“The report also ignores the daunting challenge facing Thailand, which is the need to strike the right balance between freedom of assembly and freedom of expression and the need to prevent political conflicts from re-emerging,” according to the ministry statement.

The AI report released on Wednesday said human-rights infringements by the military and ill-treatment of victims in the legal system were top concerns in Thailand over the past year.

“[Thailand’s] military authorities extended their powers to excessively restrict rights and silence dissent in the name of security,” the report said. “The numbers of people harassed, prosecuted, imprisoned and arbitrarily detained solely for the peaceful exercise of their rights escalated sharply.”

The Foreign Ministry said the positive human-rights developments included Thailand’s leading role in hosting international meetings on irregular migration in the Indian Ocean and cracking down on networks of traffickers and officers complicit in the illegal activities.

They also included amendments to and the passage of 164 bills forwarded to the National Legislative Assembly for enactment.

The ministry said a number of human-rights-related laws had also been passed, such as the Gender Equality Act, the amendment to the 2008 Anti-Trafficking in Persons Act, and the Justice Fund Act.

On the issue of civil liberties, Thailand supports and highly values freedom of expression and human rights in accordance with international practices, the ministry said.

“The press can freely criticise the government,” it said. “Nevertheless, the government is obliged to maintain a minimal degree of restriction to uphold public order and prevent social divisiveness as the country is gradually undertaking the comprehensive reform towards social harmony and a strengthened and sustainable democracy.”