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#Thailand Calls for Obama to revoke Thai invite to US-ASEAN summit

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22784648The international reputation of Thailand has suffered a fresh blow after the downgrading of Thailand's National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) to a 'B' by the International Coordinating Committee on National Human Rights Institutions (ICC). 

The move has created the embarrassing situation whereby Thailand, the leader of the G-77, no longer has a voice on human rights-related issues.   In effect, it was judged not impartial or effective enough to submit reports on human rights in Thailand to the UN Human Rights Council, nor can it actively participate in human rights conferences organised by the UN Human Rights Council.

This is particularly damaging for the junta coming ahead of Thailand’s second United Nations universal periodic review (UPR) in Geneva in April.

The Worldwide Movement for Human Rights (FIDH) says UN member states must use the review to demand key human rights commitments from the Thai government.

The downgrading of Thailand's NHRC means the country now finds itself in the same grade as Myanmar, and a full grade below the national human rights institutions of Malaysia, the Philippines, and Indonesia. Brunei, Cambodia, Laos, Vietnam, and Singapore do not submit their national human rights bodies for accreditation.    Meanwhile, a leading expert on Asia has condemned the decision to include Thailand in next week’s summit for Southeast Asian leaders in the U.S.   Fraser Cameron, director of the EU-Asia Centre in Brussels, warns that inviting the Thai Prime Minister Prayuth Chan-ocha, head of the junta that seized power almost two years ago and a former army general, could be seen as Washington's endorsement of the military regime.

Other human rights activists, opposition party leaders and scholars have also sharply criticizing President Obama’s decision to include Prayuth in the summit.   The U.S. has been loath to cut ties with Bangkok despite the coup, seeing Thailand as a key non-NATO ally in a region where China has made major economic and diplomatic inroads in recent year.

After a brief suspension of some programmes and aid after the 2014 coup, the Pentagon will be taking part in this year’s 35th “Cobra Gold” military exercises with Thailand, a 10-day, 24-country gathering starting on February 9 that is one of the largest annual military exercises in the Asia-Pacific region.   But, speaking to this website on Friday, Cameron said, “Obama will face criticism for inviting some non-democratic leaders such Prayuth Chan-ocha of Thailand, to the ASEAN summit in California next week. But he knows from experience that if one member is not invited then no one would show up.”

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A Brussels source pointed out that, in light of the bloc’s condemnation of the junta, the EU “would not be allowed to invite him (Prayuth)”.   This is a reference to the conclusions of a recent meeting of EU foreign ministers who expressed “extreme concern” at developments in Thailand.   A statement issued afterwards read: “Against this background, the EU is forced to reconsider its engagement. Official visits to and from Thailand have been suspended; the EU and its Member States will not sign the Partnership and Cooperation Agreement with Thailand, until a democratically elected government is in place. Other agreements will, as appropriate, be affected. EU Member States have already begun to review their military cooperation with Thailand.”

Thailand, which has been run by a military junta since a coup in May 2014, suffered a further blow to its international image when its new draft constitution was condemned as “undemocratic”.

British Tory MEP Charles Tannock, his party's foreign affairs spokesman, believes the time has come for the EU to take "genuine actions" against Thailand, saying: "The continent is Thailand's second biggest investor. The beleaguered Thai economy remains disproportionately reliant on tourism, its international image is all important. Consequently, any sanctions of any sort would do considerable reputational damage."

The country’s reputation for tourism was also recently questioned when the sister of a young British woman murdered on a Thai holiday island launched a scathing attack on the Thai police and Thailand's reputation as “the most beautiful place in the world”.

Hannah Witheridge’s sister Laura delivered her powerful attack following the death of another young British holidaymaker on Koh Ta.

A recent editorial in the Bangkok-based The Nation said: "At a time when the use of dictatorial powers is increasing, and with the possibility of elections being postponed to 2018, the new constitution must define via its organic legislation the structure and responsibilities of an upgraded national human rights institution.”

A spokesman for the Thai mission in Brussels said: "On human rights, if you open your mind into wider perspectives, you will find that our records on protecting and promoting women, children, elderly people, people with disabilities and animal rights are very good. Thailand provides necessary health care and basic education in a non-discriminatory manner to migrant workers and ethnic minority groups.

"On freedom of the press, how could you assess that Thailand is lacking freedom of the press, while the local media can continue to criticize the Government and while foreign journalists have hardly ever been deported from Thailand for writing negative articles about the Government’s policies."

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