E/CN.4/2002/24 page 42 rejection and exclusion. A Swiss feels in danger if he has to tolerate in his country the existence of different communities which threaten to disrupt national homogeneity, and his savoir-faire and honesty.” 101. On the question of anti-Semitism, the Commission, in the above-mentioned special report of November 1998, noted that in 1996 and 1997 the debate on unclaimed assets had caused an upsurge in anti-Semitism in Switzerland. The Commission noted anti-Semitic remarks in the press and anti-Semitic graffiti on walls in several towns, and was informed of threatening letters sent to prominent Swiss people of Jewish descent. It therefore adopted a stand against these manifestations of anti-Semitism, and called on the Swiss authorities and all political and social players to react to them. 102. The Commission considers that the “situation of travellers continues to cause concern”, notably following the failure of its meeting with the authorities of the canton of Geneva when it interceded on behalf of travellers who wanted parking areas and the right to live in caravans on private land. In addition, the Commission continues to call for the termination of the practice of deporting Roma and persecuted Ashkali from Kosovo and for them to be granted temporary authorization to stay in Switzerland. It is campaigning for greater attention to be paid to the situation of the Roma in all countries of central and eastern Europe, and for increased and far-reaching savoir-faire to be exercised in the context of assistance to eastern Europe and specific assistance programmes. 103. Lastly, attention should be paid to bulletin 9 entitled “Together against racism”, which stresses the daily mobilization of civil society against racism. It describes the range of valuable work done in the areas of prevention and awareness-raising by various NGOs, notably NGOs of a religious character, and by the services and organizations dealing with foreigners, refugee assistance organizations and other organizations involved in development, human rights, etc. 104. In view of all the foregoing, a tribute should be paid to the consistent and sustained efforts made by the Swiss Government and the Commission to combat racism, racial discrimination, xenophobia and related intolerance. The Special Rapporteur considers it appropriate to emphasize, like the Swiss Federal Council, the value of the Commission in the face of attempts to disband it (in this connection, see the parliamentary question of 22 December 1999 lodged by 27 Swiss deputies calling for the Commission’s dissolution; (bulletin 9, p. 111, September 2000). The Federal Council has in fact expressed the view that the Commission makes a substantial contribution to the fulfilment of the obligations under public international law which Switzerland has undertaken with the entry into force of the International Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Racial Discrimination. H. Thailand 105. In reply to the Special Rapporteur’s circular letter of 10 July 2001 addressed to Member States, Thailand, on 15 October 2001, transmitted the following information on its legislation and measures it has adopted to combat racism, racial discrimination, xenophobia and related intolerance.