Aug 25, 2023 | DFF, Statements
JAKARTA – Southeast Asian Parliamentarians welcome the appointment of Thailand’s 30th Prime Minister, Srettha Thavisin, after an extended period of delays following the country’s general elections in May 2023 and urge his leadership to fulfill his promise of change after years of democratic deterioration and human rights violations.
ASEAN Parliamentarians for Human Rights (APHR) remains deeply concerned with the systemic problems that are entrenched within Thailand’s current political and legal frameworks. These problems not only hinder the full representation of the people’s will but they have been used time and again to curtail fundamental freedoms.
“It is concerning that the current system in Thailand permitted the largest winning political party in the elections to be excluded from the ruling coalition. The lopsidedness of the system appears to be the biggest factor and therefore comprehensive reforms need to take place to change the status quo. Crucial to this is the full review of the current junta-drafted constitution wherein any amendments made should be towards paving the way for Thailand to fully embody democracy, one that actively champions and safeguards human rights for all.”said Charles Santiago, APHR Co-Chairperson and Former Member of Malaysia’s Parliament.
In its present form, the Thai constitution has a bicameral parliament, with a 250-person Senate that is effectively appointed by the Royal Thai Military. Any attempt to amend the constitution requires the backing of at least one-third of all senators. Regrettably, the military’s prominent role and influence in Thai politics eroded the nation’s democratic fabric. Thailand has experienced numerous coups in the past decades, disrupting elected governments to the detriment of its people. Under military rule for five years from 2014 to 2019 and a military-dominated government thereafter, draconian measures have been used to suppress freedoms of expression, assembly, and association. These lead to massive demonstrations from 2020 to 2021.
Clearly in the recent polls, an overwhelming majority of voters voiced their disapproval of the military through the ballots.
“The new government should not waste time in instituting reforms to realize the aspirations of the people. Key on the agenda should be the restoration and rebuilding of democracy and its institutions, putting an end to the role of military in politics, addressing economic inequalities, and providing redress to all injustices committed against the people,”
“We have consistently advocated a people-centered governance where processes are participatory and citizens are empowered. For Thailand, a pivotal reform is the need to decentralize power to local governments. This way, government services are going to be more attuned to the needs, and within reach, of the people.” Santiago said.
Thailand faces a myriad of challenges. The years of political instability in the country has directly impacted the expansion of the wealth gap in Southeast Asia’s second largest economy with concentration of wealth remaining at the hands of the few and powerful, further marginalizing the already disadvantaged. It is therefore imperative for the incoming government to take immediate action to usher in a new era of progress, one that is inclusive, promotes social cohesion, and respects all human rights.
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Jul 19, 2023 | DFF, Statements
JAKARTA – Ahead of the second vote for the Thai Prime Minister, members of parliament from across Southeast Asia stand in solidarity with the Thai people and call for reforms that would ensure the establishment of a real democracy in Thailand.
“The eight-party coalition that has nominated a prime minister candidate won a combined total of nearly 27 million votes in the general elections in May. This is over 70% of the total votes cast. In any real democracy, there would be no doubt on who would be able to form a new government. Unfortunately, the existing rules have been designed to protect the military’s role in politics and governance, thwarting any attempt at genuine reform,” ASEAN Parliamentarians for Human Rights (APHR) Co-Chairperson and former Malaysian member of parliament Charles Santiago said today.
The current Thai constitution was adopted in 2017, following a military coup in 2014. Under the constitution, the Thai parliament is bicameral, with a 250-person Senate that is effectively appointed by the Royal Thai Military. Any effort to amend the constitution requires the backing of at least one-third of all senators.
“The actions of the vast majority of the senators in the last prime minister vote show their utter disregard and lack of respect for the will of the people, which was communicated very clearly in the ballot box. It is evident that the immense power given to these unelected senators is at odds with any definition of a real democracy. Many Thais are understandably angry that their votes seem to count for nothing. Thailand’s constitution must be reformed, and any new government must make it one of their first priorities.” said Santiago.
“We once again urge all members of the Thai parliament to consider their duty to the people and the greater good of Thailand when they cast their vote for prime minister. Further attempts to block the formation of a new government by the winning parties would only lead to unrest and instability,” said Santiago. “We also call on the Thai authorities to respect protesters’ right to assemble and peacefully express their political opinions and refrain from any excessive use of force.”
Jun 28, 2023 | DFF, Statements
JAKARTA – The incoming Thai government must heed calls from civil society to reform policies on refugees to be more compassionate and in line with international human rights standards, ASEAN Parliamentarians for Human Rights (APHR) said today.
“We support calls made by the Karen Peace Support Network and other locally-led civil society groups regarding Thailand’s policies on refugees and asylum seekers,” said APHR Chair and member of Indonesia’s House of Representatives Mercy Barends. “The incoming government must respond to the needs of refugees, uphold their human rights, and guarantee their safety.”
According to data from the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR), there are over 90,000 Myanmar refugees living in nine recognized refugee camps along the Thai-Myanmar border. Refugees, some of whom have been stuck in limbo for years, are strictly confined behind fences and barred from seeking employment in Thailand. According to the Karen Peace Support Network, the current food ration is valued at approximately 300 THB or 10 USD per month.
Meanwhile, human rights groups have repeatedly criticized Thai border authorities for sending those seeking refuge back across the border to Myanmar, where they are at risk of indiscriminate airstrikes, arbitrary arrest, torture, and worse.
In the most recent high-profile case in April this year, Thai immigration authorities detained three members of a Myanmar opposition group that had crossed into Thailand to seek medical treatment and then handed them over to the Myanmar junta-allied Border Guard Forces (BGF). Witnesses say that BGF troops shot at the men after the handover. According to media reports, at least one of the men was killed, while the fates of the other two remain unclear.
“The incoming Thai government must recognize that the junta’s treatment of refugees cannot continue. The new government must grant Myanmar asylum-seekers safe passage through the border and guarantee their access to humanitarian assistance. Refugees living in the camps in Thailand must be given access to educational and economic opportunities that will allow them to thrive outside the camps in various capacities,” said Barends.
“Adding to the suffering of those who have already been forced from their homes by a murderous junta is unconscionable; any administration that claims to represent change must start by immediately remedying this untenable situation,” said Barends.
Jun 19, 2023 | DFF, Statements
JAKARTA – Thailand Deputy Prime Minister Don Pramudwinai’s decision to push through with “informal” meetings with the illegal Myanmar military junta despite widespread criticism and condemnation is a betrayal of the Myanmar people and an affront to ASEAN unity, Southeast Asian lawmakers said today.
“The Thai government’s determination to hold these meetings, despite receiving rejections from the ASEAN chair, Indonesia, as well as Singapore and Malaysia, demonstrates its arrogant disregard for the unity of ASEAN, the human rights of the people of Myanmar, and even the will of its own citizens,” ASEAN Parliamentarians for Human Rights (APHR) Co-chair Charles Santiago said today. “The current Thai government was overwhelmingly defeated in the recent general election and no longer has a mandate from the people; initiating such talks in spite of this is a slap in the face of the Thai voters.”
According to leaked documents, Pramudwinai sent a letter on 14 June inviting other ASEAN foreign ministers to an “informal discussion” on 18-19 June, with the aim of “fully [re-engaging] with Myanmar at the leaders’ level”. Indonesian Foreign Minister Retno Marsudi replied to the letter rejecting the invitation on 15 June, while the Malaysian Ministry of Foreign Affairs released a statement to the same effect on 18 June. Singapore Foreign Minister Vivian Balakrishnan said in a press conference during his visit to the United States on 17 June that it was “premature to re-engage with the junta at a summit level or even at a foreign minister level.” The Philippines has yet to release an official statement but reportedly will not attend.
Despite this, Pramudiwinai has insisted that the talks will go ahead on 19 June and the Thai Ministry of Foreign Affairs has said that high-level representatives from Laos, Myanmar, Cambodia, India, China, Brunei and Vietnam have confirmed their attendance. This meeting follows a previous “track 1.5 meeting” that was held in Thailand in March and was attended by Cambodia, Laos and Vietnam along with China, India, Bangladesh and Japan.
“We are dismayed that Thailand and other countries are still willing to engage with the murderous Myanmar junta without any attempt to hold it accountable, despite the military’s continued atrocities that have already resulted in the deaths of thousands of its own people. The ‘Track 1.5’ meetings also weaken ASEAN’s credibility on their ability to resolve the many crises unfolding in Myanmar,” said Santiago.
“Indonesia as ASEAN chair, as well as the other ASEAN member states, must not let this meeting go unanswered: there must be an inquiry into Thailand’s blatant disregard and disrespect of the current Chair. While we appreciate their rejection of this ill-conceived meeting, it cannot stop there. ASEAN must work together to hold the military junta accountable, including by reforming the failed Five-Point Consensus which has yet to yield any results since its adoption in April 2021,” said Santiago.
May 15, 2023 | DFF, Statements
JAKARTA – Parliamentarians from Southeast Asia welcome the results of the Thai general elections and call on the Thai authorities to protect and uphold the will of the people in the formation of the government.
“We congratulate the people of Thailand on coming out in huge numbers to exercise their right to vote and register their aspirations for change through peaceful balloting. The voters have spoken, and their message is clear: they want real democratic reform,” ASEAN Parliamentarians for Human Rights (APHR) Co-chair and former Malaysian member of parliament Charles Santiago said today.
While official results will only be available in 60 days, preliminary results announced by the Thai Election Commission indicate that the Move Forward party, led by Pita Limjaroenrat, is on track to win 151 seats. In comparison, fellow opposition party Pheu Thai has 141 seats: making a combined total of 292 out of 500 lower house seats. The United Thai Nation Party of incumbent prime minister and former general Prayuth Chan-ocha, who rose to power in 2014 in a military coup, is trailing in fifth place with 36 seats.
Despite the overwhelming victory, however, the opposition parties may be unable to form a government. This is because the 250 military-appointed members of the upper house, which was formed as a result of the military coup, will also be voting on the next prime minister.
“The Royal Thai Military must open their eyes and ears to what the Thai people are demanding. For years, protesters have taken to the streets, calling for democracy and human rights. They have now backed this up in the ballot box,” said Santiago.
“Subverting the election results and blocking the formation of a new government by the winning parties would be an unconscionable betrayal that would only result in unrest and instability. We, therefore, urge the military and incumbent government to do the right thing and abide by the will of the people.”
