During 17-18 August 2009, Mr. Rachanant Thananant, Deputy Director-General of the Department of International Organizations, led a team of MFA officials to conduct a seminar on “Human Rights, International Organizations and the Southern Border Provinces” to army personnel and police officers in the Southern Border Provinces (SBPs). This activity was undertaken in cooperation with the Royal Thai Army, with the main purpose being to provide information on Thailand’s international human rights obligations, particularly the Universal Declaration of Human Rights and the main 7 UN Human Rights Conventions to which Thailand is a party, and the role of international organizations. More importantly, the presentations also focused on how to translate these obligations into more effective implementation in the context of security operation in the SBPs.
Apart from conducting the seminar on human rights, the team visited centers administered by the Royal Thai Army and Police and observed that rules and regulations on the treatment of suspected persons are being strictly conducted in line with relevant laws and human rights principles. The team also met with those persons invited to the centers who have been provided with the basic necessary welfare. While staying in the centers, such persons have also been provided with occupational training on the Sufficiency Economy Philosophy and the principle of reconciliation.
The team paid a courtesy call on Lt. General Pichet Visaijorn, 4th Army Area Commander, who reaffirmed that the army has attached importance to human rights in conducting security operations in the SBPs. With this in mind, instructions were given to almost 400 army and police officers on the ground to attend this human rights training. All security practices ranging from arrest, interrogation to treatment of suspected persons have been very much improved in line with human rights principles. Any officers who violate human rights will brought to justice or face disciplinary action. The army has also initiated a number of development projects, particularly occupational training for housewives groups whose products still need promotion of market access. The Commander emphasized that development must be carried out in parallel with security operations in order to resolve the situation in the SBPs.
This human rights training is one of a series of activities that the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the Royal Thai Army are co-organizing for security officers in the SBPs during this year. Human rights education and awareness-raising for law enforcement officers are regarded as the priority of human rights policy in Thailand. Apart from the training, the Royal Thai Army has, for the first time, developed a human rights manual and human rights soldier cards to be distributed to all armed forces in the SBPs. All these activities represent the attempt to implement the Royal Thai Government’s policy on the promotion and protection of human rights without discrimination.
For further information, please contact the Press Division, Department of Information, Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Tel.02-6435170, Fax.02-6435169, E-mail: div0704@mfa.go.th