With regard to the End of Mission Statement by Ms. Yanghee Lee, the Special Rapporteur on the situation of human rights in Myanmar, on 1 February 2018, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Kingdom of Thailand wishes to state the followings:

 

1. The Royal Thai Government believes in constructive dialogue, building trust and confidence, and positive engagement with all actors. It was in this spirit that we facilitated the Special Rapporteur’s meetings with Government representatives while in Thailand.

 

2. In her End of Mission Statement, the Special Rapporteur indicated that Myanmar displaced persons in the temporary shelters in Thailand were unable to enjoy their “basic human rights.” We found this message untrue and unfair.

 

3. Over the past three decades, Thailand has hosted over 100,000 displaced persons from Myanmar and many born while in Thailand. With assistance provided by NGOs, relevant UN and Thai government agencies, all Myanmar displaced persons have access to shelter, food, education, health services, birth registrations, and religious practices. These facts are well-recognized and appreciated by various UN organizations, particularly the United Nations Office of the High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR). Outside the shelters, Thailand also hosted over a million migrant workers. Over the past few years, the Government has helped turn undocumented migrant workers to documented workers under its registration scheme to ensure that migrants receive legal protection and access to basic services. This fact has been highly praised by the IOM.

 

4. On the return process, Thailand always adheres to a voluntary, safe, and dignified return of displaced persons from Myanmar. The political development and Peace Process in Myanmar were crucial in making the first voluntary return of 71 Myanmar displaced persons possible in October 2016, and it is also important for the preparation of more voluntary returns in the future. The Royal Thai Government has continued to cooperate with relevant NGOs and UN agencies including UNHCR and IOM in ensuring preparedness and sustainability for future returns. For instance, Thailand has supported trainings and improvements of livelihoods in the nine temporary shelters, including a project to train the trainers on organic and modern farming, and familiarization trips for camp representatives to observe development projects on both sides of the border. We also engage extensively within the context of tripartite assistance, capacity-building and sustained livelihoods.

 

5. It is our sincere hope that the Special Rapporteur’s report to the Human Rights Council will fairly reflect the efforts undertaken by the Royal Thai Government and the generous hospitality the Thai people have extended to the displaced persons.