Government also distances itself from embassy’s high-profile drive calling for release of hostages
PUBLISHED : 18 Jan 2024 at 20:41
A pro-Palestine group has called on parliament to pressure the Israeli embassy into ending a high-profile local campaign calling for the release of hostages taken by Hamas in Gaza, saying it risks undermining Thailand’s neutrality.
The campaign involves 100 tuk-tuks featuring the faces of over 130 people currently held hostage by Hamas and messages demanding their release. The vehicles are being deployed across the capital for about three weeks.
In a petition submitted to Parliament President Wan Muhamad Noor Matha, the Palestine Solidarity Campaign-Thailand (PSCT) questioned why the Ministry of Foreign Affairs allowed the campaign to go ahead in the first place.
Foreign Affairs Minister Parnpree Bahiddha-Nukara said on Tuesday that the Israeli embassy did not discuss the campaign with the ministry.
Speaking from the World Economic Forum in Davos, Mr Parnpree said Thailand disagrees with the campaign as it could have ramifications for the remaining Thai hostages being held by Hamas.
While in Davos, the minister was expected to meet Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman Al Thani, the prime minister of Qatar, to discuss the release of the hostages. Qatar has been instrumental in bringing many parties together to secure the release of a number of Israeli, Thai and other hostages.
Somchai Wirunphol, the PSCT chairman, said the tuk-tuk campaign by Orna Sagiv, the Israeli ambassador, was an attempt to pressure the Thai government to side with Israel in the conflict, which undermines Thailand’s political neutrality.
He said the campaign contradicted an agreement made during a session of the United Nations General Assembly that a ceasefire and delivery of humanitarian aid for Gaza civilians must take place before negotiations on the hostages can begin.