Mr. James Hamilton, President of the International Association of Prosecutors or IAP,
Distinguished Participants, Ladies and Gentlemen,
It is an honour to be invited to the 17th Annual International Association of Prosecutors’ Conference. May I extend a warm welcome to all participants from around the world to Thailand. I have never been in a room with so many leading legal experts, so it is good that I do not have to engage in a legal debate with any of you!
I understand there are about 200 participants from some 70 countries here. Each of us comes from different legal frameworks and traditions, based on diverse cultural heritage. Some have common law traditions, others focus on civil law. Also, some base their laws on religious values.
Thailand respects all legal systems and despite our differences, I believe there are some important common elements, so please allow me to highlight them here.
First is the importance of rule of law.
Rule of law is a basic element to our lives and society. It is the foundation of our domestic legal order that helps support social stability. It is fundamental to democracy since it ensures that the rights and liberties of all individuals are protected. On the international front, rule of law is vital to peaceful relations across all nations.
For Thailand, the challenge to build a stable democracy is important for national reconciliation to happen and to build a better quality of life through sustainable economic growth and development. Without a transparent and effective rule of law, the process will be disrupted.
But for rule of law to be effective, it must be based on a number of factors. One of the most important is equality before the law and equal treatment under the law. People must truly feel that they are being treated equally and fairly. This is why strengthening rule of law is an important priority of this Government. It has been applied to many important issues, from political conflicts to violence in the Southern Border Provinces.
Rule of law can lead to business growth. Effective enforcement of legal contracts promoting transparency, creating a level playing field for all, is essential to the growth in business and investment. Without legal certainty, there is higher risk for investment. My Government will work under this principle which will be applied to my Government’s plan to invest 74 billion US dollars in major infrastructure and logistics projects, where we invite international firms to participate.
Another important issue is international legal cooperation. Because the world is becoming more and more connected, we need to work together to promote international legal cooperation to help us face challenges that come from globalization.
For example, with Thailand actively promoting connectivity within our region and beyond, some individuals or groups may try to take advantage of this by engaging in transnational crime. Human trafficking, drug trafficking and money laundering can increase if we do not have strong legal cooperation to manage this issue. That is why the theme of the conference, focusing on transnational organized crime, is so timely.
To address these challenges, Thailand pursues bilateral legal cooperation and assistance with many countries. We also support multilateral agreements that promote such cooperation. In this connection, we are working towards endorsing the UN Convention against Transnational Organized Crimes. As we move towards an ASEAN Community by the year 2015, it is important that we further strengthen our legal cooperation. This may include information sharing to prosecute criminals across national boundaries and also exchanges of best practices.
Ladies and Gentlemen,
Lastly, let me touch on the critical role of public prosecutors because they are so important to our legal order.
Public prosecutors perform many important functions for our society. They are required to provide unbiased judgment to protect people from criminals, provide compensation to victims of crimes, and, most importantly, to guarantee the rights and freedoms of people.
In other words, public prosecutors are central to promoting rule of law, effective legal enforcement and the promotion of social order while respecting the rights of the people. Their actions help enforce the law and ensure respect for rule of law. It is important that we continue to support development of public prosecutors with the highest standards of professionalism and integrity.
To conclude, I wish to take this opportunity to congratulate the Office of the Attorney-General for their dedication in carrying out important duties for the Thai society as well as for their role in enhancing international cooperation on legal matters. I would also like to compliment all of you for taking up this honourable profession so that societies and the international community can enjoy the full benefits of the force of law.
I am confident that this international conference will be fruitful and contribute to a more effective rule of law in our societies and promote peaceful international legal order. May I wish all of you an enjoyable stay in Thailand.
Thank you.