THAILAND TO VOTE IN FAVOR OF UN DEFAMATION OF

UNCLAS BANGKOK 003063 SENSITIVE SIPDIS DEPARTMENT FOR DRL/IRF - JOANNELLA, FOR IO/HR - AMY OSTERMEIR, FOR IO/HR - COLLEEN NEVILLE E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: UN PHUM UNGA PGOV TH SUBJECT: THAILAND TO VOTE IN FAVOR OF UN DEFAMATION OF RELIGIONS RESOLUTION REF: A. STATE 122629 ¶B. BANGKOK 02518 ¶1. (SBU) We conveyed reftel Defamation of Religions points to Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MFA) Department of International Organizations official Chonvipat Changtrakul December 3, urging Thailand to reverse its initial vote in favor once the resolution reached the U.N. General Assembly (UNGA) Resolution. Referencing Thailand's September 15 diplomatic note announcing its candidacy for the UN Human Rights Council (ref B),we raised the RTG declaration of its national priorities vis-a-vis promotion of human rights that seemed to be at odds with Thai voting patterns on human rights issues within the Third Committee and UNGA. Chonvipat commented that Thailand understood the merits of both sides of the argument on the Defamation of Religions resolution, but would ultimately vote in favor of the resolution at the plenary session of the UNGA, just as it had in the UNGA's Third Committee. She justified the decision based on Thailand's support of freedoms of religion and expression, but not the right to incite violence through expression, or religion as a vehicle for violence (Note: all ten ASEAN countries voted in favor of the resolution in the Third Committee, and it is likely there was prior coordination on the resolution). JOHN