the need for the government to uphold freedom of speech and assembly, according to a UN statement.
Prime Minister Prayut and Secretary-General Ban also discussed the road map leading to a general election, which is now scheduled for July 2017, the statement said.
Prayut told the UN chief that implementation of the road map would strengthen Thailand, enabling the country to comply with its obligations as a UN member effectively, according to the government’s deputy spokesman Werachon Sukondhapatipak.
The premier explained to Ban the need to delay an election as the draft constitution had been rejected by the National Reform Council, he said.
Ban expressed his condolences over the Erawan Shrine bombing in Bangkok which killed 20 people and wounded more than 100 in August.
He thanked Thailand for its leadership in addressing the recent refugee crisis in Southeast Asia and strongly encouraged Asean to discuss preventive measures to address the issue as thousands of Rohingya and Bangladeshis took dangerous boat trips in search of better lives in the region.
The UN chief congratulated Thailand on its election as chair of the G77 in 2016. He urged the country to further promote key issues of global relevance in this capacity, notably sustainable development and climate change.
Prayut has been in New York since last week to attend the development agenda summit, which wrapped up on Sunday, and the UN General Assembly which kicked off yesterday.
He delivered a speech at the conclusion of the development summit, in which the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development was adopted and placed people at its core.
“For people are the ultimate agents of change and hold the key to our sustainability. Our actions today will determine the survival of future generations,” he said.
The challenge for sustainable development is inequality, he said, proposing that member nations address problems by having effective laws, recognising the intrinsic worth of each and every human being, creating an environment that enables and sustains development and cooperation with all countries.
“Thailand also aims to strengthen partnerships for development with our friends from outside the region through South-South and trilateral cooperation,” he said.
Prayut yesterday had a corridor meeting with Chinese President Xi Jinping and a bilateral meeting with Antigua and Barbuda President Gaston Browne. Antigua and Barbuda is a country encompassing its two namesake islands and several smaller islands. It is located where the Caribbean Sea and Atlantic Ocean meet.
Meanwhile, nearly 500 Thais living in the US gathered in front of the UN headquarters for a second day to express their support for the Prayut government and asked him to stay on to reform the country before the election was held.
