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The National Human Rights Commission of Thailand has taken leave of its senses. It has written to the Secretary General of the United Nations expressing “the most serious concern and dismay … over the blatant violation of human rights” involved in the World Heritage listing of the Preah Vihear temple. Here is a brief extract from the opening and closing paragraphs of the long letter. When I first saw the letter I thought it must be a fake – a Not-The-Nation-style spoof on the madness of contemporary Thai politics. But it seems to be coming direct from the horse’s mouth. The full text is available in English and Thai.
I am writing to you to express and register the most serious concern and dismay of the National Human Rights Commission of Thailand, an independent organ established under both Thai Constitutions of 1997 and 2007, over the blatant violation of human rights committed by organs of the United Nations in total disregard of the letters and spirit of the UN Charter and the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, namely, the inscription by the World Heritage Committee (established within the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization pursuant to the Convention Concerning the Protection of the World Cultural and Natural Heritage of 16 November 1972) of the Temple of Pra Viharn or Preah Vihear on the World Heritage List, as unilaterally proposed by Cambodia.
Such decision … has clearly contravened the noble purpose of the UN Charter in promoting the development of friendly relations among nations, the very concept echoed in the preamble of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, as well as the provisions of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights itself, especially Article 28, namely, “Everyone is entitled to a social and international order in which the rights and freedoms set forth in this Declaration can be fully realized”.
…
All the above questions and doubt underscore a need for UN-related agencies to have transparency, consistency, integrity, and good governance as well as respect of the highest order for human rights. The acts committed by the World Heritage Committee and UNESCO have shown their insensitivity and total disregard to human rights especially of the peoples of Thailand and Cambodia. I wish to request you to set up an inquiry committee consisting of impartial persons of highest moral authority to find the answers to the above questions and to set a strong example that human rights be respected not only by member countries of the UN, but also by the UN itself and its related agencies. This should be a meaningful way to celebrate the 60th anniversary of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights.
There are many important human rights issues to be addressed in Thailand. This is not one of them.
By lending its credibility to the blatant opportunism and ultra-nationalism of the born-again Preah Vihear campaigners, the Human Rights Commission of Thailand has diminished its credibility when it comes to deal with real human rights issues.
Andrew–I had read this letter by the commission yesterday and appreciate you expressing your dismay. It truly is crazy that the HUMAN RIGHTS commission is choosing this as their battle.
🙁
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very apt headline! Yes р╕Ър╣Йр╕▓ indeed.
When I saw Saneh’s statement, my reaction was:
“If Saneh wants to become a political activist/supporter of the PAD, why does he not get up on their stage and give speech (a la Phuwadon)? Doing this is so pathetic”
Let me add also that some former teacher and friend of mine who I never in a million years thought would jump on to the PAD’s nationalistic bandwagon had done so. Being anti-Thaksin I can “understand” and “accept” and even expect – really. But joining this Preah Vihear campaign? This is very sad for me personally.
I refer particularly to the case of “р╕Юр╕╡р╣Ир╣Ар╕Щр╕▓р╕зр╣М” (the famous poet Naowarat Phongphibun) and, especially shocking, my former teacher Prof Srisak Wanliphodom. The latter even suggested a few days ago that the Thai military should lay seize to the “disputed area” and the PV temple for a year to pressure Cambodia to be more receptive to the Thai demands (or something of this sort, sorry no text readily on hand.)
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That Saneh is a senile old man has been well known for many years. But the entire NHRC? One would like to know whether this letter had passed through commission deliberations before it was sent.
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Ah… angry Thais of every age – even the ajarn of AjarnSomsak… We all know the transition between ‘anger’ and ‘р╕Ър╣Йр╕▓’ is a rather short one… the whole country needs some sort of anger management – a relative decided to take meditation very seriously (hours a day – and she now thinks of PMThaksin less)… For me, commenting in NM is rather therapeutic…
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[…] The National Human Rights Commission of Thailand has announced that the Cambodian ‘theft’ of Preah Vihear should be considered a serious violation of human rights. Andrew Walker has the smack-down: […]
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what a funny and idiot letter!
I don’t know if the letter can pass the secretary desk.
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Is this letter part of saying “Thailand’s-Cambodian Borders are drawn on the UN or universal Principle of Waterways and Mountains ( I don’t know the correct term for it)” as the Borderline and is supposed to be absolute, so does not open way for Inter-Country Dispute. [Think of dispute between a to-be Father and Mother who wants to name their 1st offsring, and so agree that ‘if its a boy, I get to name him’, but if ‘its a girl, you get to name her’].
For Khao Phra Viharn to suddenly be an exception to this rule (Anyone who has seen an areal photograph of the setting could see how obvious it is) from such an Official Body such as UN or World Court, is against this Right and will destabilize the 2 Nations, which would otherwise be quite settled by the Borderline Principle. “Human” as a Nation or its residents are Human.
Perhaps that was the context?
[Again, what is presented here are snippets and I’ve not read this report, so I cannot say that it is “ba!” though I cannot claim it isn’t either]
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