Rights Beautiful Collection of Professor Saneh Chamarik
instead concentrate on the task of creative development to promote
people’s capacity building that we have been concerned with all along.
To be able to fulfill the mission, the UN also needs to find ways and
means to undergo democratic reforms. Could we contribute something
to this effect, at least in ideas if not in action, as citizens of the UN’s
member states? Indeed, at this most critical moment in history, the world
is really in bad and urgent need of constructive ideas and public opinion
vis-à-vis a new form of arbitrariness and totalitarianism. For under such
a fluid and ambivalent state of affairs, there is hardly, if at all, a place
for human rights and dignity. And for that matter, for all of us
gathering here.
One more word of reminder about Prof. Vitit’s concept paper.
Whatever strengths and weaknesses, at the very least it manages to
lay a groundwork for positive line of thinking and action above and
beyond the negative politics of human rights that, more often than not,
stands in the way of creative thinking and forward-looking dialogues.
I hope you agree with me that this is the key to making our progress
possible in the long run. I for one do not believe it is beyond the capacity
of the intellectual forum such as this one to cope with the task at hand.
Finally, after all the fruitful and tireless dialogues in this 3rd
Workshop, and on behalf of the Thai NHRC, I wish to express our sincere
thanks to our two co-hosts: the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the
Regional Working Group on an ASEAN Human Rights Mechanism. It is
indeed a privilege for us, the NHRC of Thailand, to be part of the
mission. I also wish to extend our gratitude to all invited speakers and
resource persons, especially Prof. Vitit Muntabhorn for his most valuable
contributions, and the very hard-working Secretariat Team for making
this Workshop possible amidst many uncertainties. Last but not least,
I wish to thank all of you, distinguished participants, for your great spirit
of co-operation.
Now I wish to declare the Workshop close.
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OFFICE OF THE NATIONAL HUMAN RIGHTS COMMISSION OF THAILAND