On 10 June 2013, Mr. Salil Shetty, Secretary-General of Amnesty International (AI) met with Mr. Sihasak Phuangketkeow, Permanent Secretary for Foreign Affairs, to discuss human rights issues in Thailand and in ASEAN and to present the Amnesty International Report 2013 to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

During the meeting, AI commended Thailand’s important role in promoting human rights within Southeast Asia, and expressed the hope for ASEAN to play a more active role in the protection of human rights in the region. AI is of the view that, aside from the three pillars of ASEAN Community – covering political-security, economic and socio-cultural cooperation -  ASEAN should also place high importance on human rights issues. On this point, the Permanent Secretary noted that human rights have, in fact, been integrated into all three pillars of ASEAN. The political pillar focuses on norm building, while the socio-cultural pillar is active in the protection of the rights of women and children, as well as the fight against human trafficking. On the economic pillar, ASEAN is committed to the path of inclusive growth which takes a right-based approach to development. The Permanent Secretary further noted that while ASEAN has made some positive progress in the field of human rights, Thailand is committed to doing more by playing an active role in further advancing the human rights agenda in ASEAN. The voices of other stakeholders, including AI, can certainly contribute to the process.

In the context of Thailand, AI expressed concern on the issue of death penalty, on which the Permanent Secretary mentioned that Thailand is fully aware of. He further updated AI on important progress made by the Royal Thai Government, including the abolition of death penalty for children under the age of 18, pregnant women or those with young children as well as the mentally ill. He referred to the recent progress towards the unshackling of prisoners in Thai prisons. In addition, AI raised the issue of the plight of the Rohingyas in the care of the Thai authorities. On this point, the Permanent Secretary provided information on Thailand’s humane treatment of the Rohingyas currently in Thailand while stressing the importance of a regional approach to finding a sustainable solution for the problem.

Mr. Shetty also informed the Permanent Secretary of AI’s interest in opening a Southeast Asia regional office in Bangkok, particularly because of Thailand’s openness on the human rights issues. An AI Regional Office, if set up, should contribute positively to the protection of human rights in Thailand and in the region.