Govt ‘deeply disappointed’ at HRW report

“The Thai government feels deeply disappointed in the report. It is not accurate and does not reflect the progress of reform and the government’s determination to stick with road map to strengthen democracy,” said Foreign Ministry spokesman Sek Wannamethee. 

In the 659-page World Report 2016 released on Wednesday, HRW reviewed human rights situations in 2015 in 90 countries around the globe.

“Despite initial promises to restore democracy within one year, the junta in 2015 exercised increasingly dictatorial power and continued to systematically repress fundamental rights and freedoms,” said the report in its chapter on Thailand.

“Instead of paving the way for a return to democratic civilian rule as promised in its so-called ‘road map’, the junta has created a political system that seems designed to prolong its grip on power,” it said. 

Sek argued that his government had committed to holding a general election in June next year, with an elected government to start working in July.

On March 31, 2015, enforcement of the Martial Law Act was replaced with Article 44 of the interim constitution, which handed unlimited administrative, legislative and judiciary powers to Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha in his capacity as NCPO chairman. The interim constitution also absolves from legal liability anyone carrying out actions on behalf of the NCPO.

The HRW report detailed many cases it claimed were rights violations, including the junta ban on political gatherings, the arrest of dozens of people on charges of sedition, and the suspension of media outlets.

Sek maintained the government’s line on the matter: “We affirm that the government respects freedom of expression and human rights as it is evident that the media can freely criticise the government.”

“But in a few cases, it was necessary to take action to safeguard peace and order and prevent division in society as we are reforming our country and bringing about reconciliation,” he said. 

The report said that, “Prayut has made lese majeste prosecutions a top priority of the NCPO”. Since the coup, 56 lese majeste cases have been filed, 43 against individuals for online commentary, it said. 

The junta had also enforced arbitrary detention, summoning at least 751 people for questioning since the coup in May 2014. It had also issued arrest warrants and revoked the passports of at least 10 exiled dissidents for failing to respond to summonses, it said.

On the refugee issue, the report accused Thai authorities of treating asylum seekers as illegal migrants and subjecting them to arrest and deportation. Thai authorities continue to violate the international prohibition against refoulement (forcible return) by forcing refugees and asylum seekers back to countries where they are likely to face persecution, it said. 

Defending the HRW report’s criticism of the use of military courts to try civilians, Sek said that only four groups of suspects were treated in this way – those charged with security offences, with lese majeste, with weapons offences and with violating NCPO orders.

Meanwhile the National Human Rights Commission of Thailand had been downgraded to observer status after a review by the International Coordinating Committee (ICC).