ACHR welcomes US sanctions on Thai Junta

Geneva: Asian Centre for Human Rights (ACHR) today welcomed the imposition of sanctions involving cutting off $24m (£12.8m) in military assistance to the Thai military junta by the United States on 28 September 2006 and urged others to follow.

“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.” - stated Mr Suhas  Chakma, Director of Asian Centre for Human Rights at the UN Human Rights Council.

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.

“The process suggested by the CDRM 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”.

“The constitution must be drafted by holding elections for constituent assembly and not by selecting socalled constitution drafters.”

ACHR urged the UN Human Rights Council not to recognize the CRD and called upon international community to urge CRD to hand over power as soon as possible; and hold elections for the constituent assembly to draft a constitution and restore human rights and fundamental freedoms.

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