PHEU  THAI  PARTY  STATEMENT

Stop Creating an Environment of Suspicion End the Violation of the Rights and Freedom of the People

Thailand upholds the democratic system in which the King is the head of state and the Constitution is the highest law that ensures and protects the freedom of its citizens.  However, since the “NCPO” took over the administration of the country for almost 2 years , the people’s rights and freedom had been violated again and again.
 
This can be seen whereby those in power still use soldiers to detain people who do not agree with or do not see eye-to-eye with them, even though it is a basic right of every citizen, as given in the Constitution and in accordance with the Universal Declaration of Human Rights and the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights for which Thailand is a member.
 
The detainment of people who have different views in order to adjust their attitudes and/or the announcement to have people from the media, politicians or academics undergo training in military camps, albeit under the pretext of providing creative leadership training when in fact it is a deterrent or threatening measure to create fear and put a stop to the expression of opinions to help find solutions for the country.
 
Moreover, the NCPO’s order No. 13/2559 which gives the soldiers from the rank of sub-lieutenant up to have a wide range of power above that of the court of law and above other officials to detain, arrests, conduct searches and seizures without search warrants and further widens the scope of crime, such as, the confiscation of red water bowls for use in the Songkran Festival, or the attempt to issue laws on the referendum that was criticized  as an attempt to block campaigns to express opinions on the draft charter that will determine the future of the country.  All of these are obstructions to the atmosphere of cooperation to help find the best way out for the country.
 
Pheu Thai Party sees that the extreme use power or the attempts to force and threaten those who have different points of view to live in fear will not steer the country to its objective of national reconciliation and peace.
 
Pheu Thai Party, therefore, calls for the following to be done:
 
1. ​Cease all acts, including promulgate/issue orders that violate and prevent the exercise of individual rights as a citizen and the human rights of all forms.  The NCPO order No. No.13/2559 should especially be reconsidered and “ified as soon as possible.
 
2. ​On an urgent basis, create a more compromising environment by generating more spaces for those with different points of view and grant and protect  the rights of citizens, the media and the academics, freedom of expression on political matters without fear.
 
 
3. ​Protect the rights and freedom of the citizens, the academics, the media and the political parties to campaign and express their preferences to the draft charter through a fair referendum, for credibility and acceptance.
 
 
Pheu Thai Party believes that, should these 3 proposals be accepted and carried out, there will be national unity which will ultimately lead to democracy.
 
 
Pheu Thai Party
8th April, 2016
 
 
 
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