On May 28, 2014 a bipartisan group of members of the House of Representatives of the Philippines filed a resolution expressing grave concern over developments in Thailand and demanding a swift return to democratic processes and the holding of free elections. The congressmen who filed the resolution were Reps Barry Gutierrez, Akbayan Partylist; Walden Bello, Akbayan Partylist; Kaka-Bag-ao, Dinagat Islands; Jose Atienza, Buhay Partylist; Raymond Democrito Mendoza, TUCP Partylist; Sherwin Tugna, CIBAC Partylist;

HOUSE RESOLUTION NO 1175

MAY 28, 2014

EXPRESSING GRAVE CONCERN ON THE MILITARY COUP IN THAILAND AND ITS FAR REACHING EFFECTS ON DEMOCRACY, HUMAN RIGHTS AND INTERNATIONAL GLOBAL ORDER

WHEREAS, on 20 May 2014, the Thai Army declared Martial Law throughout the country;

WHEREAS, two days after, the military staged a coup ‘d etat against the duly elected government and abolished the country’s constitution;

WHEREAS, the junta, the National Peace and Order Maintaining Council (NPOMC) has arrested more than a hundred political leaders in Thailand, the whereabouts of some are still unknown today;

WHEREAS, the NPOMC has also prohibited the foreign travel of 155 political figures in Thailand;

WHEREAS, the current autocratic rule in Thailand is not the solution to the seven-month old political crisis but will merely deepen the divide between the contending political groups;

WHEREAS, the coup goes against the momentum towards democracy in Southeast Asia and threatens the consolidation of democratic rule in countries in the region that have embraced democracy;

WHEREAS, United Nations Secretary-General Ban Ki-Moon, along with several other states, has called for a full restoration of civilian control in Thailand;

WHEREAS, a free and democratic election is the best forum to determine who should rule a nation;

NOW THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED, AS IT IS HEREBY RESOLVED, to urge the Royal Thai Army, to immediately relinquish the political leadership of Thailand to the duly constituted civilian authority under the constitution and existing laws of the country, with the end view of restoring democracy and the full political and civil rights of all the citizens of Thailand.

Adopted,

Walden Bello

Akbayan Partylist

Ibarra Gutierrez III

Akbayan Partylist

Kaka Bag-Ao

Dinagat Islands

Sherwin Tugna

CIBAC Partylist

Jose Atienza

Buhay Partylist

Raymond Democrito Mendoza

TUCP Partylist