Thailand lost its membership of the United Nations...

Thailand lost its membership of the United Nations High Commission on Human Rights after a secret ballot at the UN headquarters in New York resulted in Thailand's failure to win a second term. Sources said Thailand's failure could possibly be put down to the Foreign Ministry's tardy application - it was lodged only about a month before the deadline. This meant Thailand did not have adequate time to lobby other countries, the source said. Thailand was criticised in February 2003 by UNCHR special rapporteur on extrajudicial, summary or arbitrary executions, Asma Jahangir, who expressed concern at reports of more than 100 deaths as a direct result of Thailand's crackdown on drugs.