BANGKOK, Dec. 12 (UPI) -- Candidates in the upcoming general election in Thailand haven't made human rights an issue, Human Rights Watch said Wednesday.
The election, scheduled for Dec. 23, is to replace the military government that took power in a bloodless coup in September 2006.
"It's not a matter of human rights taking a backseat in the Thai elections, they are simply not even present," said Brad Adams, Human Rights Watch's Asia director. "This pivotal election makes it more critical than ever for Thai political parties to put forward an agenda for ending abuses and impunity."
The military junta has continued abuses practiced by the government of Thaksin Shinawatra, the prime minister ousted in 2006, Human Rights Watch said. Thousands of people have been killed as a result of anti-drug and counterinsurgency campaigns, while human rights activists have vanished or been killed.
The government's actions contribute to continued instability in Thailand by providing the justification for insurgent groups, Human Rights Watch said.
