New constitution must not be a smokescreen for ongoing abuses : AI
While Thailand’s new constitution set the stage for general election and lays out wide range of rights and liberties, it did little to correct the dire human rights situation in the country, Amnesty International said Thursday.
Champa Patel, AI’s director for Southeast Asia and the Pacific said that it is calling on the Thai government to turn over a new leaf and embrace its human rights obligations.
“Authorities should drop criminal proceedings against human rights defenders and peaceful dissenters, and repeal the raft of oppressive laws that have propped up the relentless assault on freedoms since the 2014 military coup.”
“Thailand’s military government retains its carte blanche authority to rule by dictating until elections are held, and future governments will have free rein to restrict human rights on various vaguely-defined grounds.
“The new constitution also keeps in place the full gamut of orders and decrees imposed by the military government since the 2014 coup, which have facilitated widespread human rights violations, from muzzling freedom of expression and peaceful assembly to torture and other ill-treatment.
“The Thai authorities have already stated that there will be no loosening of the ban on political activities, dimming any hopes that genuine human rights change might be on the horizon, Champa said in a statement.
The statement came after Thailand’s new constitution was promulgated in a ceremony presided over by His Majesty the King at the Ananta Samakhom Throne Hall.