A visiting British politician said yesterday the state of emergency maintained by the Thai government in many provinces would not be helpful to the process of reaching a political settlement in the country.
FREEDOM OF SPEECH : Thai restriction of speech "not helpful" : British MP
20-7-2010 09:11
"There may be in any country an exceptional circumstance, but as a general rule restriction on freedom of expression is generally not helpful in creating an open civil society," said Jeremy Brown, Minister of State for the Foreign and Commonwealth Office.
Brown was in Thailand on Sunday and yesterday on a leg of his Asian tour taking him also to the Philippines, Hong Kong and Indonesia.
The British minister met on Sunday with Foreign Minister Kasit Piromya to discuss various issues, including the government's unilateral offer of national reconciliation.
"I stressed with him the importance of reconciliation and the need for everyone in Thailand to feel the political process is able to reflect accurately the will of the people," Brown told reporters.
People in Thailand and everywhere in the world want to live in a stable prosperous country where the rule of law is respected and their views about politics and about society can be given accurate expression, he said.
Brown also met members of opposition Pheu Thai Party who offered differing views on the political situation and the state of emergency.
The minister also visited Rajprasong intersection, scene of much of the protesting by anti-government red- shirt groups in April and May.
"I want to see a political settlement in Thailand where the election reflects accurately the will of the people. I want to see, around the world, democracy and freedom of expression, reconciliation and stability," Brown told the audience in a luncheon speech hosted by the British Chamber of Commerce.
"But it is not the job of the British government to tell the people of Thailand which political system they should have, or what their political will should be," he said.
"That is a task for Thailand to create the settled political order that works for the people, regardless of their political opinion," he said.
"We hope Thailand will be a successful country, having a stable political system in which people enjoy democracy."
On Burma, minister Brown said the new British government would maintain the same stance toward the junta-ruled country as the previous one.
"The situation in Burma in terms of human rights and the freedom of people in Burma is unacceptable. The election planned late this year will not be a legitimate expression of the wills of the people of Burma," he said.
Burma planned to hold its first general election in two decades late this year; but the opposition will not be included and more than 2000 political prisoners are being detained.
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โพสเมื่อ 20-7-2010 09:11
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