DEMARCHE DELIVERED- UNGA HUMAN RIGHTS RESOLUTIONS

UNCLAS BANGKOK 007086 SIPDIS E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: PGOV TH UNGA SUBJECT: DEMARCHE DELIVERED- UNGA HUMAN RIGHTS RESOLUTIONS REF: REF: SECSTATE 204646 ¶1. (SBU) On November 10, Poloff delivered Reftel talking points to Mr. Peerasak Chantavarin, Director of the Social Division of the International Organizations Department of the MFA. Peerasak responded that he was familiar with the resolutions since he had received telephone calls from the Japanese and EU missions earlier in the week. Peerasak asked why there was so much interest in passing these UNGA resolutions this year. Poloff replied that human rights issues were always a matter of common concern to the USG, the EU, Japan as well as other countries. The USG hoped that despite the RTG's longstanding official policy to not "name and shame" specific countries, Thailand would take a look at the grave human rights situation in these five nations, and choose to vote with us. Poloff also hoped that unlike last year, the RTG would not vote in favor of "no-action motions". (NOTE: In 2004, Thailand voted in favor of "no-action motions" on the resolutions on human rights in Belarus and Turkmenistan. END NOTE) ¶2. (U) Peerasak thanked Poloff and said that his office would consider the information provided in the three demarches. However, he did not offer any indication that the RTG would be giving up its longstanding policy of abstaining on such resolutions if and when they come to a vote. (NOTE: In 2004, Thailand abstained on similar resolutions on Iran and Turkmenistan. END NOTE) During a follow-up call to the IO Department on Tuesday, November 15 Poloff was told that the RTG was still considering the issue and had no information to report on how they would vote. BOYCE