Thailand Faces Downgrade If Nhrc Merger Goes Ahead

[waerth]

Thais seem to love downgrades!

 

http://www.nationmultimedia.com/politics/Thailand-faces-downgrade-if-NHRC-merger-goes-ahead-30257094.html

 

International body for rights groups says credibility, cooperation will be hit

 

THE KINGDOM'S human rights status could be downgraded in October should the National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) get merged with the Office of the Ombudsman as per the new constitution, a recent meeting in Geneva concluded.

 

The International Coordinating Committee of National Human Rights Institution (ICC), which met in Geneva from March 11 to 13 with representatives from more than 100 countries, concluded that Thailand's status could be downgraded from A to B by the ICC Subcommittee for Accreditation. This move would affect the Kingdom's credibility when it comes to human-rights standards, according to a statement issued by NHRC yesterday.

 

Also present at the meeting was NHRC chairperson Prof Amara Pongsapich.

 

ICC might consider the merger as NHRC's dissolution, as the new body would likely not be qualified under the so-called Paris Principle, which specifies criteria on the selection of the rights commissioner and on what constitutes an independent rights commission. This means the standing and accreditation the NHRC achieved during its decade-long existence would likely be lost.

 

If Thailand's status is downgraded, it will have to wait a few years before it can apply for new accreditation as the new body will have to show at least three years of work to the ICC.

 

NHRC commissioner Niran Pitakwatchara said he still holds out hope that the merger plan would be dropped, as it makes no sense, adding that he will continue opposing the idea.

 

As for the process of selecting new commissioners, which will be done this year, Niran said the NHRC had brought the matter up with Deputy PM Wissanu Krea-ngam and was awaiting his response.

 

He added that Thailand could also lose its ICC membership if the merger goes ahead and this would affect international cooperation on various human rights issues between Thailand and other states under its obligation to international treaties. Niran pointed out that even the United Nations Office of High Commissioners for Human Rights opposed the planned merger.

 

The Constitution Drafting Committee is planning to merge the NHRC with the Office of the Ombudsman and call the new body Ombudsman and Public Rights Protection.

[Guest]

" THE KINGDOM'S human rights status could be downgraded "

 

Yes, unfortunately as you point out this is not good. I wonder if there was any mention to downgade Saudi Arabia, over human rights of women, somehow I guess not.

[Flashermac]

Nah, Obama thinks Saudi is cool.