On Apr 21, a group of human rights activists and academics called on a senate committee to examine the qualifications of seven prospective human rights commissioners who had been selected by a committee of judges and parliamentarians, and nominated to the Senate for endorsement.

As required by the 2007 Constitution, seven national human rights commissioners are selected by a 7-member selection committee consisting of the presidents of the Supreme Court, the Constitution Court, and the Supreme Administrative Court, the House Speaker, the Leader of the Opposition and two persons appointed by the Supreme Court and Supreme Administrative Court.

On Apr 8, the list of seven finalists selected from 133 applicants was announced: Secretary-General of the Don’t Drive Drunk Foundation Taejing Siripanich, former senator Dr Nirand Pithakwatchara, former Vice President of Nakhon Ratchasima Industry Council Parinya Sirisarakarn, Secretary-General of the Constitution Court Office Paiboon Warahapaithoon, Assistant Police Commander Pol Gen Wanchai Srinualnad, Inspector of the Social Development and Human Security Ministry Wisa Benjamano, and former Dean of Chulalongkorn’s Political Science Faculty Prof Amara Pongsapich.

The names have been forwarded to the senate committee for examination of their qualifications and human rights records, and will be considered for endorsement by the senate.

The senate committee has invited human rights organizations and the public to submit information on the nominated commissioners, and the nominees will be invited to present their visions to the committee on Apr 29.

According to the activists, Article 243 of the constitution requires that the two members of the selection committee selected by the Supreme Court and Supreme Administrative Court must not be judges, but the two are a former Supreme Court judge and a former Supreme Administrative Court judge.

The activists argued that this goes against the spirit of the constitution, which intended persons from other professions.

They said the selection process had never been disclosed to the public, and lacked participation from human rights organizations.

They asked the senate committee to publicly disclose the records and qualifications of the seven nominees, and to involve human rights organizations, the media and the public in hearing their presentations to the committee.