BP: Thai envoys told to clear mess

[suriya@xxxxxxxxxxxx]

April 6, 1998


                                     



                           ASIA-EUROPE SUMMIT

              Thai envoys told to
              clear message

              Confusion on human rights and sex
              issues

              Nussara Sawatsawang
              London

              Prime Minister Chuan Leekpai has urged Thai ambassadors in
              Europe to clarify Thailand's stance on human rights and sex
              slavery to European governments and media.

              He said the government's plan to repatriate illegal Burmese
              workers and its policy on prostitution are two issues which could
              ruin the country's image, if misunderstood. 

              "... We do not want the world to misunderstand us," he said.

              Mr Chuan made his comments during a meeting with 22
              ambassadors and consul generals in Europe on Saturday. The
              meeting was held as a sideline to the second Asia-Europe
              summit, in London, where Mr Chuan joined 25 other Asian and
              European leaders in addressing the economic crisis in Asia.

              The Thai government wants to deport up to 300,000 illegal
              workers to help out jobless Thais. There are an estimated one
              million illegal foreign workers in Thailand, mostly Burmese.

              The planned deportation has prompted concerns about human
              rights violations. However, Mr Chuan said that it was within
              Thailand's rights and that even though the immigrants were
              suffering here too, the government needed to take preventive
              measures. He said health, social problems, and crime all came
              with the illegal workers.

              The government, he said, had made it clear to the United
              Nations High Commissioner for Refugees that it could not afford
              to accommodate the increasing number of Burmese and Karen
              refugees seeking shelter along the Thai-Burmese border.

              As for prostitution problem, Mr Chuan said the government
              would fight against child sex slavery.

              On the economic front, the prime minister asked the ambassador
              to France, Tej Bunnag, and the one to Italy, Somboon
              Sa-ngiambutr, to lobby those countries' governments to allow
              Thai exporters to export products there under low tariffs.
              Exports of several industrial and agricultural items, especially of
              shrimp, to Europe are facing higher taxes following the
              withdrawal of the Generalised Systems of Preference privileges
              last year. From next January, the full tariff rate will apply to Thai
              exports.

              Thailand has tried to get the European Union to relax its decision
              because of the current economic crisis but Italy and France are
              major opponents to the request.

              During his stay in London, Mr Chuan also held bilateral talks
              with President Jacques Chirac of France and President Romano
              Prodi of Italy.

              Foreign Minister Surin Pitsuwan, who met European
              Commission vice-president Manuel Marin and other European
              counterparts, said the EU would evaluate the economic status of
              Thailand this July and it was possible the GSP privileges might be
              reviewed on the basis of the outcome.




                                     




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Last Modified: Mon, Apr 6, 1998