HRW : Political parties ignore rights issues

Today's Sports News - Wednesday December 12, 2007

HRW : Political parties ignore rights issues

(BangkokPost.com) - Political parties and candidates have failed to make human rights a campaign issue despite Thailand's pressing human rights concerns in the run-up to the Dec 23 general election, Human Rights Watch said Wednesday.

"It's not a matter of human rights taking a backseat in the Thai elections, politicians are not addressing human rights in the first place," said Asia director at Human Rights Watch Brad Adams.

Human rights issues have been in the international spot light especially during former pm Thaksin Shinawatra’s administration. Thousands of cases of extra-judicial killings were reported as a result of his war on drugs campaign.

Thaksin’s government is also blamed for sparking the southern insurgency movement, after officials involved in the Krue Se and Tak Bai incidents were not punished.

"While speaking about the need for political reform, parties have failed miserably to present any plan on how to reverse the continuing attacks on basic rights, especially the proposed new internal security law that would make elections meaningless,” Adams said.

10:26 Dec 12, 2007

Update : Nikkei closes down on Wall Street fall

Tokyo (dpa) - The US market's overnight dive and a stronger yen dragged Tokyo stocks down at the close of Wednesday trading.

The Nikkei 225 Stock Average fell 112.46 points, or 0.7 per cent, to close at 15,932.26.

The broader Topix index of all first-section issues was also down 10.09 points, or 0.64 per cent, at 1,556.93.

On currency markets at midday (0300 GMT), the dollar was quoted at 110.82-87 yen, down from Tuesday's 5 pm quote of 111.85-88 yen.

The euro was quoted at 1.4659-62 dollars, down from Tuesday's 5 pm quote of 1.4721-24 dollars, and at 162.47-52 yen, down from 164.69-73 yen.
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Earlier story :

Tokyo stocks down on Wall Street fall

Tokyo (dpa) - The US market's overnight dive and a stronger yen dragged Tokyo stocks down Wednesday morning.

The Nikkei 225 Stock Average plunged 294.85 points, or 1.84 per cent, to 15,749.87.

The broader Topix index of all first-section issues was also down 26.42 points, or 1.69 per cent, at 1,540.60.

On currency markets at 9 am (000 GMT), the dollar was quoted at 110.85-90 yen, down from Tuesday's 5 pm quote of 111.85-88 yen.

The euro was quoted at 1.4662-67 dollars, down from Tuesday's 5 pm quote of 1.4721-24 dollars, and at 162.56-59 yen, down from 164.69-73 yen.

09:45 Dec 12, 2007

Bangkok Post