Cablegate: Demarche Delivered- Unga Human Rights Resolutions
This record is a partial extract of the original cable. The full text of the original cable is not available.
UNCLAS BANGKOK 007086
SIPDIS
E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: PGOV TH UNGA
SUBJECT: DEMARCHE DELIVERED- UNGA HUMAN RIGHTS RESOLUTIONS
REF: REF: SECSTATE 204646
1. (SBU) On November 10, Poloff delivered Reftel talking
points to Mr. Peerasak Chantavarin, Director of the Social
Division of the International Organizations Department of the
MFA. Peerasak responded that he was familiar with the
resolutions since he had received telephone calls from the
Japanese and EU missions earlier in the week. Peerasak asked
why there was so much interest in passing these UNGA
resolutions this year. Poloff replied that human rights
issues were always a matter of common concern to the USG, the
EU, Japan as well as other countries. The USG hoped that
despite the RTG's longstanding official policy to not "name
and shame" specific countries, Thailand would take a look at
the grave human rights situation in these five nations, and
choose to vote with us. Poloff also hoped that unlike last
year, the RTG would not vote in favor of "no-action motions".
(NOTE: In 2004, Thailand voted in favor of "no-action
motions" on the resolutions on human rights in Belarus and
Turkmenistan. END NOTE)
2. (U) Peerasak thanked Poloff and said that his office would
consider the information provided in the three demarches.
However, he did not offer any indication that the RTG would
be giving up its longstanding policy of abstaining on such
resolutions if and when they come to a vote. (NOTE: In 2004,
Thailand abstained on similar resolutions on Iran and
Turkmenistan. END NOTE) During a follow-up call to the IO
Department on Tuesday, November 15 Poloff was told that the
RTG was still considering the issue and had no information to
report on how they would vote.
BOYCE