Today 8th Oct, in a plenary session, MEPs discussed and voted on cases of breaches of human rights, democracy, and the rule of law in Thailand. The European Parliament expresses its concern at the “deteriorating human rights situation in Thailand following the illegal coup of May 2014” and urges the Thai authorities to lift repressive restrictions on the right to liberty and the peaceful exercise of other human rights, such as the right of expression and assembly.
The EP calls for the Thai government to revoke the interim constitution and ensure a broad-based and inclusive process in the drafting of a new constitution, to be approved by popular referendum, with the assistance of an international body, to ensure its fairness, legitimacy, and respect of democratic fundamental principles.
The resolution urges Thai authorities to overturn the convictions and sentences and to withdraw charges against individuals and media operators who have been sentenced or charged for peacefully exercising their rights, including the British citizen Andrew Hall, who has been charged with defamation by the National Fruit Company due to his investigation about migrant workers’ rights.
Parliament also asks the European External Action Service and the EU Delegation to use all available instruments to ensure respect for human rights and the rule of law in Thailand, in particular by continuing to observe investigations and trial hearings of opposition leaders.
The following non-binding urgency resolution was adopted by a large majority in the European Parliament with 581 votes to 35, with 35 abstentions
To read the text of the resolution, please click here
To read the EP’s press release, please click here