OHCHR BANGKOK REGIONAL OFFICE FAVORS PROMOTION OF

C O N F I D E N T I A L BANGKOK 000248 SIPDIS STATE FOR EAP, DRL, IO E.O. 12958: DECL: 01/30/2019 TAGS: PREL PHUM PGOV TH SUBJECT: OHCHR BANGKOK REGIONAL OFFICE FAVORS PROMOTION OF HUMAN RIGHTS, RATHER THAN PROTECTION REF: STATE 2023 Classified By: Pol Counselor George Kent, reason 1.4 (b, d). ¶1. (C) In response to reftel, we queried employees of NGOs, diplomatic missions, and the legal community for an assessment of the Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR) in Bangkok, the regional office for Southeast Asia. Many viewed OHCHR as focused on the promotion of human rights (e.g., through broad public relations efforts and education),rather than the protection of human rights (e.g., investigation and advocacy on behalf of persons whose rights were violated, and pursuit of legal action). They assessed OHCHR maintained a positive relationship with the Royal Thai Government through training programs. ¶2. (C) Post's human rights officer is in regular direct contact with the top OHCHR representative in Bangkok; we find his emailed summaries of human rights developments to be useful references, although we typically work directly with Thai contacts to get the details of specific cases. We believe OHCHR's Bangkok office may be a more useful resource for diplomatic missions smaller than ours, those which lack the capacity to undertake independent investigations of human rights conditions. ¶3. (C) One NGO source told us on January 23 that the OHCHR in Bangkok was more comfortable with the "promotion" side of human rights through cooperation with government agencies and NGOs, rather than with helping individuals seek justice or remedies in specific cases. A member of the diplomatic community told us on January 22 that she viewed OHCHR as primarily focused on international instruments, and Thailand's obligations or reporting requirements under them. Many noted that OHCHR provided ample training to Thai officials -- in particular, Ministry of Justice employees -- and distributed helpful monthly news summaries of human rights abuses in the region. OHCHR Human Rights Coordinator Pablo Espiniella told us on January 30 that OHCHR had conducted five training seminars (listed below) in 2008 for around 445 participants. --Implementation of the Convention Against Torture and Other Cruel, Inhuman or Degrading Treatment or Punishment --Reporting to the Committee Against Torture --The Role of Thai NGOs and the National Human Rights Commission in the Protection and Promotion of Human Rights --Three Roundtable Discussions on Reviewing the Contents of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights for Civil Society Organizations and Local Government Institutions --Reporting to the Committee on the Elimination of Racial Discrimination ¶4. (C) A respected human rights lawyer told us on January 23 that OHCHR had started off as a very active and vocal group that appeared focused on southern Thailand. However, he said that in 2004 the Thai Ministry of Foreign Affairs accused them of interfering in internal affairs and criticized their activities in the South. He claimed OHCHR responded by offering more training programs and workshops for government officials and decreased public statements and operations in southern Thailand. He characterized OHCHR's overall relationship with the government as positive, but noted it would improve if OHCHR fully ceased work in southern Thailand. A credible NGO source countered on January 24 that OHCHR maintained an "okay" relationship with the RTG only because OHCHR did not present a threat by pressing on critical issues. He opined that the RTG remained "hostile" to UN human rights mechanisms, such as special rapporteurs and the periodic review of country compliance. JOHN