ACHR criticises UNHCHC, UNHRC for failing to intervene in Thailand

New Delhi, Sep 22 (UNI) The Asian Centre for Human Rights (ACHR) today criticised United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights Louise Arbour and the United Nations Human Rights Council for failure to intervene against the infringement of human rights following the military coup in Thailand.

The ACHR complained against serious violations by the Administrative Reform Council including violation of the right to freedom of association and assembly through blanket ban of political party meetings and formation of new political parties and assembly of more than five persons.

It pointed out the violations of the right to freedom of expression through the closure of 300 community radio stations in six Northern provinces and incommunicado detention of political leaders, including those protesting against the coup such as former Members of Parliament, Chalard Vorachat and Thawee Kraikupt, who were arrested on September 20, 2006.

''The military authorities have appointed themselves as judge and jury and with the suspension of the 1997 Constitution of Thailand, the relatives of those detained cannot even file habeas corpus petitions,'' ACHR Director Suhas Chakma said.

''It is in such times of crisis that the UNHCHR and the relevant Special Procedures must be seen to be standing up for rights. Or else, silence or socalled quiet diplomacy might be mis-construed and mis-interpreted as indifference or supporting the coup,'' he added.

ACHR urged Mr Arbour, Special Rapporteur on freedom of expression, UN Special Rapporteur on the independence of judges and lawyers and the UN Working Group on Arbitrary Detention to intervene with King Bhumibol Adulyadej and the Administrative Reform Council to restore fundamental rights and the rule of law including the right to file habeas corpus petitions, in Thailand.

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