DCM RECEIVES DEMARCHE - HUMAN RIGHTS REPORT

C O N F I D E N T I A L BANGKOK 001538 SIPDIS SIPDIS E.O. 12958: DECL: 03/14/2016 TAGS: PGOV PHUM TH HUMAN RIGHTS SUBJECT: DCM RECEIVES DEMARCHE - HUMAN RIGHTS REPORT Classified By: Deputy Chief of Mission Alex A. Arvizu, reason 1.4 (b) ( d) ¶1. (C) On March 13, DCM Arvizu received a demarche from MFA Director-General Nongnuth Phetcharatana on the release of the 2005 Human Rights Report on Thailand. DG Nongnuth issued the standard complaint that the RTG believes it is inappropriate for one country to use its own set of parameters to judge the performance of another country. She also noted the RTG's position that the Human Rights Report should be an internal document for the USG, and should not be released to the public. She did, however, express gratitude for the approach taken by Post this year in releasing the report given the current internal political environment in Thailand. ¶2. (C) DG Nongnuth criticized the report for "missing the real situation in Thailand." She noted that, in its treatment of the Emergency Decree for southern Thailand, the report did not mention the rationale behind the decree as it was laid out by Deputy Prime Minister Wissanu Krea-Ngam. She also stated that in some instances the report did not distinguish clearly between violations committed by individuals versus those committed by government officials. ¶3. (C) DCM Arvizu responded by stating that the report strives for balance and objectivity. He thanked DG Nongnuth for her comments and assured her that Post will look into her complaints with an eye toward always improving the process and production of this annual report. BOYCE