Group Rights

Thailand: Political Violence Leads to Human Rights Abuses

The political conflict in Thailand that has been raging since 14 March 2010 between the United Front of Democracy against Dictatorship (UDD) known as the ‘Red Shirts’ and the government of Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva has led to violence and possible human rights abuses. At least 85 have been killed and 1,898 injured according to the Public Health Ministry, and violence has spread beyond the capital Bangkok.

Although the government has used military force against the protestors and hostilities in have been continuing for some time, the violence is unlikely to be classified as an ‘armed conflict’ for the purposes of international humanitarian law. However Thailand remains bound by a number of international human rights obligations.

Violence peaked on 10 April, when the government’s attempt to forcibly disperse anti-government protests organized by the (UDD) and supported by former prime minister Thaksin Shinawatra escalated into a street battle in the capital. According to the Erawan Emergency Medical Center, 15 civilians and 5 soldiers were killed by gunshots, explosions from grenades and improvised explosive devices and beatings. At least 569 civilians, 265 soldiers, and 8 police officers were injured from teargas inhalation, assaults, and gunshot and shrapnel wounds.

The protestors were successfully dispersed last week in a bloody military crackdown during which the army shot at them, used armoured vehicles to destroy their bamboo-and-tire barricades and forced them to retreat from the city centre. All these allegations could give rise to violations of the right to life and personal security and the right to freedom of peaceful assembly.

Along with Libya and twelve other countries, Thailand was elected to the United Nations Human Rights Council (HRC) on 13 May, as the Royal Thai Army was shooting and killing people in Bangkok amid continuing political turmoil.

The situation in Thailand, and more specifically Bangkok, could be best described as a state of turmoil or “internal unrest” where fundamental human rights are being violated.