Pubdate: Sat, 17 Apr 2004 Source: Nation, The (Thailand) Copyright: 2004 Nation Multimedia Group Contact: http://www.nationmultimedia.com/ Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/1963 Author: Rungrawee C Pinyorat Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/area/Thailand UN SLAMS HARASSMENT OF NGOs A United Nations Human Rights envoy has severely criticised the government over what she labelled its harassment of non-governmental organisations (NGOs). Hina Jilani described Thailand's human rights record as worsening in her report to the 60th session of the Commission on Human Rights in Geneva on Thursday. "Public statements by government officials denigrating defenders and NGOs, attempts to control NGO funding, and surveillance and harassment of some NGOs through state-security mechanisms are trends that have resulted in a degree of tension between the government and the human-rights community," she said. Jilani, special representative of the UN Secretary General at the session, visited Thailand in May last year to assess the country's human rights situation. She said human rights workers had faced "severe reactions" from authorities when attempting to raise concerns about extra-judicial killings committed during the government's war on drugs early last year. More than 2,500 people were killed during the three-month anti-drug campaign. Many of the deaths were thought to be extra-judicial killings. Despite repeated calls from home and aboard, the government has yet to give a substantive clarification of the deaths. Jilani said Thailand's worsening human rights environment also negatively affected the work of human rights workers in neighbouring countries, including Burma. The Thai government has made several attempts to regulate Burmese exiles in the country and curtail their activities against Burma's military government. The United Nations High Commissioner on Refugees has been ordered by the Thai government to stop issuing Burmese refugees with "person of concern" status. Jilani urged the government to halt "the negative trends". Chaiyong Satjipanon, Thailand's UN Ambassador and permanent representative, responded to Jilani's report by saying: "We obviously cannot accept generalised comments and the inclusion of unsubstantiated information." He said the government should not solely bear the "burden" of proving all human rights violations. Chaiyong defended the government's commitment to human rights, citing the establishment of the Rights and Liberties Protection Department under the Ministry of Justice to serve as a focal point in promoting human rights. Charnchao Chaiyanukit, the department's director general, told The Nation from Geneva that the government spent Bt40 million compensating people wrongfully accused of crimes last year. - --- MAP posted-by: Richard Lake