SRI LANKA
A forthcoming UN Human Rights Council resolution entitled "Promoting Reconciliation and Accountability in Sri Lanka" will not only question Thailand about its relationship with Sri Lanka, but also Thailand's willingness to tackle in a meaningful way gross and systematic human rights violations wherever they occur.
Thailand previously voted against the resolution on Sri Lanka last year, but the degrading human rights situation in the country requires Thailand to re-examine its position in supporting this year's resolution.
The civil war between Sri Lanka's army and the Liberation Tigers for Tamil Elam (LTTE) ended in May 2009, culminating in the military defeat of the LTTE.
In the post-war period, President Mahinda Rajapakse has managed to push through a series of dangerous constitutional amendments removing limits on presidential terms and bringing independent national institutions under the purview of the president's office, while also impeaching the chief justice in favour of his own yes-man.
On Feb 28 last year, Thai Foreign Minister Surapong Tovichakchaikul publicly supported the Sri Lankan government's voluntary engagement with the international community at the 19th regular session of the UN Human Rights Council in Geneva.
He also asked that members consider how to best implement the recommendations of the Lessons Learnt and Reconciliation Commission (LLRC).
This body was Sri Lanka's own domestic reconciliation process which made 285 recommendations to the government of Sri Lanka, the bulk of which the government ignored.
Since then, the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights has carried out a comprehensive study on the human rights situation there.
The report makes clear there has been a marked lack of progress by the government in the implementation of its own commitments and the recommendations of the LLRC.
It says the government's efforts in the process of reconciliation, accountability and protection of human rights have been poor, with especially grave concerns being raised over disappearances, detentions, the harassment of journalists and increased militarisation of former conflict areas.
The High Commissioner's report underlines concerns which Sri Lankan civil society and independent experts have raised repeatedly.
Thailand knows full well the realities in Sri Lanka. At Sri Lanka's Universal Periodic Review in November 2012, Thailand recommended that Sri Lanka strengthen legislation and administrative measures to ensure transparency and non-impunity in the judicial process on all alleged enforced disappearance cases, which would help contribute towards its national reconciliation.
This was rejected by the Sri Lankan government, along with all other recommendations relating to accountability and reconciliation.
In such a case, how can Thailand maintain its rhetoric of pursuing a "dialogue" in a "cooperative spirit" with a government that has increasingly centralised its power and taken few steps to genuinely address the grievances of the Tamil population since the end of the civil war in 2009?
The Thai delegation in Geneva says the Sri Lankan government must be encouraged to make further progress.
If Thailand believes that progress means military control over civil administration in former conflict areas, then Thais should certainly find this alarming.
Thailand must do more to support the report of the UN High Commissioner.
This is an independent report resulting from a scoping mission undertaken by independent staff from the OHCHR and presents the most credible and objective basis for states to position themselves.
Thailand's seat as a member state of the UN Human Rights Council should not be used as a means to deflect and block debate and dialogue on a country's situation.
Situations of gross and systematic human rights violations need to be assessed on a case-by-case basis.
The credibility of the UN Human Rights Council depends on its ability to respond to the needs of victims. Thailand has a key role to play in ensuring the council remains relevant.
Chalida Tajaroensuk is executive director of People's Empowerment and a member of the executive committee of FORUM-ASIA, a regional human rights NGO.
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Article source: http://www.thethailandlinks.com/2013/03/20/thailand-must-play-key-unhcr-role/
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