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Published on February 15, 2008

Saneh Chamarik, chairman of the National Human Rights Commission, warned the administration could cause a regression in human rights standards.

"The big capitalists in the government are linked to transnational capitalists," said Saneh, pointing to the administration's intention to review the compulsory licensing of prohibitively priced drugs introduced by the previous administration.

"There must be something behind it. Another minister also said he would support the controversial eucalyptus plantations. These could lead to an era of regression," said Saneh, who gave a keynote speech to launch Mahidol University's Thai-language postgraduate programme in human rights studies on Wednesday.

Former senator Jon Ungpakorn, another speaker, said the foundation of human rights in Thailand should not depend on any particular administration. People should make an effort to strengthen civil society so they can become self-reliant.

Jon said there were many second-class citizens in Thailand today, and the Thaksin and junta-installed administrations were not so different when it came to respecting human rights, although Thaksin presided over the killing of over 1,000 "innocent" people during the war on drugs.

Cultural and democratic rights continue to be a challenge and laws such as lese majeste should be abolished so people can truly have freedom of speech.

Jon criticised Prime Minister Samak for having said during a recent interview with CNN that only one person was killed during the October 6, 1976 massacre as at least 46 were killed. His comments did not bode well for the new administration.

He urged the government to drop the Internal Security Bill passed by the military-appointed regime.

Jon said civic leaders must think about promoting human rights on a long term basis because the majority of people do not appear to understand what it means.

Pravit Rojanaphruk

The Nation