Statement by the Delegation of Thailand

H.E. Mr. Sek Wannamethee

Ambassador and Permanent Representative

Item 5: Interactive Dialogue with Assistant Secretary General
on the UNSG Report on reprisals

on Wednesday, 19 September 2018 at 12.00 – 14.30 hrs.

  Mr. President,

While Thailand values the cautionary function of the report, we wish to emphasize the importance of a report’s methodology in evidence collection and assessment, as well as its accountability and transparency. The allegations towards Thailand prompt concerns over the accuracy and integrity of the report. The coincident timing without credible related evidence should not suggest the negative intention or action of the Government including the officials involved towards human rights defenders in Thailand. The report’s assessment is thus misleading and regrettably based on a prejudiced collage of facts.

The procedures concerning Mr. Chamroensuksakul and Ms. Charoensiri were not due to their human rights works or cooperation with the UN mechanisms but merely regular criminal justice procedures to which the person or the family member was alleged, even before their cooperation with the UN mechanisms.

Thailand remains open to engage and give full cooperation with the UN system.  
The Government’s invitation for the official visit of the Working Group on Business and Human Rights last March, as well as our engagement with a number of special procedures during their unofficial visits – the most recent ones including the SR on the freedom of opinions and expression and the SR on freedom of religion or belief are a firm testimony to our genuine devotion to cooperation with the UN mechanisms. The Government was also open for these Special Procedures to meet freely and unimpededly with any civil society members during their visits to Thailand.

In addition, recognising the significant contribution of human rights defenders to the promotion and protection of human rights and the potential risks they face, the Government, led by the Ministry of Justice, strives to create safe and enabling environment for human rights defenders through a number of measures such as the development of the Handbook with the OHCHR Regional Office in Bangkok and the establishment of a working group to develop measures to further protect them. The protection of human rights defenders is also included in the draft 4^th National Human Rights Plan to be effective next year.