Foreign Ministry tells off diplomatic corps for ‘supporting Thanathorn’

[snoop1130]

Foreign Ministry tells off diplomatic corps for ‘supporting Thanathorn’ 

By The Nation

 

 

The Foreign Ministry called on foreign missions in Thailand to prevent a recurrence of diplomats getting involved in what is considered a domestic political issue.

 

On April 6, several diplomats showed up at Bangkok’s Pathum Wan Police Station to witness Future Forward Party leader, Thanathorn Juangroongruangkit, being officially charged with sedition. 

 

The ministry’s deputy permanent secretary, who is responsible for bilateral relations, passed this message on to the diplomatic corps between April 10-11, according to a ministry statement. 

 

The senior official separately met ambassadors and representatives from the embassies of France, the Netherlands, the United Kingdom, Germany, Canada, Australia, New Zealand, the United States of America, Finland, Belgium and the delegation of the European Union.

 

In the meeting, he expressed “disappointment and concern” about the presence of diplomats at the police station.

 

“In particular, the embassies’ action was seen as a show of moral support for Thanathorn as well as taking of sides in Thai domestic politics,” the diplomats were told. 

 

“This action is clearly beyond the functions of a diplomatic mission, an interference in Thailand’s internal affairs, and in breach of Article 41 of the 1961 Vienna Convention on Diplomatic Relations. The ministry therefore urges the embassies to prevent a recurrence of such actions in the future.”

Despite this request, many embassies later issued statements defending their representatives and their action. 

 

Later the ministry issued a second statement justifying the procedure that will see Thanathorn being tried in a military court – an act that has been criticised by the diplomatic community. 

 

Thailand, like many other countries, including the UK, the US and several European countries, have been using the system of military courts, the statement said. 

 

“Although practices may differ between countries, military courts are not established with the purpose of targeting particular individuals.

 

“The military courts form part of the judicial system under Chapter X [the courts] of the Constitution of the Kingdom of Thailand, which also includes the Courts of Justice and Administrative Courts. 

 

“The Constitution also affirms the principles that trial and adjudication of cases must be carried out in accordance with the laws and in the name of the monarch, and judges and justices are independent in trial and adjudication of cases, in accordance with the Constitution and laws in the expeditious and fair manner, and without any partiality,” the statement read. 

 

Under the junta’s orders, legal proceedings against persons accused of committing certain offences under the Criminal Code before September 12, 2016 will be subject to the jurisdiction of military courts. 

 

Thanathorn’s allegedly committed the offences in question on June 24, 2015.

 

Source: http://www.nationmultimedia.com/detail/breakingnews/30367614

 

-- © Copyright The Nation 2019-04-12

[SammyT]

I'm proud that my country (NZ) stood up for what is right and attended the Police station.

 

If the international community doesnt stand up against this, no one will.

[observer90210]

I would rather ask the diplomats from my country to rise up the issue with the Thai government to make visa procedures easier ! ????

[Brigand]

How to be a 101 fascist is being closely enacted by the junta. It's good that the diplomats from countries that like freedom did what they did. If it weren't for this then the junta here would do a 'Hun Sen' with the Nazis/leader in charge of the military now lining everyone up that disagrees and pulling the trigger ... like father like son.

[Hayduke]

 

They don't want any witnesses to the lynching.

 

 

[geoffbezoz]

3 minutes ago, Brigand said:

How to be a 101 fascist is being closely observed by the junta. It's good that the diplomats from countries that like freedom did what they did. If it weren't for this then the junta here would do a 'Hun Sen' with the Nazis/leader in charge of the military now lining everyone up that disagrees and pulling the trigger ... like father like son.

Well they sheltered Pol Pot for years which sums up their distaste for foreign opinion. That was a few years ago I know but Thai moral behavior appears to stand the test of time. Of course that excludes the 90% of the nation deliberately kept in the dark by poor education who would have no idea who Pol Pot was or the actions he instructed. That detracts from the subject matter but is illustrative of how foreign opinion is deliberately skewed or dishonestly justified by the Thai ruling elite.

[RobMuir]

15 minutes ago, observer90210 said:

I would rather ask the diplomats from my country to rise up the issue with the Thai government to make visa procedures easier ! ????

So your difficulty filling out a few simple forms is much more important than democracy?

Have you tried writing to them?

[sammieuk1]

Not sure they can spin it as political he has been charged with 3 criminal charges and every diplomat in the country should attend simple as that junta???? 

[Bluespunk]

56 minutes ago, snoop1130 said:

Despite this request, many embassies later issued statements defending their representatives and their action. 

 

Good. 

[Nsp64]

I think the foreign democracies can see a potential full blown dictatorship on the horizon.

France should have colonized them when it had the chance.

[NCC1701A]

how long was the meeting?

 

not sure I could keep a skeptical look on my face for more than a hour.

[geoffbezoz]

Just now, Nsp64 said:

I think the foreign democracies can see a potential full blown dictatorship on the horizon.

France should have colonized them when it had the chance.

I don't think  the French wanted anything to do with Thais. ????

[Nsp64]

1 minute ago, geoffbezoz said:

I don't think  the French wanted anything to do with Thais. ????

Aaah, but that was before walking street.

[geoffbezoz]

3 minutes ago, Nsp64 said:

Aaah, but that was before walking street.

So fair to say then Thai females are good its the Thai males that are not wanted ?

[Nsp64]

9 minutes ago, geoffbezoz said:

So fair to say then Thai females are good its the Thai males that are not wanted ?

Yup.

[lemonjelly]

All the police had to do was deny them access to Thanahtorn’s appearance to hear the charges against him, they screwed up, accepting blame not big here is it.


Sent from my iPhone using Thaivisa Connect

[Eligius]

The Thai Authorities still don't get it, do they? Going on and on about how other countries have courts martial. Yes - for the military - NOT for civilians engaged in normal activities (political or otherwise).

[holy cow cm]

considered a domestic political issue.????? Domestic power play witch hunt for the election win-kill is more like it. But it will majorly backfire as their presence seems to be unwelcome from the Thai people to the international circle.. 

[Nsp64]

Just now, Eligius said:

We've had that for five years already, my friend!

But there was always the promise of a return to democracy.

Now it's clearly not the case.

Foreign governments are getting twitchy. 

 

[observer90210]

1 hour ago, RobMuir said:

So your difficulty filling out a few simple forms is much more important than democracy?

Have you tried writing to them?

What you wrongly and rather innocently qualify as my difficulty , seems to be the case for many.

 

May I suggest you to read a bit more on these forums,  and perhaps get a better idea on how hassling the visa issues can get. ????

.

"Democracy" ? ???? One could list you a novel of highly unpleasant issues, intrusions, violations etc.  in "democracies", starting from the European country where I live,  part-time.

[scorecard]

1 hour ago, observer90210 said:

I would rather ask the diplomats from my country to rise up the issue with the Thai government to make visa procedures easier ! ????

Errr, I suspect there are more important, in fact critical issues on the table at the moment.

[55Jay]

 

[Cadbury]

4 minutes ago, observer90210 said:

What you wrongly and rather innocently qualify as my difficulty , seems to be the case for many.

 

May I suggest you to read a bit more on these forums,  and perhaps get a better idea on how hassling the visa issues can get. ????

.

"Democracy" ? ???? One could list you a novel of highly unpleasant issues, intrusions, violations etc.  in "democracies", starting from the European country where I live,  part-time.

The impertinence of RobMuir in challenging your statement is disgraceful. Send him to your "ignore list" immediately. A new member to Observer's Ignore Club is always welcome.

[holy cow cm]

16 minutes ago, Eligius said:

The Thai Authorities still don't get it, do they? Going on and on about how other countries have courts martial. Yes - for the military - NOT for civilians engaged in normal activities (political or otherwise).

I wish I was Privy or insusceptible from prosecution, so would not get in trouble. But in fact no one is unless???

[sweatalot]

1 hour ago, Nsp64 said:

France should have colonized them

no the English - or even better the Germans ????

[sweatalot]

1 hour ago, Nsp64 said:

I think the foreign democracies can see a potential full blown dictatorship on the horizon.

France should have colonized them when it had the chance.

Now they are showing the shortcomings from not having been colonized - they might be a civilization already

[RobMuir]

24 minutes ago, Cadbury said:

The impertinence of RobMuir in challenging your statement is disgraceful. Send him to your "ignore list" immediately. A new member to Observer's Ignore Club is always welcome.

Thanks for pointing that out to me. I will try it out with you.

I don’t think I could go on if whathisnameagain ignores me.

[toenail]

?!!! I am confused. Wouldn’t a military coup against an elected government be more of a crime? ???? Sounds like the junta needs to leave this pity accusation alone. 

[RobMuir]

39 minutes ago, observer90210 said:

What you wrongly and rather innocently qualify as my difficulty , seems to be the case for many.

Not me. Easy as. Fill in my name, passport number, address and letter from the bank. Take a photo, sign a couple of copies. It ain’t rocket science.

 

39 minutes ago, observer90210 said:

 

May I suggest you to read a bit more on these forums,  and perhaps get a better idea on how hassling the visa issues can get. ????

.

Better things to do than read about people who can’t fill out forms.

 

I did have a quick look at what all the fuss was about and it seems they are only targeting the poor.

Which is a good idea in my opinion. Too much farang trash in Thailand these days. The poor usually don’t have any insurance and don’t contribute anything.

 

39 minutes ago, observer90210 said:

"Democracy" ? ???? One could list you a novel of highly unpleasant issues, intrusions, violations etc.  in "democracies", starting from the European country where I live,  part-time.

I don’t read novels.

[akirasan]

.