Sunday 12th September 2010, 7.

15pm

The FCCT has received the following statement:

The International Federation for Human Rights (FIDH) and the Vietnam Committee on
Human Rights (VCHR) regret to inform you that our organisations have decided to cancel
the press conference planned for September 13th, 2010 at the FCCT to launch our report,
"From vision to facts: HUMAN RIGHTS IN VIETNAM under its chairmanship of ASEAN",
due to the fact that both of our speakers have been denied entry into Thailand by the Thai
authorities. Please inform your members and others accordingly.

International Federation for Human Rights and Vietnam Committee on Human Rights.

FCCT Under Pressure to Cancel Press Conference

Sunday 12th September 2010

Approximately one month ago, the FCCT accepted a booking from the Paris-based
International Federation for Human Rights (FIDH) and the Vietnam Committee on Human
Rights (VCHR) for them to hold a press conference in the Clubhouse launching a new
report, "From Rhetoric to Reality: HUMAN RIGHTS IN VIETNAM ", on Monday, September
13th.

The event has been publicised continuously in The Bulletin, our weekly e-newsletter, since
August 16th.

However, this past Thursday evening, September 9th, we were contacted by the Thai
Ministry of Foreign Affairs, asking that we cancel the press conference as it might contain
information detrimental to a neighbouring country. We pointed out that this press
conference was not sponsored by the FCCT but was a paid event, at which point the
Ministry asked us to convey to the event organisers that it was Thailand's intention to deny
visas to the scheduled speakers.

We declined to accept that responsibility, reasoning that it was improper for us to act as a
messenger in what should be a confidential matter between individuals and a sovereign
government, over which we had no control and in which we had no legal standing.

As for taking action to cancel the press conference, we asked the Ministry to explain its
position in writing. On Friday evening, we received an e-mail from Khun Thani
Thongphakdi, the Ministry's acting director general of the department of information.
It stated:
"I wish to refer to the press conference to be organized by the International Federation for
Human Rights (FIDH) and Vietnam Committee on Human Rights (VCHR) to launch its
report, 'From Rhetoric to Reality: HUMAN RIGHTS IN VIETNAM , Under its Chairmanship
of ASEAN in 2010', which is scheduled to be held at the Foreign Correspondents' Club of
Thailand (FCCT) on Monday 13 September 2010.

"While the Royal Thai Government attaches great importance to the principles of freedom
of expression and diversity of views, it also has a long-standing position of not allowing
organizations and/or persons to use Thailand as a place to conduct activities detrimental
to other countries. I therefore hope that the FCCT will respect this position and not allow its
premises to be used for such activities.

"I thank you for your understanding and cooperation."

The FCCT attaches great importance to the principles of free expression and diversity of
views. We also appreciate the importance the Thai government has placed in such
principles, as stated in the Foreign Ministry's note.

We feel it is unfortunate that the Thai government has chosen to apply pressure on us in
this way. We would appreciate if the government reconsiders the wisdom of such pressure.

The organisers informed the FCCT on Sunday evening that they have cancelled the press
conference.

Executive Committee,
FCCT