Prime Minister Prayut Chan-Cha Is Banking On Winning A Seat

[Coss]

Prime Minister Prayut Chan-cha is banking on winning a seat on the United Nations Security Council to bolster the international community's confidence in Thailand.

 

Prayut said the new non-permanent members... of the United Nations Security Council will be decided by the UN member states, but Thailand has been lobbying intensely for the Asia-Pacific seat, as has Kazakhstan.

 

“Thailand and Kazakhstan are neck and neck in the race. If Thailand wins the seat the confidence of he international community will increase, as will our role,†he said.

 

http://www.bangkokpost.com/news/politics/1022113/pm-security-council-seat-would-boost-thailands-standing.

 

 

UNITED NATIONS - Kazakhstan easily defeated Thailand's bid for a non-permanent seat on the United Nations Security Council, with just 55 countries backing Thailand against 138 for Kazakhstan.

 

As the balloting got under way, delegates at the 193-nation General Assembly were handed gift bags with miniature tulips and wooden shoes from the Netherlands, Baci chocolates from Italy and a Buddha image from Thailand.

 

The gifts apparently had little effect. Thai officials on Tuesday said they were very optimistic about winning the seat, but the second-round voting wasn't close. Kazakhstan needed 129 votes to win by the required two-thirds, and ended up with nine votes more than it needed.

 

http://www.bangkokpost.com/news/general/1022325/thailand-defeated-in-unsc-bid

 

But I reckon it came down to the gift bags. Imagine if Christians started handing out crosses, or Muslims, Korans, or the Jews , big black beards with hooks that go behind your ears.

 

[Coss]

Human Rights Watch says that "Kazakhstan heavily restricts freedom of assembly, speech, and religion," and other human rights organizations regularly describe Kazakhstan's human rights situation as poor.

 

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kazakhstan#Political_system

 

Just so we know who the Thais were up against.

[Flashermac]

If Saudi Arabia can be on the Human Rights panel, why not Thailand on anything it wants?

[StoneSoup]

The fat lady has yodeled: http://www.nationmultimedia.com/breakingnews/Thailand-congratulates-Kazakhstan-in-the-UNSC-elec-30289369.html

[Coss]

If Saudi Arabia can be on the Human Rights panel, why not Thailand on anything it wants?

 

Because they're not tall enough, no gravitas for photo opportunities you see.

 

The UN likes tall people, even Ban Ki Moon is taller than your average Asian despot at 5'10".

[YimSiam]

Kazakhstan's got space stuff - launch pads, landing pads, that kind of thing. That's what Thailand needs to compete - by this time next year, a world-class launch facility for space exploration. That'll do the trick.

 

Why would you even want to be on the UNSC? You spend your days either looking like a lapdog for following the hegemon, or you spend your day getting vetoed by the same. Lose-lose - and the seats are crap, too, like an elementary school classroom. No, I wouldn't take that job if they asked me to.