Human rights under a situation of heightened unrest[1]: contrasting opinions between a human rights activist and an army general

 Deep South Watch

" Would the government be bold enough to hold a referendum to determine if locals in the three southern border provinces want the Emergency Decree? The people wish to have an efficient and fair judicial system, but the current system is hampered by inefficiency and arbitrary decision-making. In the end, it is families and communities that suffer the most from the lack of justice in the far south.” Sittipong Chantaraviroj, Secretary-General of the Muslim Attorney Center, said 

          The Project of Public Services of the Southern Provinces held a seminar titled Human rights during an abnormal situation at the CS Pattani Hotel in Pattani, Thailand.  The Deep South Watch documented this event and recorded the presentations delivered by a human rights activist and highly-ranked military commander.

          Human rights and security are interdependent and interrelated issues for human life.  While the goal of security is to protect people’s lives and property, human rights is a significant issue that can contribute to people’s well-being.  But what exactly is the boundary between the two?  And importantly, in the context of the conflict and violence in Thailand’s southern border provinces, why have neither human rights nor security been fully developed?