The visit of the Amnesty International’s Secretary General was mainly to discuss with PM Yingluck on issues related to human rights in both domestic and international aspects as well as to give PM Yingluck the Amnesty International’s annual report on human rights for 2013. Both parties took this opportunity to exchange views and discuss on such diversified human rights issues as migrant labors and Rohinya refugees, Thailand’s role in ASEAN human rights movement, freedom of expression, current situation of the Southern border provinces, and capital punishment issue.
On the issue of migrant labors and Rohinya refugees, both parties discussed about the livelihood of these people. PM Yingluck reaffirmed the Secretary General of the Amnesty International that the Thai Government had always treated and taken care of migrant labors and refugees on the basis of human rights. Thai immigration officers also treated migrant labors and Rohinya refugees based on the international principles. On Thailand’s role in ASEAN human rights movement, the Secretary-General thanked Thailand for its cooperation with the Amnesty International and commended Thai leadership on the human rights movement in ASEAN and active participation in the solution of problem related to human rights. He expressed his hope that Thailand would continue to push forward more ASEAN’s human rights initiatives in the future.
The Secretary General of the Amnesty International also expressed his concern on the laws that restricted people’s freedom of expression, and called for the amendment of these laws. Both parties came to terms that freedom of expression in communicating one's opinions and ideas under the Constitution must be on the basis of social responsibility. On the issue of Thailand’s Southern insurgency, the Secretary-General was assured on his concern about violence being exploited in curbing the ongoing situation that the Thai Government had intended to seek solution to the Southern conflict with peace and peace talk to brainstorm all stakeholders of the best possible solution. On capital punishment issue, the Thai Government had made amendment on its policies and laws to be in line with the International Human Rights Law of which Thailand is a member. Thailand had renounced the death penalty for those under the age of 18 years while pregnant women, inmate mothers, and people with severe mental illness were spared from the death penalty.