US blasts Thailand's human rights record

US blasts Thailand's human rights record

The US Department of State has released a highly critical report detailing what it regards as Thailand's human rights failings.

The report, released last week, highlighted officials' impunity and the chronic use of special laws in the deep South as well as others used against political opponents as cause for concern.

The department's report claimed abuses by government security forces and local defence volunteers were also a continuing problem.

Security forces, the report said, were guilty of using excessive force, including killing, torturing and otherwise abusing suspects, detainees and prisoners. Government limits on freedom of speech and the media were also highlighted.

Other problems cited in the report were the country's overcrowded and unsanitary prison and detention facilities; arbitrary arrests and detention; limits on freedom of assembly; insufficient protection for vulnerable people, including refugees; violence and discrimination against women; sex tourism; sexual exploitation of children; human trafficking; discrimination against persons with disabilities, minorities, hill tribes and foreign migrant workers; child labour, and limitations on workers' rights.

While members of security forces found to have committed abuses were occasionally disciplined and criminally prosecuted, official impunity remained a major concern, the report said, especially in provinces subject to the 2005 Emergency Decree, the 2008 Internal Security Act and martial law.

Observers noted this year's report was more rounded and detailed, especially regarding the southern insurgency.

Figures and names as well as statistics of each problem area and cases were included in the report.

The report also criticised official corruption and a lack of transparency in official actions as well as the government's poor attitude regarding international and NGO investigations into human rights abuses in the country.

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