US embassy cable - 05BANGKOK7086

UNCLAS BANGKOK 007086 
 
SIPDIS 
 
E.O. 12958: N/A 
TAGS: PGOV, TH, UNGA, Demarche 
SUBJECT: DEMARCHE DELIVERED- UNGA HUMAN RIGHTS RESOLUTIONS 
 
REF: REF: SECSTATE 204646 
 
1. (SBU) On November 10, Poloff delivered Reftel talking 
points to Mr. Peerasak Chantavarin, Director of the Social 
Division of the International Organizations Department of the 
MFA. Peerasak responded that he was familiar with the 
resolutions since he had received telephone calls from the 
Japanese and EU missions earlier in the week. Peerasak asked 
why there was so much interest in passing these UNGA 
resolutions this year. Poloff replied that human rights 
issues were always a matter of common concern to the USG, the 
EU, Japan as well as other countries. The USG hoped that 
despite the RTG's longstanding official policy to not "name 
and shame" specific countries, Thailand would take a look at 
the grave human rights situation in these five nations, and 
choose to vote with us. Poloff also hoped that unlike last 
year, the RTG would not vote in favor of "no-action motions". 
(NOTE: In 2004, Thailand voted in favor of "no-action 
motions" on the resolutions on human rights in Belarus and 
Turkmenistan. END NOTE) 
 
2. (U) Peerasak thanked Poloff and said that his office would 
consider the information provided in the three demarches. 
However, he did not offer any indication that the RTG would 
be giving up its longstanding policy of abstaining on such 
resolutions if and when they come to a vote. (NOTE: In 2004, 
Thailand abstained on similar resolutions on Iran and 
Turkmenistan. END NOTE) During a follow-up call to the IO 
Department on Tuesday, November 15 Poloff was told that the 
RTG was still considering the issue and had no information to 
report on how they would vote. 
BOYCE