Topic:
Country: Thailand
Delegate Name: Kierstin Morley
Private Military Contractors (PMC), private entities providing military services, is a prevalent topic of discussion due to its habitual use in conflict zones, humanitarian missions and the ongoing debate over accountability in relation to human right abuses. As privately owned companies, PMC’s are not directly subjugated to international law in the same way that state military forces are, raising concerns regarding human right violations and war crimes. Lack of regulation results in potentially unchecked civilian casualties and human right abuses.
Thailand approaches the issue of PMC’s with advocacy for national sovereignty, prevention of human right abuses and avoiding international law violations through PMC regulation within the country. The limitation of PMC allows for the national priorities of Thailand to be the primary focus and allow for PMC’s to work within the legal framework of a country. Thailand’s use of PMC is limited to non-combat support roles and security services evident in its use of maritime security in the Gulf of Thailand and Andaman Sea and counter-narcotic operations.
Although Thailand supports the efforts of the United Nations Security Council and the United Nations Human Rights councils attempts to hold PMC’s accountable for human right violations, Thailand also recognizes the potential repercussions of severe regulations and the rights of independent states to preserve national sovereignty. Thailand wishes to address these concerns through resolutions that work to balance regulatory concerns with the sovereignty of individual state’s.
The Kingdom of Thailand recognizes the UN’s obligation to discuss the role of PMC’s and is committed to addressing this issue with a collaborative approach. Thailand suggests PMC’s comply with international agreements that their country of origins are party to. Thailand advocates that PMC’s follow the legal framework of the country they derive from, meaning nations under certain international agreements should in turn have PMC’s that follow those regulations. This suggestion prevents the use of war crimes, improves transparency allowing for less oversight, increases accountability, and decreases potential for human rights abuses.
