Thailand and Human Rights are uncomfortable Bedfellows. The “powers-that-be” in Thailand don’t really like HR. The Democrat Party represent the sort of people who are opposed to the idea of spreading HR more widely. This puts them in a dilemma.
Regular readers will know that I have precious little good to say about Abhisit Vejjajiva, but I have heard him claim that there is democracy in Thailand and that in order for democracy to flourish you need debate. He has said words to this affect in English, to the international media.
The actions of his government have gone against his own words though.
Internet censorship is at an all time high. In a recent Internet study, Thailand has gone from “nearly free” to “not free”. Pretty damning when you interpret the meaning of “Thailand”, which is “land of the free.”
Many of the “governing class” are unhappy with the people having access to information. Information is power. Give the people knowledge and you give them the opportunity to better themselves. On a smaller scale, give people knowledge and wisdom and they might not accept the amarts superiority, and that would never do.
It is somewhat ironic that someone is going to make an awful lot of money when 3G is finally allowed in Thailand. 3G will help to finally show the ordinary Thai people who the amart are and what they have done to amass their fortunes.
But what does 3G have to do with Human Rights? Recently the United Nations passed a resolution that says that “access to the Internet is a Human Right.”
Thailand is a member of the UNHRC. As a member they should be furthering HR in its own country, as an example to the rest of the world! I think even someone who supports the Democrats would be hard pressed to defend the record of the Abhisit led coalition government.
We have only concentrated on one aspect of HR in this article. There are many other HR that the present government either ignore or stamp all over without regard.
The HR right to a fair trial. The HR to freedom of speech. Section 112 of the Thai laws, governing Lese Majeste and the Computer Crimes laws need urgent attention.
Over-use of the draconian LM laws are now damaging that thing they were designed to protect. Whether this is by design or accident, who can say?
You can follow @TonyHedges on Twitter.
