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