ACHR urges UNHR Council not to recognise Thailand's CDR

New Delhi, Sep 29 (UNI) Welcoming US sanctions against Thai military junta, the Asian Centre for Human Rights (ACHR) today urged the UN Human Rights Council not to recognise the military' ruling body Council for Democratic Reform (CDR).

It called upon the international community to urge CRD to hand over power at the earliest and hold elections for the constituent assembly to draft a constitution.

''Human rights and fundamental freedoms of the citizens must be restored,'' ACHR Director Suhas Chakma said at the UN Human Rights Council.

He said the imposition of sanctions involving cutting off 24 million dollars in military assistance to the Thai military junta by the United States was a welcome step.

''Addressing the Thai military coup d'etat is crucial to address the military junta of Myanmar. Otherwise, all measures taken against the State Peace and Development Council including putting of Myanmar on the agenda of the UN Security Council may fall flat,'' he added.

Mr Chakma said the Thai military junta has no intention to hand over power to the civilians.

''Thai military junta is basically seeking a credible proxy like Privy Councillor Gen Surayud Chulanont to run the country by transforming the Council for Democratic Reform into Council for National Security,'' he added.

''The process suggested by the CDR to draft a new constitution by forming an interim legislature made up of 250 people and a people's assembly composed of 2,000 members from all walks of life is not democratic by any yardstick. It is merely a process to legitimize and strengthen the role of the military in Thailand,'' Mr Chakma said.

The constitution must be drafted by holding elections for constituent assembly and not by ''selecting constitution drafters'', he added.

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