EU ramps up pressure on Thailand

The European Union has stated that the drafting for a new constitution in Thailand is "crucial" for the future of the troubled country. It says the process of drawing up a new charter, or constitution, must be "fruitful" and give due consideration to "freedom of expression and assembly".

A new constitution is needed after a military appointed council rejected the junta's own charter earlier this month. The delay means that elections, promised for next spring, will not be held until June 2017.

As the country's military junta set about rewriting a new charter, the EU delegation to Thailand issued a statement this week urging the junta to speed up the timetable for a return to democracy.

The statement reads: "The EU delegation reaffirms the EU's strong commitment to the Thai people with whom the EU has strong and longstanding political, economic and cultural ties and people to people contacts. As a friend and partner of Thailand, the EU has repeatedly called for the democratic process to be restored."

It goes on: "At a time when the drafting process of a new constitution is starting, the EU delegation again calls upon the Thai government to respect freedom of speech and assembly.

Only a full and free public debate in which also critical voices can be heard will allow for true reform and reconciliation.

"The EU delegation believes that the rule of law and the protection and promotion of

human rights are crucial elements for stability and progress and calls upon the Thai authorities to abide by Thailand's obligations under the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights."

Later, the EU sought to clarify its position regarding Thailand with Maja Kocijancic, spokesperson for the European External Action Service (EEAS), telling this website: "The local EU statement indicates the framework conditions required for this crucial exercise to be fruitful, especially freedom of expression and assembly."

She made it clear that the statement "has no bearing" on the IUU (illegal fishing) process involving Thailand. Bangkok has been given until the end of October to comply with IUU regulations or face possible further EU sanctions.

On the IUU issue, she said, "At this point in time, the dialogue with Thailand is still ongoing. Therefore, the Commission has not taken any decision and cannot predict the outcome of the analysis."

The political instability in Thailand comes at a time of growing concern over the health of the revered but frail 87-year-old King Bhumibol Adulyadej.

A sign of the censorship that has increased in the country since last year's military coup came earlier this week when the New York Times said its local printer in Thailand had refused to print its Asia edition because it featured an article on the ailing king.

The paper said the printer found the front page article "too sensitive."

The Thai authorities have blocked a number of other  news websites and has shown itself to be extremely sensitive to any reporting on the royal family, with both the number and harshness of convictions for lese majeste rising sharply after the coup.

Thailand has strict lese majeste laws that can result in jail terms for anyone who insults the monarchy which, in Thailand, is seen as a unifying symbol and pillar of stability in a society that seen increased political divisions and violence.

Critics, though, say the laws are used liberally by the military government to silence discussion about the royal family and the succession to the throne.

Support for the EU's policy towards human rights and democracy in  Thailand has come from Swedish Greens MEP Linnea Engstrom who said the junta had "failed" to tackle issues such as human trafficking.

She said: "In Thailand's own 'Trafficking in persons 2014 Country report' I was happy that the Thai-administration seemed to be taking the trafficking of migrant-workers seriously. It was up to the Thai-administration to keep it’s own promises stated in it’s own country-report but this process seemed to have failed."

Engstrom told EU Reporter: "What is maybe even more striking is something that is also clearly stated in the country-report mentioned, that is the need to tackle corruption among high-level bureaucrats and police-officers and to work together with neighbouring countries to better protect their citizens."

As deputy chairman of  the fisheries committee in the European Parliament, Engstrom has taken a  particularly close interest on illegal fishing and is currently drafting a parliamentary report on the issue.

Meanwhile, a US-based rights group is asking the United Nations general assembly to take junta leader Gen. Prayuth Chan-ocha to task on Thailand’s repression of human rights and public liberties during his speech at the assembly’s headquarters in New York on 29 September.

Chan-ocha has said he intends to focus on his government’s achievements in fighting human trafficking but Brad Adams, Asia director for Human Rights Watch, said that the prime minister should get the welcome he deserves at the UN “which is an earful about the junta’s abysmal human rights record”.

With Thailand applying for non-permanent member status at the UN Security Council, human rights issues and the country's bogged down political process are of particular relevance.

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