UN officer says she won't exceed remit

Anjira Assavanonda

Hina Jilani, the special representative of the United Nations secretary-general on human rights, now in the country, says she is not here to look into extra-judicial killings.

Her task was to examine the situation of human rights defenders and enhance the protection of their rights.

``My mission is to deal with the roles of human rights defenders, and their ability to raise the issues is certainly my mandate,'' said Ms Jilani.

A previous visit fixed in February was postponed with the government saying it was too busy to meet her.

The government's three-month crackdown on drug dealers was criticised by human rights activists. About 2,300 people were killed in the campaign. Activists blame law enforcement officers. Police said it was merely a case of drug dealers killing each other.

Ms Jilani, on a 10-day mission ending next Tuesday, said it was not her mandate to investigate those killings.

She was here to look at legislative protection available to human rights defenders, mechanisms to protect and support them, access to funding for human rights work, and mechanisms to promote consultation between state authorities and civil society.

Ms Jilani hoped her meeting with the prime minister and Foreign Minister Surakiart Sathirathai today would help them understand that she had no intention to ``stepping out of her mandate.''

Asked why Thailand was the first country in the region she chose to visit, she said the country had been recognised for its ability to host human rights activities, but conceded concerns had been raised at the same time about the plight of human rights defenders here.

``My particular concern in Thailand is to look at the right to associate, the right to assemble, freedom of expression and the right to protest,'' said Ms Jilani.

She would also meet other government ministers, as well as senior figures in the judiciary, police and military and travel to Chiang Mai and Hat Yai to meet local authorities, NGOs and human rights defenders.

Her findings will be published in a report to the UN Commission on Human Rights in April 2004. She hoped her recommendations would be heeded by the government as Thailand was the first Asian country to support the UN Declaration of Human Rights Defenders adopted in 1998.