Showing 1 - 10 of 12
Behind Thailand's winning UNHRC bid
Oped, Kavi Chongkittavorn, Published on 22/10/2024
» Thailand's being elected to the United Nations Human Rights Council (UNHRC) for the 2025-2027 term was not a stroke of luck.
Bdap's arrest a litmus test
Oped, Editorial, Published on 15/06/2024
» As Thailand vies for a seat on the UN Human Rights Council (HRC) for the 2025-2027 term -- something the previous Prayut government failed to do -- the arrest of Y Quynh Bdap, a Vietnamese political activist with UN refugee status, will serve as a litmus test for Thailand's human rights standards.
Not all are celebrating this year
Oped, Orna Sagiv, Published on 13/03/2024
» Last week, just days before International Women's Day, the United Nations Special Representative of the Secretary-General on Sexual Violence in Conflict, Pramila Patten, issued a report following her team's visit to Israel and the West Bank.
Human rights litmus test
Oped, Editorial, Published on 31/01/2024
» The arrest of seven members of a Russian-Belarusian rock band known for having an anti-Putin stance will be a test case for the Srettha Thavisin government's position on human rights.
Understanding 'self-determination'
Oped, Kriangsak Kittichaisaree, Published on 22/06/2023
» At the seminar entitled "Self-determination and Patani Peace" at Prince of Songkla University in Pattani on June 7, mock referendum ballots were distributed to the attendants to explore the possibility for a referendum for a "Patani State", or the secession of Yala, Pattani, Narathiwat and four districts of Songkhla -- the population of which are predominantly Muslims -- from the rest of Thailand.
Humanising policy towards refugees
Oped, Vitit Muntarbhorn, Published on 02/03/2023
» The recent death of a Uighur man -- who had sought refuge in Thailand and was subsequently detained for nearly a decade, was a sad reflection of the unbalanced response towards persons who seek refuge, or "refugees", in this country. Various groups currently seek protection from persecution, armed conflicts and key human rights violations in their country of origin, and they deserve to be treated decently and humanely.
UK needs politically astute monarch
Oped, Matt Qvortrup, Published on 17/09/2022
» You would look in vain for any controversial statements made by Queen Elizabeth II during her lifetime. Sure, in the internet age, she, too, acquiesced to having a Twitter account, and a team of press people would post things on Instagram in her name. But they were all bland, uncontroversial -- and, frankly, dull.
Toxic culture
Oped, Postbag, Published on 26/02/2022
» Re: "Navy divers to help seal SPRC pipeline," (BP, Feb 24) and "Second spill salvage op gets green light," (BP, Feb 21).
Act to end torture, disappearance
Oped, Piyanut Kotsan, Published on 10/02/2022
» In 2004, Somchai Neelapaijit, a lawyer and human rights activist, disappeared. He was last seen being dragged out of his car by four men. His whereabouts are unknown to this day. Last year, Jiraphong Thanapat, a drug suspect, died after being tortured at Muang Nakhon Sawan police station. Video evidence showed police suffocating the man with plastic bags until he collapsed and stopped breathing.
Stop deporting Cambodian refugees
Oped, Vitit Muntarbhorn, Published on 01/12/2021
» The recent deportation of three internationally recognised Cambodian refugees provoked an international outcry, much to Thailand's embarrassment. The first two were deported from Thailand on Nov 9, while the third was sent back home on Nov 20 to also face the risk of political persecution. Such efforts to "push back" refugees have regrettably tarnished Thailand's generally commendable policy and practice of offering refuge to persons fleeing persecution and other dangers from foreign territories. This is all the more poignant since Thailand's human rights record is in the middle of being assessed in Geneva under the UN's Universal Periodic Review (UPR).