Statement by the Delegation of Thailand

H.E. Mr. Sek Wannamethee

Ambassador and Permanent Representative

Item 4: Interactive dialogues with the Fact Finding Mission (oral update) and Special Rapporteur on the situation of human rights in Myanmar

at the 37^th Session of the Human Rights Council

on Monday, 12 March 2018

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Mr. Vice President,

Thailand associates itself with the ASEAN joint statement and thanks the Fact Finding Mission and the Special Rapporteur for their updates.

We believe in continuing dialogue and building trust and confidence among all stakeholders to find durable solutions for Myanmar.  It is in this spirit that we facilitated the visits to Thailand by the Special Rapporteur and the Fact Finding Mission.

We view that peace is an important building bloc to sustainable development in Myanmar. Therefore, we welcome the recent signing of NCA and hope this would create a conducive environment leading to a successful outcome of
the next Panglong Conference.

On the situation in Rakhine, we encourage constructive dialogues between Myanmar and Bangladesh to expedite the repatriation process in order to avoid “a crisis within a crisis” due to the arrival of monsoon season. We also encourage Myanmar to continue making necessary preparations for an eventual voluntary, dignified and safe return and resettlement of those displaced from Rakhine. We welcome the work done so far by the UEHRD and are pleased to learn that the Government of Myanmar is currently under the discussion with UNHCR in this regard.

Thailand will continue to work closely with Myanmar, Bangladesh, and the international community towards long-term solutions to promote peace, sustainable development, and human security for all communities in Rakhine.

Lastly, while we remain committed to working with all special procedures, we feel that the recommendation for Thailand relating to displaced persons along Thai-Myanmar border goes beyond the Special Rapporteur’s mandate. Nevertheless, we wish to reiterate that we have been taking care of those displaced from Myanmar in the nine temporary shelters for over four decades as well as preparing them for their eventual return to their homeland in a safe, voluntary, dignified and sustainable manner.

I thank you, Mr. Vice President.