Thailand: Elections and Human Rights

(asked on 27th March 2019) - View Source

Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what discussions he has had with his counterpart in the Thai Government on (a) outcome of that country’s election and (b) protection of human rights in Thailand.


Answered by
 Portrait
Mark Field
This question was answered on 2nd April 2019

Ahead of the elections in Thailand on Sunday 24 March, the UK engaged in regular dialogue at Ministerial and senior official level with the Thai authorities and urged them to embrace a free and open environment in which elections could occur, including during Prime Minister Prayuth Chan-o-cha's meeting with the Prime Minister in June 2018.

Following the elections on Sunday, I issued a statement welcoming the fact that elections had taken place and highlighted that it was important that any reported irregularities were investigated swiftly, fairly and transparently. I also emphasised that the process of government formation should be conducted in a proper and open manner, and reflect what people voted for.

The UK remains concerned about the human rights situation in Thailand, and the Embassy in Bangkok regularly uses meetings with the Thai government to raise human rights concerns. This includes the right of human rights defenders to carry out work without fear of harassment or reprisals and the importance of full implementation of UN Guiding Principles on Business and Human Rights.

In its statement at the Human Rights Council on 7 March, the UK called on Thailand to sign the 1951 UN Convention on Refugees, and to maintain space for all voices to be heard in the election campaign.

The UK continues to support the right of the media to operate in a free and open manner in Thailand.

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