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Abstract

This study aimed to examine the challenges related to domestic implementation of international law by comparing practices in Indonesia and Thailand. When both countries participated as State Parties to international treaties, this participation had legal consequences not only in the relationship with other states but also in implementing obligations under the relevant treaties through a transformation process governed by the Constitutions. Although most countries regulate the transformation of international treaties within the constitutions, Indonesia does not have the provisions. In contrast, Article 178 of the Thai Constitution provided a process for transforming international treaties into Thailand domestic law despite certain clauses of the article containing ambiguities that could require amendments to clarify the scope. To avoid uncertainties surrounding the validity of international treaties in domestic implementation, the first section of this study analyzed Indonesian and Thai practices in implementing law. The second section compared how the courts of both countries handled the positioning of international treaties. The final section provided recommendations for improving the integration of treaties into domestic law in both countries. In this context, constitutional amendments in both countries would be necessary. However, this decision would depend on the government’s awareness of national interests and could require further adjustments in the transformation process of treaties into domestic law.

References

Journal Articles and Periodicals

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Legal Documents

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Thailand. Constitution of the Kingdom of Thailand. [trans. Office of the Council of State (Thailand). English Translation of Constitution of the Kingdom of Thailand. 2017. Available at < https://constitutionnet.org/sites/default/files/2017-05/CONSTITUTION+OF+THE+KINGDOM+OF+THAILAND+(B.E.+2560+(2017)).pdf>].

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Indonesian Constitutional Court. Decision No. 1/PUU-VII/2010. Pengujian Undang-Undang Nomor 3 Tahun 1997 tentang Pengadilan Anak [review on Law No. 3 of 1997 on Children Court].

Indonesian Constitutional Court. Decision No. 13/PUU-I/2003. Pengujian Undang-Undang Nomor 16 Tahun 2003 T tentang Penetapan Peraturan Pemerintah Pengganti Undang-Undang Nomor 2 Tahun 2002 Tentang Pemberlakuan Peraturan Pemerintah Pengganti Undang-Undang Nomor 1 Tahun 2002 Tentang Pemberantasan Tindak Pidana Terorisme, Pada Peristiwa Peledakan Bom Di Bali Tanggal 12 Oktober 2002, Menjadi Undang-Undang [review on Law No. 16 of 2003 on the Stipulation of Government Regulation in Lieu of Law Number 2 of 2002 concerning the Enactment of Government Regulation in Lieu of Law Number 1 of 2002 concerning the Eradication of Criminal Acts of Terrorism, in the Incident of the Bomb Explosion in Bali on October 12, 2002, Becoming Law].

Indonesian Constitutional Court. Decision No. 13/PUU-XVI/2018. Pengujian Undang-Undang Nomor 24 Tahun 2000 tentang Perjanjian Internasional [review on Law No. 24 of 2000 on Treaties].

Indonesian Constitutional Court. Decision No. 2-3/PUU-V/2007. Pengujian Undang-Undang Nomor 22 Tahun 1997 tentang Narkotika [review on Law No. 22 of 1997 on Narcotics].

Indonesian Constitutional Court. Decision No. 5/PUU-VIII/2010. Pengujian Undang-undang Nomor 11 Tahun 2008 tentang Informasi Dan Transaksi Elektronik [review on Law No. 11 of 2008 on Electronic Information and Transactions].

Indonesian Constitutional Court. Decision No. PUU-XX/2020. Pengujian Undang-Undang Nomor 38 Tahun 2008 tentang Pengesahan Charter of The Association of Southeast Asian Nations (Piagam Perhimpunan Bangsa-Bangsa Asia Tenggara) [review of Law No. 38 Year 2008 concerning Ratification of The Charter of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations.

Web sources

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Chetsumon, Chatchai. “Die innerstaatliche Wirksamkeit völkerrechtlicher Verträge nach deutschem und thailändischem Recht [The Effectiveness of International Agreements Domestically Based on German and Thai Law].” Dissertation, Universität des Sarlandes, 2003.

Chumpica, Vivitasevi. "The interpretative Influence of International Human Rights Norms on Judicial Reasoning in Thailand Lesson from the United Kingdom and the United States of America." Thesis, Durham University, 2012.

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