marcosolo, 28. Mai 2003 um 17:52:33 MESZ

HUMAN RIGHTS DEFENDERS - Envoy warns of - climate of fear'

NGOs feel pressure of govt intimidation

Achara Ashayagachat

A ``climate of fear'' has gripped Thai human rights groups because of government-sponsored harassment and intimidation, a special United Nations envoy said yesterday.

UN special representative on human rights defenders Hina Jilani expressed concern over the situation in Thailand at the end of her nine-day visit.

Ms Jilani, who visited at the government's invitation, spent her time gathering information through talks with officials, non-government organisations, human rights activists, environmental groups, trade unionists and villagers.

``I have sensed a level of insecurity among human rights defenders which ranges from general unease to actual fear,'' she said at the end of her stay.

The disquiet was the result of public statements against NGOs from the highest level of government'', blatant state attempts to cut off NGO's foreign funding, and use of state security apparatus and the judicial process to harass human rights defenders through false or unjust prosecution'', she said.

``These concerns could seriously jeopardise Thailand's progress in democracy and the strengthening of human rights protection,'' she said.

Ms Jilani said although Thailand's 1997 constitution guarantees fundamental freedoms, enforcement of the guarantee had been affected by the absence of organic laws specifically protecting human rights.

The effectiveness of organisations such as the National Human Rights Commission, the Constitution Court and the Ombudsman Office had been limited by relevant state agencies' disregard of their recommendations.

Ms Jilani, a Pakistani lawyer, said the numerous complaints she heard during her visit were destroying Thailand's reputation for progress in democracy.

There was a level of openness and tolerance which seems to be diminishing,'' she said. The message is that the reputation is under threat. I think the damage is still limited.''

She commended the government for its cooperation with her mission but said a changing situation in Thailand would contribute to a re-evaluation of its reputation for openness and tolerance as a leading democracy in the region.

She refused to blame the Thaksin government but said the trend in human rights violations was recent.

Complaints included the undermining of NGO's credibility by government criticism, the use of registration procedures to curtail NGO effectiveness _ particularly foreign ones, the use of state security apparatus to intimidate and harass rights defenders, and unjust prosecutions.

She was also worried about the government's attempt to interfere with NGOs' access to foreign funding, the Senate's ad hoc committee investigation of their role, and the use of the anti-money laundering law to intimidate them and individual staff members.

Public statements by government leaders to link NGOs with mafia and dark influence was also another cause of concern, she said.

She recommended dropping prosecutions against 12 villagers and NGO workers over the Thai-Malaysian gas pipeline project protests in December.

She also urged the government to be more sympathetic to Burmese human rights defenders whose work had recently been affected by a changing relationship between Thailand and Burma, and by policies adopted towards Rangoon by a number of states in the region.

``I expect the government to give serious consideration to my recommendations since Thailand is a member of the Human Rights Commission and also a sponsor to my mandate,'' she said.

The government had reassured Ms Jilani there was no policy to curtail NGO roles, but she hoped the popularity of the government would be used to protect and promote human rights organisations rather than project a negative image of NGOs.

Foreign Minister Surakiart Sathirathai, who met Ms Jilani yesterday before her departure, hoped the impressions she conveyed to the media would not be her final conclusion on the country's human rights situation.

He believed her impression would change with the supply of more information from the government.

Thailand was the first country in the region to have invited Ms Jilani to examine the role and situation of human rights defenders.

 

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marcosolo, 27. Mai 2003 um 22:36:45 MESZ

WAR ON DARK INFLUENCE - 800 bike taxi drivers rally for CSD help

27.5.03 Manop Thip-osod

About 800 motorcycle taxi drivers rallied at Crime Suppression Division headquarters yesterday, calling on police to crack down on extortion gangs.

The protesters from six different sois on Lat Prao, Sukhumvit, Ramkhamhaeng and Bang Na roads claimed they were victims of extortion by motorcycle queue managers, who included soldiers and policemen.

The group said they were forced to pay as they feared for their lives.

The drivers from Bang Na said they turned to the CSD because local police had refused to assist them.

This group of 100 drivers from a motorcycle taxi centre in front of Central City Bang Na shopping mall had earlier yesterday lodged a complaint with the Royal Thai Police Office, claiming their request for registration was rejected by Bang Na district office on Friday.

One driver who requested anonymity said officials at Bang Na district office refused to process the motorcyclists' request for registration and told them to register with Chaiwat Amsakul, alias To Bang Na.

All were forced to sign documents promising to pay 4,000 baht as jacket rental fees each to Mr Chaiwat plus 40 baht daily fees for continuing to work the centre as before, he said.

Mr Chaiwat has been holding the position of Bang Na district's disaster relief volunteer chief.

In their complaint, the motorcyclists said they needed help from police and the governor of Bangkok because they were being spied on by aides of a powerful person and were at risk, even though their attempt to register with the district was in line with government policy.

 

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marcosolo, 24. Mai 2003 um 00:29:25 MESZ

Pardon us our public opinions

There were some 2,300 drug-related killings over the three months of the government's highly controversial war on drugs. Although the government vehemently denies it, the majority of these are suspected of being the handiwork of law enforcement officers. So it came as no surprise when many greeted the current war on dark influence with suspicion, particularly when it was revealed that ``opinion leaders'' were among those to be brought down.

Sant Sarutanont, the national police chief, stunned reporters when he told them at the launch of the campaign on Tuesday that ``opinion leaders'' were among four groups of influential people to be suppressed _ the other three being those who influence politics, finance and trade. Anyone in a position to influence people to carry out illegal activities, including protests, will be targeted. He gave as an example those who incited protests against the Thai-Malaysian gas pipeline.

There was an immediate, understandable outcry. Critics charged it was clearly aimed at non-governmental organisations which work at the village level and are in the forefront of most conflicts between the state and local communities. Academics, writers, journalists, broadcasters, social critics _ in fact, just about anyone who expresses his or her thoughts publicly _ should be worried. They all could be considered as influencing public opinion.

Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra and Pol Gen Sant tried to dismiss the concerns as another misunderstanding of government intentions. NGOs and critics, they assured, were free to organise activities and express any opinion they wanted. But these should keep within the confines of the law and if they should lead to illegal activity, such as blocking a road during a protest, then they will be dealt with.

If this is the case, why include opinion leaders in the war on dark influence? These people have the constitutional right to criticise the government, and to organise marches in support of their views. If these demonstrations get out of hand or degenerate into violence, there are already laws on public order to prosecute the guilty. The government just pays lip service to freedom to protest. At the same time it holds organisers responsible for any individual act of violence to deter its critics from organising public expressions of dissatisfaction. Any speaker at any public rally could be prosecuted if just one person is involved in a scuffle with police. Public protests will become impossible to organise. Freedom of speech and/or assembly will be lost to the Thai people.

This government is taking advantage of its campaign against dark influence to put down all opponents. It cloaks this high-handed action in a campaign it knows has public support. But this is misuse of power. How can opinion leaders be lumped together with criminal thugs and extortionists? Only the most reactionary dictatorship could do this. It is another sign of the creeping authoritarianism this administration is inflicting on Thais' hard won democracy. The control freaks heading this administration must be resisted in their attempts to curtail our freedoms and liberties. But in saying this, is this newspaper exercising a dangerous influence on public opinion?

We have no qualms with the thrust of this campaign. Thailand has suffered too long from political, economic and criminal corruption. Provincial godfathers and businessmen buy their way into political office to fix state contracts for personal benefit. Underworld figures, often police or military, prey on motorcycle taxis and trade in drugs, women and children. These are the people the government should be after in its war on dark influence. They are the enemy of the people _ but perhaps not the enemy of the government. There is a difference.

 

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