MOTION FOR A RESOLUTION on the situation in Thailand
6.10.2015 - (2015/2875(RSP))
pursuant to Rule 135 of the Rules of Procedure
Ignazio Corrao, Fabio Massimo Castaldo, Marco Zanni, Rolandas Paksas on behalf of the EFDD Group
See also joint motion for a resolution RC-B8-1002/2015
The European Parliament,
– having regard to its previous resolution of 5 February 2009 on the situation of Burmese refugees in Thailand,
– having regard to its previous resolutions of 13 September 2012 and 13 June 2013 concerning the situation of Rohingya Muslims,
– having regard to its previous resolution of 6 February 2014 on the situation in Thailand,
– having regard to its previous resolution on the situation and future prospects of the European fishing sector in the context of the Free Trade Agreement between the EU and Thailand,
– having regard to its previous resolution of 21 May 2015 on the plight of Rohingya refugees, including the mass graves in Thailand,
– having regard to the statement by the EEAS Spokesperson of 10 July 2015 on Thailand's deportation of persons of Turkic origin,
– having to the Local EU Statement of 24 September 2015 on human rights and the rule of law,
– having regard to the Universal Declaration of Human Rights of 10 December 1948,
– having regard to the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights (ICCPR) of 1966,
– having regard to the 1951 UN Convention on the Status of Refugees and the 1967 Protocol thereto,
– having regard to Rules 123 and 135 of its Rules of Procedure,
A. Whereas Thailand is still under the tight control of an unelected military-led regime, in power since the coup d'etat of May 2014,
B. Whereas the military junta is still in power and does not foresee a quick transition to a civilian government,
C. Whereas the last rejection of the draft Constitution can prolong sine die the military rule in the country,
D. Whereas derogations from Thailand’s obligations under the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights on the rights to appeal, freedom of expression and peaceful assembly, entered on 8 July 2014, are still in place,
E. Whereas arbitrary arrests and intimidation of dissidents, activists and member of the opposition are still a routine in the country,
F. Whereas freedom of expression, the right of peaceful assembly and the possibility to criticize the military junta are very limited if not forbidden,
G. Whereas fair trial rights are being violated by the use of military courts to try civilians and trials are held in a single instance without the right of appeal,
H. Whereas since 2001, more than 30 human rights defenders and environmentalists have been killed in Thailand, ant the police have failed to charge suspects in most of these cases,
I. Whereas Thailand still lack a comprehensive framework for refugee protection, and considering that Thailand has not ratified the 1951 Convention Relating to the Status of refugees,
J. Whereas Thai authorities continue to violate the international prohibition against refoulement by returning refugees and asylum seekers to countries where they are likely to face persecution, such as happened with 109 Uighurs in July 2015,
K. Whereas there are widespread reports of deaths, tortures, rapes and exploitation of migrants and refugees, in particular Rohingya people, in many cases involving the complicity of Thai authorities,
L. Whereas since January 2004, more than 6,000 people have been killed in a brutal internal armed conflict in Thailand’s southern border provinces of Pattani, Yala, and Narathiwat,
1. Expresses its deep concern for the current political situation in Thailand and the persisting military rule;
2. Expresses its concern for the last constitutional developments in Thailand, which can prolong the undemocratic military rule in the country and can prevent a quick return to a civilian government;
3. Calls on Thai authorities to open as soon as possible the political transition of powers from military to civilian authorities;
4. Calls for the end of the martial law and the restrictions imposed on the Thai population, especially the limitations in freedom of speech or the right of peaceful assembly;
5. Urges Thai authorities to act to protect persons engaged in promoting respect for human rights and reporting on abuses who are at risk and to conduct prompt and impartial investigations into attacks and intimidation against of human rights defenders;
6. Asks to transfer all judicial jurisdiction over civilians from the military to civilian courts;
7. Calls on the Government of Thailand and its officials to enforce the controls and end any possible complicity of some authorities with the criminal gangs trafficking people in Thailand;
8. Demands that the Government of Thailand acts to improve conditions of the refugees and asylum seekers and fights against any form of human trafficking;
9. Calls on Thai authorities to ratify the 1951 Convention Relating to the Status of Refugees and its 1967 Protocol;
10. Calls on countries in the region to work more closely together to counter the smuggling and trafficking of vulnerable people, especially the displaced Rohingya;
11. Calls further on to ensure that any comprehensive strategy dealing with the southern insurgency is fully in accordance with international human rights and humanitarian law;
12. Calls on the Vice-President / High Representative to address this issue at the highest possible political level in her contacts with Thailand and with other ASEAN member countries;
13. Instructs its President to forward this resolution to the Council, the Commission, the Vice-President of the Commission / High Representative of the Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy, the governments and parliaments of the Member States, the Government and the Government and Parliament of Thailand.