Four Ambassadors to Thailand visit the Northeast, spotlight challenges for good governance and freedom of expression
KHON KAEN – On Monday the heads of four diplomatic missions to Thailand stressed the importance of good governance and rule of law, and expressing concerns about a narrowing of freedom of expression in the country at a press conference in Khon Kaen City.
(from left) Ambassador of Austria Enno Drofenik, Ambassador of Ireland Brendan Rogers, Ambassador of Sweden Staffan Herrström, and Ambassador of New Zealand Ben King held a press conference at Khon Kaen City’s Pullman Raja Orchid Hotel on Monday.
On the rare occasion of a joint visit to the Northeast, Ambassador of Austria Enno Drofenik, Ambassador of Ireland Brendan Rogers, Ambassador of New Zealand Ben King, and Ambassador of Sweden Staffan Herrström praised the United Nations’ Universal Periodic Review (UPR) as a way to monitor and engage with the human rights situation in Thailand.
“The UPR is a great way for the international community to work together and identify areas in which we can make recommendations,” says Ambassador King. “We look for ways to help countries that face challenges.” He added that New Zealand and its European counterparts offered a number of recommendations to Thailand.
“We encouraged Thailand to increase freedom of expression and especially to amend the Computer Crime Act,” says Ambassador Herrström. “Widening people’s freedom of expression is key to this country’s moving forward with democracy.” However, the Thai government did not accept Sweden’s recommendation.
Last year in December the government passed amendments to the controversial Computer Crime Act that critics says now enables the junta to police the internet and curb dissent.
A second recommendation by Sweden concerned the acknowledgment of land rights, which is one of the major issues in the Northeast. Mr. Herrström said that his government was pleased that Thailand agreed on setting up a national action plan on business and human rights.
Ambassador Drofenik stressed Austria’s commitment to support good governance and democracy in Thailand and beyond. “We believe in inclusive decision making processes and as an embassy we always monitor the situation of civil political rights report it back home,” he says.
The UPR was established in 2006 as the first international mechanism under the UN Human Rights Council to examine the human rights situation of all 193 members states. Thailand was under review of the UPR the last time in May 2016.
On their visit to Khon Kaen, the four ambassadors met with the Governor of Khon Kaen Province, the President of Khon Kaen University, the Director of the Mekong Institute and the Chairman of the Khon Kaen Chamber of Commerce. The ambassadors also joined the Khon Kaen International Marathon on Sunday.
Sisters of Isan displays Isan (the northeastern part of Thailand)’s value and their construction at the beginning of the 20th century together with Thailand as a modern state. The book has recorded the stories of two sisters growing up and working from the countryside to Bangkok. At the same time, the book shows the perspectives of Isan people through their belief, lifestyle, culture, social norm, value and fate. This book covers the changes by over 50 years of Isan workers and Thailand. Hence, beyond two sisters who had shifted from rural to urban landscape, the stories inside reflect how Thai society has come. The struggle is not something Isan people choose, whereas, reading this book may imply the answer. Sisters of Isan is not just a book. This infers lives… the Isan’s lives.
The atmosphere of the general election today in the Northeast was bustling. Even in areas where it rained, voters still showed up to exercise their rights.
A team of local artists have proposed a design for a memorial commemorating the “Holy Man Rebellion” in Ubon Ratchathani province. They want to promote the area to become a historical tourist destination and symbolize a kind of a public apology to those slaughtered.
Media of the margins join hands to build bridges through their effects that lead to increased understanding and reduced conflicts in society. A former TV anchor of Thairath says the media can serve as a bridge that connects people with different opinions. The Editors of local media outlets, as well as the alternative media, Prachatai, in Bangkok, speak out about their roles and hopes for a better Thailand
