Clarification on Thailand

In response to recent articles that have been published by a number of publications including the Bangkok Post and The Nation on 12/02/03 and 13/02/03, in which it was reported that the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights had asked to send a special representative to Thailand following reports of alleged extra-judicial killings of persons suspected of trafficking in drugs, the Office of the High Commissioner wishes to clarify that:
1) The High Commissioner has made no request to send a special representative to Thailand to investigate these alleged extra-judicial killings.
2) The Royal Thai Government had extended an invitation to Ms. Hina Jilani, Special Representative of the Secretary General of the United Nations on the situation of human rights defenders, to visit the country and carry out a fact-finding mission.
3) In response to the invitation of the Royal Thai Government Ms. Hina Jilani was expected to visit Thailand in February 2003. However the mission was temporarily postponed following a request of the Royal Thai Government.
4) The Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights and the Royal Thai Government are currently coordinating to set new dates for Ms. Hina Jilani's visit to Thailand, which will focus on the situation of human rights defenders in the country in accordance with the Declaration on the Right and Responsibility of Individuals, Groups and Organs of Society to Promote and Protect Universally Recognized Human Rights and Fundamental Freedoms. <http://193.194.138.190/news/thailand.htm>

For further information, please contact:

Mr. Nicholas Howen, Regional Representative for Asia-Pacific
United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights
Email: howen@un.org
Tel: 66-2-288-1496/1235 · Fax: 66-2-288-3009 · www.unhchr.ch
UNESCAP, U.N. Building, Room A601, Rajdamnern Nok Avenue, Bangkok, 10200, Thailand

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