Coup Remains Big Setback for Rights

The New York-based rights organisation said it was concerned over some of the steps taken aimed at ensuring a permanent role for the military in Thai politics than it has in the previous elected government.

Thai army launched a coup in September last year, accusing the then prime minister Thaksin Shinawatra gross corruption, undermining democracy and polarising the country.

"Thaksin's contempt for human rights and democracy was evident, but Thailand is worse off because of the coup," said Brad Adams, Asia director at HRW.

"Martial law remains in many areas of the country, there are greater restrictions on the media, and many key institutions such as the parliament, the Constitutional Tribunal, and the Election Commission have become tools of military rule," Adam said.

HRW called on the government and the junta to lift the martial law for the entire country, ensure that the upcoming general election be free and put an end to all the unlawful restriction to the media.

"The problem in the past has been the inability of democratic institutions to function independently and check the misuse of power by the government and other vested interests, including those of the military," said Adams.

"The military sponsored constitution does not fix that problem, but instead allows key powers to be controlled and manipulated by appointees from the military and bureaucracy at the expense of elected leaders," he said.

//The Nation