The chair of the European Parliament's sub-committee on human rights, Pier Antonio Panzeri (S&D, Italy), who is leading a delegation of six MEPs in Thailand from 16-18 July, has urged the country to organise "a free and fair general election in line with international standards with a view to restoring a democratically elected civilian government with functional democratic institutions". The election, which is repeatedly postponed, is planned for February 2019.
In his press release, Panzeri warns that "a return to democracy through free, fair and inclusive elections constitutes an essential condition for the EU-Thailand relationship enabling the resumption of negotiations on the free trade agreement as well as the signature of the EU-Thailand partnership and cooperation agreement".
He calls for civil and political rights to be restored "by lifting all restrictions on freedom of expression, freedom of assembly and association with a conducive environment for political parties, civil society organisations and human rights defenders to exercise their rights freely and peacefully". In Panzeri's view, Thailand should reconsider the disproportionate use of criminal and sedition laws, "which often carry penalties of imprisonment against human rights defenders", and it should "investigate human rights violations committed by the security forces".
The European Parliament will follow the electoral process carefully and will assess the situation of human rights defenders regularly, as it will that of workers, Panzeri stated. (Original version in French by Camille-Cerise Gessant)