On the sidelines of the summit the US secretary met four women fighting for human rights: Angkana Nillapaijit, wife of Somchai Neelaphaijit, a former president of Thailand’s Muslim Lawyers Association who disappeared five years under mysterious circumstances; Toenjai Deetes, a former senator from Chiengrai province; Supina Klang-narong, deputy chairwoman of a committee campaigning for media and internet reform, and a woman representing the United Nations office in Thailand.

Clinton’s “intention to join hand with Thai human right activist is a significant gesture to Thai society and I would like the Thai government to accept the importance of women in protecting the human rights more than at present.” said Angkana Nillapaijit.

Ms Neelaphaijit explained that the secretary “agreed that the AICHR should provide an independent power to work on human rights without any [outside] intervention”.

Ms Toenjai noted that for Clinton “the establishment of the AICHR would not be just ‘a paper tiger’,” that it might be a force that looks at many issues the “ASEAN dare not discuss such as minority [rights], refugees and foreign labour”.

At the end of the ad hoc meeting, the four activists gave the US secretary of state a bamboo box, saying “we would like all women, including Hillary, to fill it with love, mercy and respect.”