The European Union has suspended official visits to and from Thailand as well as the Partnership and Cooperation Agreement with Thailand.
In a statement following its meeting Monday in Luxembourg, the European Union’s Foreign Affairs Council called on Thailand’s military junta to urgently restore the legitimate democratic process and the Constitution, through credible and inclusive elections.
It called on all parties to exercise the utmost restraint, respect and uphold human rights and fundamental freedoms.
Furthermore the council urged military authorities to free all political detainees, to refrain from any further arrests for political reasons and to remove censorship.
The Partnership and Cooperation Agreement, completed last November but yet to be ratified, would boost cooperation in tourism, employment, education, migration, transport and environment as well as allow for a closer political dialogue.
It was unclear whether ongoing negotiations on a bilateral free trade agreement would be affected.
Goods traded between the EU and Thailand totaled around 32 billion euros ($43.3 billion) in 2013, according to EU data.
“Only an early and credible roadmap for a return to constitutional rule and the holding of credible and inclusive elections will allow for the EU’s continued support,” it said.
The EU urged the Thai military “to restore, as a matter of urgency, the legitimate democratic process and the constitution, through credible and inclusive elections”. It also demanded the release of all political detainees and an end to censorship.
Earlier military junta chief Gen Prayuth Chan-ocha said a process of reconciliation between political factions and reforms would take about a year and a general election would only be held after that.
******* EU sanctions Thailand ****** ( BY : ROBINHOOD )
The European Union has suspended official visits to and from Thailand as well as the Partnership and Cooperation Agreement with Thailand.
In a statement following its meeting Monday in Luxembourg, the European Union’s Foreign Affairs Council called on Thailand’s military junta to urgently restore the legitimate democratic process and the Constitution, through credible and inclusive elections.
It called on all parties to exercise the utmost restraint, respect and uphold human rights and fundamental freedoms.
Furthermore the council urged military authorities to free all political detainees, to refrain from any further arrests for political reasons and to remove censorship.
The Partnership and Cooperation Agreement, completed last November but yet to be ratified, would boost cooperation in tourism, employment, education, migration, transport and environment as well as allow for a closer political dialogue.
It was unclear whether ongoing negotiations on a bilateral free trade agreement would be affected.
Goods traded between the EU and Thailand totaled around 32 billion euros ($43.3 billion) in 2013, according to EU data.
“Only an early and credible roadmap for a return to constitutional rule and the holding of credible and inclusive elections will allow for the EU’s continued support,” it said.
The EU urged the Thai military “to restore, as a matter of urgency, the legitimate democratic process and the constitution, through credible and inclusive elections”. It also demanded the release of all political detainees and an end to censorship.
Earlier military junta chief Gen Prayuth Chan-ocha said a process of reconciliation between political factions and reforms would take about a year and a general election would only be held after that.