Thailand: Recent Events (Hansard, 9 June 1992)

§ Baroness Trumpington
My Lords, we have repeatedly registered our serious anxieties about the recent events in Thailand.

§ Lord Judd
My Lords, does the Minister appreciate that the many of us who know Thailand were numbed by the horror of the slaughter of the innocents? Therefore we are greatly encouraged by the fact that the Government, in keeping with their commitment to human rights, have suspended the aid programme. What pre-conditions will be insisted upon before aid is resumed? In particular, will the Government insist upon an inquiry into the atrocity and the punishment of those found to be guilty?

§ Baroness Trumpington
My Lords, we are consulting our EC partners on the appropriate response to recent events. However, we see nothing to be gained from taking measures which hurt the Thai people and have no effect upon those responsible for the outrages in Bangkok.

§ Lord Molloy
My Lords, in the important part of his question my noble friend Lord Judd asked: what will we do to ensure that the terrible things that have happened are not repeated?

§ Baroness Trumpington
My Lords, it is a little difficult to answer that question. There is overwhelming support in the Thai Parliament for constitutional amendments. That is an encouraging first step towards a peaceful and democratic solution of the crisis. Our view is that it is important that an effective government emerges as soon as possible.

§ Lord Cledwyn of Penrhos
My Lords, everyone in the House has been appalled by the dreadful occurrences under the oppressive military regime in Thailand. It will be of great interest to the House if the noble Baroness can say whether Her Majesty's Government believe that parliamentary government has been restored in Thailand. Can she also tell us whether those responsible for the killings have been or are being brought to justice?

§ Baroness Trumpington
My Lords, the answer to the last part of the noble Lord's question is that it is a matter for the Thai Government. As regards the first part, unless the parliamentary opposition can attract one or more parties from the government coalition to 1187 form a new coalition, the only way in which to resolve the present deadlock may be the dissolution of parliament and the holding of new elections.

§ Lord Cledwyn of Penrhos
My Lords, can the noble Baroness say whether there is any prospect of new elections taking place?

§ Baroness Trumpington
No, my Lords, I cannot. Again, it is a matter for the Thai Government. On 3rd June, the constitutional tribunal decided that the amnesty which had been created was constitutional, although that amnesty may still be debated in parliament. The situation in Thailand is fluid, although the violence is over.

§ Viscount Mountgarret
My Lords, does my noble friend agree that these matters are entirely the concern of that country? We may deplore or regret; but beyond that, there is not a great deal we can do about it. We should also applaud the great assistance that the monitors gave in trying to bring sense to bear on the unfortunate affairs of Thailand.

§ Baroness Trumpington
My Lords, it is important that we register our feelings strongly, and not only with the Thai ambassador in this country. In a press statement on 19th May, we also called on the Thai Government and the army to show maximum restraint in their handling of the situation and to avoid further casualties. However, forming a government is a matter for the country concerned.

§ Lord Judd
My Lords, does the noble Baroness appreciate that the Government received a great deal of international respect when they went powerfully on the record and said that in future their aid programmes would take fully into account human rights considerations? Therefore, the Government will have nothing but support from the House if they are intransigent in their position that those guilty must be brought to justice in Thailand before full aid programmes can be resumed.

§ Baroness Trumpington
My Lords, our regular aid programme is worth £1.4 million and it is focused mainly on technical training and the teaching of the English language. It is administered largely by the British Council, and it seems to me that it would be a pity to cut it off.