Saturday, 3 July 2010

New UNHRC president asked to demand for end of emergency decree in Thailand

via Khmer NZ News Media

July 02, 2010

The Hong Kong-based Asian Human Rights Commission (AHRC) on Friday called on the new president of the UN Human Rights Council (UNHRC), Thai ambassador to Geneva Sihasak Phuangketkeow, to demand the Thai government to end enforcement of the emergency decree, the Bangkok Post's website reported.

Basil Fernando, the Director of Hong Kong-based Asian Human Rights Commission, said in an open letter to the council president that renewing the decree would effectively violate Thailand's obligations under Article 4 of the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights.

Thailand's concerned authorities will assess the situation before the state of emergency will complete its 3-month term of the enforcement on July 7.

Though the anti-government protests ended on May 19, the Thai government maintained its enforcement of the state of emergency in order to ensure security for the public.

The state of emergency has been imposed from April 7, 2010, in capital Bangkok and 23 provinces of Thailand's 76 provinces, empowering police and army to control the then anti-government protests.

Source:Xinhua

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