MOTION FOR A RESOLUTION on Thailand
4.2.2014 - (2014/2551(RSP))
pursuant to Rule 122 of the Rules of Procedure
Reinhard Bütikofer, Raül Romeva i Rueda, Nicole Kiil-Nielsen on behalf of the Verts/ALE Group
See also joint motion for a resolution RC-B7-0122/2014
The European Parliament,
- having regard to its previous resolutions on Thailand, in particular the one of 17 February 2011, of 20 May 2010 and of 5 February 2009
- having regard to the statements by the Spokesperson of EU High Representative Catherine Ashton of 26 November 2013 on the political situation in Thailand, of 13 December 2013, of 23 January 2014 on the recent events in Thailand and of 30 January 2014 on the coming elections
- having regard to the statement issued by the European Union Delegation in agreement with the EU Heads of Mission in Thailand of 2 December 2013,
- having regard to the Universal Declaration of Human Rights of 1948,
- having regard to the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights (ICCPR) of 1966,
- having regard to the United Nations Basic Principles on the Use of Force and Firearms by Law Enforcement Officials of 1990,
- having regard to Rule 122(5) of its Rules of Procedure,
A. whereas on 1 November 1013 the Thai Parliament’s Lower House adopted an amnesty bill introduced by the ruling Pheua Thai Party (PTP) for various crimes committed since 2004 by political leaders and government officials, including Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra’s brother, former Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra; whereas the former prime minister has been in self-imposed exile since 2008 to avoid a two-year jail term following a conviction in a corruption-related case;
B. whereas in protest to the proposed amnesty bill peaceful demonstrations began in Bangkok on 11 November 2013, spearheaded by former Deputy Prime Minister Suthep Thaugsuban, leader of the anti-government group People’s Democratic Reform Committee (PDRC); whereas street protests continued despite the rejection of the amnesty bill by the Thai Senate;
C. whereas on 21 January 2014 Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra declared a 60-day state of emergency in the capital Bangkok and surrounding provinces, banning public gatherings of more than five people, allowing arrests of people suspected of violence up to thirty days, authorising censorship of news inciting violence and granting immunity from criminal prosecution to government agencies and officials involved in the enforcement of the decree;
D. whereas after a failed motion of no-confidence against the democratically elected Prime Minister on 9 December 2013 Ms Shinawatra dissolved Parliament and called for general elections on 2 February 2014; whereas the main opposition party, the Democrat Party, decided to boycott the elections;
E. whereas the Constitutional Court ruled on 24 January 2014 that elections could be postponed due to the unrest but the government decided to go ahead with advance votes starting on 26 January 2014;
F. whereas on 26 January 2014 voting was cancelled in 83 of the 375 constituencies nationwide because anti-government protesters cut off access to polling stations, blocked election officials and preventing voters from exercising their right to vote;
G. whereas despite the low turnout, following a meeting with the Election Commission on 28 January 2014 the Prime Minister confirmed that the 2 February 2014 election date would be maintained;
H. whereas voting on 2 February proceeded peacefully in most areas around the country, but according to the national election commission hundreds of polling stations in Bangkok and in the South, areas dominated by the political opposition, were not operational due to disruptions
I. whereas during the unrest stretching over months, several people have been killed and hundreds of people have been injured, among them Kwanchai Praipana, a leader of Thailand's pro-Government fraction, who was shot and wounded on 22 January 2014, as well as Suthin Tharatin, a Thai anti-government movement leader, was shot dead on 26 January 2014;
J. whereas Thai law requires that the legislature cannot reopen unless at least 95% (or 475 seats) of the 500-seats are filled; whereas therefore the by-elections will have to be held in those 28 constituencies where government demonstrators prevented candidates to register to contest the 2 February polls;
K. whereas Parliament will not be able to convene and a new government cannot be formed, threatening to create a political vacuum that is likely to prolong the crisis;
1. Expresses deep concern over the de-generation of political and socio-economic differences into violent clashes between government and opposition, demonstrators and security forces in Thailand, and expresses its solidarity with the Thai people who have suffered under the unrest and all families who's loved ones have been killed or injured during the past months;
2. Calls on all parties to respect the rule of law and to abide by democratic principles; stresses that elections must be free and fair and condemns notably the destructive actions of anti-government protestors who prevented voters from casting their ballots on 26 January 2014 and on 2 February 2014;
3. Calls on both government supporters and anti-government demonstrators to refrain from any further violence; Urges the Thai government to revoke the state of emergency declared for Bangkok and neighboring areas, considering that laws to adequately deal with the current acts of violence exist;
4. Calls on the Democrat Party and their leaders to follow democratic rules and to accept that the Parliament, elected by the people of Thailand fulfills its mandate;
5. Urges all parties to engage in a constructive dialogue, based on tolerance and understanding of mutual points of view, in order to seek a negotiated settlement and to solve the current crisis by peaceful and democratic means;
6. Urges all branches of the military to maintain their neutrality and play a positive role to ensure a peaceful resolution of the ongoing crisis within the constitutional framework;
7. Calls on the government to initiate an inclusive and time-bound process of institutional and political reforms;
8. Notes the National Human Rights Commission's calling of a consultative meeting of intellectuals, representatives of social movements, religious leaders and the four former Prime Minsters Anand Panyarachun, Banharn Silapa-acha, Chavalit Yongchaiyudh and Chuan Leekpai to look for and put forward a solution to end this crisis;
9. Stresses its will to support democracy in Thailand and a harmonious cohabitation of its people at best possible and expresses its strong hope that Thailand will quickly regain its role as a source of stability and prosperity in the region;
10. Instructs its President to forward this resolution to the Council, the Commission, the Member States, the Vice-President of the Commission/High Representative of the Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy, the Government and Parliament of Thailand, the Secretary-General of ASEAN and the Secretary-General of the United Nations.