NEWS - Equal rights for all Thais s

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Subject: NEWS - Equal rights for all Thais sought

The Nation - May 18, 1999

Headlines

Equal rights for all Thais sought

THE Constitution Court was yesterday urged to help enforce the
Constitution
to ensure equal rights, dignity and freedom for all Thais.

At a seminar marking the one-year anniversary of the Constitution,
organised
at the Public Relations Department, representatives of non-government
organisations called on the Constitution Court to curb human rights
violations of less-privileged groups, suspects, prisoners, women and
children.

Kulphol Pholwan, special attorney to the Office of the Attorney-General,
said although the Constitution has guaranteed equal rights for all
Thais, in
practice the dignity and the rights of some members of the public
continue
to be violated. For instance, police continue to be empowered to
imprison
suspects who are not yet convicted for up to two years instead of fining
them.

''Some suspects become crippled because they cannot stand the harsh
living
conditions of over-crowded police station cells. Some women suspects are
put
in the same cell along with male suspects,'' he said.

Kaewson Athipho, a former draftsman of the Constitution Drafting
Assembly,
said the Constitution Court should ensure the government provides health
care, education and protection to children. ''It is extremely important
that
children receive free compulsory education because education gives them
the
foundation,'' he said.

He urged lawyers and legal experts to help enforce the Constitution by
assisting people who want legal consultation over their constitutional
rights.

''The public must be given access to official information. The
government
must allow the people to take part in the administration through
organising
public hearings on any important projects,'' he said.

Rossana Tosittrakul, secretary-general of the Foundation for Health,
said
one case which proves that not all Thais are treated equally before the
law
is the fact that politicians are not subject to a Bt100,000 fine if they
petition to impeach other politicians while other members of the public
are
forced to pay the fine should the charges be dismissed.

She said although the present Constitution is believed to be very
up-to-date
and well-written, only its enforcement will make it beneficial to the
public.


''There is a saying that Thailand is modern but not developed. The
problem
we are facing now is how we are going to enforce the Constitution which
is
believed to be one of the most modern statutes,'' she asked.