[Congressional Record Volume 157, Number 27 (Friday, February 18, 2011)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E268]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




       IN SUPPORT OF BASIC FREEDOMS AND HUMAN RIGHTS IN THAILAND

                                 ______
                                 

                              HON. TED POE

                                of texas

                    in the house of representatives

                      Thursday, February 17, 2011

  Mr. POE of Texas. Mr. Speaker, last November, the Helsinki Commission 
on Security and Cooperation in Europe extended an invitation to the 
former Prime Minister of Thailand Thaksin Shinawatra and a 
representative from the current Thai government to present testimony at 
a briefing on the alleged human rights violations that took place in 
Thailand back in March 2010 at a legal demonstration resulting in the 
deaths of at least 80 Thai civilians and the imprisonment of at least 
350 other civilians.
  Unfortunately, this briefing was postponed until the new Congress 
convened and a new commission chairman was appointed. Now that the new 
Congress is here, I hope the Helsinki Commission will re-issue the 
invitations. I am personally traveling to Thailand next week with my 
colleague Congressman Dana Rohrabacher from the House Committee on 
Foreign Affairs to look into the extent of the alleged human rights 
violations, including the detainment of over 350 demonstrators by the 
current Thai government.
  It is our intention to meet with representatives from the Thai 
Government and with opposition leaders to study the current situation. 
But it is clear that in the wake of the worst violence in decades, the 
Thai Government needs to hold free and fair elections.
  With the recent uprising in Egypt and other parts of the Middle East 
and Asia by individuals who demand their freedom, Congress needs to be 
clear that it stands for the basic freedoms and rights of people around 
the world.

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