The National Human Rights Commission of Thailand (NHRCT) will be downgraded in October this year if the selection process for its commissioners is not improved, says the UN office on human rights.
Dozens of local civil society organisations also have joined international NGOs in demanding the National Legislative Assembly (NLA) reject the new seven human rights commissioners, saying that a more democratic selection process should be put in place first.
"The regional office of the UN Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights has been closely following developments and we are deeply concerned the nomination of the commissioners does not comply with international human rights standards, which would demand a transparent and consultative process," said Matilda Bogner, the office's Regional Representative for South-East Asia.
"We echo the recommendation made by the International Coordinating Committee on National Institutions for the Promotion and Protection of Human Rights [ICC], a global body which accredits national human rights institutions, that the selection process must be improved, if the Thai commission is to be a credible body," Ms Bogner told the Bangkok Post.
"If the concern about the selection process is not addressed by October, the NHRCT will be downgraded from A to B status," she warned. The ICC, established in 1993 to strengthen national human rights institutions, issued a report on Dec 31, 2014, pointing out that Thailand's NHRC was composed of "officials from a very small number of public institutions, with no clear representation, or a requirement for consultation with key stakeholder groups or civil society".
They have recommended a downgrade in the ranking of the NHRC to "B" status, which would result in the NHRCT losing privileges to present its views at the United Nations Human Rights Council.
Meanwhile, 33 NGOs and activists nationwide led by the Union for Civil Liberty (UCL) and the NGO Coordinating Committee has issued an open letter demanding the NLA overturn the nomination of the seven new NHRCT commissioners.
In July 21, three women and four men were nominated out of 121 candidates by the selection committee as new NHRCT commissioners.
The seven nominees are Baworn Yasinthorn, a leader of the ultra-royalist movement Citizen Volunteers for Defence of the Three Institutions; Chatsuda Chandeeying, a school owner and an associate judge of Samut Prakarn province's juvenile and family court; Prakayrat Tonteerawong, a board member of the Thai Women Empowerment Funds and an associate judge of Nonthaburi province's juvenile and family court.
The others are Wat Tingsamid, a former Supreme Court judge; Supachai Thanomsap, a medical doctor at Ramathibodi Hospital; Surachet Satidniramai, the acting permanent secretary of the Public Health Ministry; and Angkhana Neelaphaijit, a human rights defender who has campaigned against forced disappearances, torture, and other state-sanctioned abuses.
The NGOs and activists argued there were no clear criteria governing the qualifications of candidates, which could open the body to allegations that the selected commissioners were a poor choice.
Selection was conducted by secret vote, which fell short of the accountability and transparency needed to assure the public that the candidates were capable.
A flawed selection process will undermine the credibility of the NHRCT and Thailand in the eyes of the international community, the Thai NGOs said.
They also called for the NLA to enlist a bigger selection committee in line with the Paris Principles. No word was to hand on whether the human rights body is prepared to review its picks.