Thailand ‘on path to democracy’, says acting US envoy

By Kriangkrai Rattana
The Nation

 

Michael Heath, Photo Credit: U.S. Embassy Bangkok's youtube channel

 

The United States’ newly named charge d’affaires and acting ambassador has said he is “fully confident that Thai democracy will prosper”.

 

Michael Heath made the comment on Thursday (September 26) after a meeting with Chiang Mai Governor Supachai Iamsuwan at the latter’s residence.

 

Heath served as consul general in Chiang Mai from 2013-2016 and previously in his country’s embassies in China and Tanzania.

 

“Although democracy is a complicated system, it is also the best political regime in the world,” Heath told reporters. “At present, Thailand is moving forward on the right path of democracy, and United States is happy to be the companion on this journey together.”

 

Asked about the current political situation in the US with President Donald Trump facing possible impeachment, Heath said it would likely have only a minor impact on the US and global economies.

 

“The US has a solid economic system that is able to separate itself from political impacts,” he said.

 

“Currently we are planning to establish more trade agreements with foreign countries, including China and Thailand, who are still important trade partners of the US. We are also putting more emphasis on protection against infringement of intellectual property rights in overseas markets.”

 

Source: https://www.nationthailand.com/news/30376777

 

-- © Copyright The Nation Thailand 2019-09-26

Follow Thaivisa on LINE for breaking Thailand news and visa info

"On the path to democracy", must be the reason for Donald's visit - to show napoleon how it's done. 

8 minutes ago, snoop1130 said:

Thailand is moving forward on the right path of democracy, and United States is happy to be the companion on this journey together.”

 

Obviously, he hasn't realised that the election and appointing of the senate were rigged !

6 minutes ago, Thaiwrath said:

Obviously, he hasn't realised that the election and appointing of the senate were rigged !

Neither do the majority of Thai's. 

Ha ha ha

44 minutes ago, Thaiwrath said:

Obviously, he hasn't realised that the election and appointing of the senate were rigged !

Lucky we have anonymous key board dudes with Intel 

 

zzzzzzzzzzzz

Just a bunch of head buried in the sand blah blah blah rhetoric just say whatever people want to hear so you can keep your job b ll sh i t. Never thought I'd say it but...... I miss the Thaksin years. 

Isn't ANYBODY ashamed of telling bold faced porkies any more?

5 minutes ago, Captain_Bob said:

I miss the Thaksin years. 

So do we all.

6 minutes ago, quandow said:

Isn't ANYBODY ashamed of telling bold faced porkies any more?

Not if it helps smooth the arms sales !

Bloody disgusting.

I despair.

To talk about Thailand's 'moving forward on the right road to democracy' - in view of all the manipulations, lies, deceits, trickery, thuggery, and despotism we have witnessed in recent months - is an insult to the intelligence of every man, woman and child in the entirety of the Thai nation.

 

People like this should be hissed out of their over-privileged offices and over-paid positions - and made to get a REAL job that actually benefits the people (like sweeping the streets or unblocking clogged-up klongs).

 

Disgusting P.O.S. - that is what this person is. I loathe highly-comfortable yet cowardly Westerners who give succour and support to oppressive, 'dinosaur' regimes.

 

6 minutes ago, Eligius said:

Bloody disgusting.

I despair.

To talk about Thailand's 'moving forward on the right road to democracy' - in view of all the manipulations, lies, deceits, trickery, thuggery, and despotism we have witnessed in recent months - is an insult to the intelligence of every man, woman and child in the entirety of the Thai nation.

 

People like this should be hissed out of their over-privileged offices and over-paid positions - and made to get a REAL job that actually benefits the people (like sweeping the streets or unblocking clogged-up klongs).

 

Disgusting P.O.S. - that is what this person is. I loathe highly-comfortable yet cowardly Westerners who give succour and support to oppressive, 'dinosaur' regimes.

 

Come off the fence and tell us what you really think old chap!????

22 minutes ago, Captain_Bob said:

I miss the Thaksin years. 

From one ringmaster to another, it's still a circus!

11 minutes ago, Eligius said:

Bloody disgusting.

I despair.

To talk about Thailand's 'moving forward on the right road to democracy' - in view of all the manipulations, lies, deceits, trickery, thuggery, and despotism we have witnessed in recent months - is an insult to the intelligence of every man, woman and child in the entirety of the Thai nation.

 

People like this should be hissed out of their over-privileged offices and over-paid positions - and made to get a REAL job that actually benefits the people (like sweeping the streets or unblocking clogged-up klongs).

 

Disgusting P.O.S. - that is what this person is. I loathe highly-comfortable yet cowardly Westerners who give succour and support to oppressive, 'dinosaur' regimes.

 

They like to call it diplomacy.

The usual diplomatic mealy mouthed statement and political blindness to reality.  Politicians and diplomats the World over are lying, self serving low lifes, sacrificing whomever they please on the alter of their own selfish needs and wants. 

24 minutes ago, quandow said:

So do we all.

He was as big a crook as the rest of them. 

Wouldnt it be great just for once if any politician had some  ball s to say its a sack of cack

The only useful part of  his job description is "acting"

Edited September 26, 20196 yr by Chazar

20 minutes ago, Pilotman said:

He was as big a crook as the rest of them. 

Yeah, but he at least tried to help those less fortunate. He actually started building all those single family unit apartments "one house for all Thais" or something like that. He initiated a national health care system. My former TG and her family all benefited. More than THIS regime has done.

39 minutes ago, Eligius said:

Bloody disgusting.

I despair.

To talk about Thailand's 'moving forward on the right road to democracy' - in view of all the manipulations, lies, deceits, trickery, thuggery, and despotism we have witnessed in recent months - is an insult to the intelligence of every man, woman and child in the entirety of the Thai nation.

 

People like this should be hissed out of their over-privileged offices and over-paid positions - and made to get a REAL job that actually benefits the people (like sweeping the streets or unblocking clogged-up klongs).

 

Disgusting P.O.S. - that is what this person is. I loathe highly-comfortable yet cowardly Westerners who give succour and support to oppressive, 'dinosaur' regimes.

 

Well done for calling Thailand a nation. 

Getting fed up of hearing it referred to as "The" kingdom. 

As if there's no other kingdoms on "the" planet 

3 minutes ago, quandow said:

Yeah, but he at least tried to help those less fortunate. He actually started building all those single family unit apartments "one house for all Thais" or something like that. He initiated a national health care system. My former TG and her family all benefited. More than THIS regime has done.

So, a more friendly crook, bit like Robin Hood?  Interesting perspective.  So if he throws out a few tit bits to the poor, which I agree that he did, he can rip off the State to the tune of Billions of Baht?  Its a rhetorical question really.  Shades of crookery don't really cut it with me. 

51 minutes ago, Nsp64 said:

Well done for calling Thailand a nation. 

Getting fed up of hearing it referred to as "The" kingdom. 

As if there's no other kingdoms on "the" planet 

Replace with Fifedom then add medievel

1 hour ago, Nsp64 said:

Well done for calling Thailand a nation. 

Getting fed up of hearing it referred to as "The" kingdom. 

As if there's no other kingdoms on "the" planet 

I thought in a kingdom the name sake was supposed to take care of his subjects

3 hours ago, Artisi said:

Neither do the majority of Thai's. 

 

I think a goodly share of them do know it... whether they understand it clearly or just in the uniquely vaguely Thai kind of way.

 

Thailand has never been "on the road to democracy". There is no profit in that.Military men don't like the idea of taking orders from farmers and bank clerks.

Perhaps the interpretation should  be  that Thailand  has found approval from the US  administration in advancing towards a new  definition of  democracy?

 

As of July 17, it looks like Trump has actually nominated someone to be the next U.S. Ambassador to Thailand:

 

Quote

Michael George DeSombre, of Illinois, to be Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of the United States of America to the Kingdom of Thailand.

 

https://www.congress.gov/nomination/116th-congress/966

 

https://www.whitehouse.gov/presidential-actions/president-donald-j-trump-announces-intent-nominate-individuals-key-administration-posts-13/

 

Referred to the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, and no further action reported.

 

So right now, it's been just about one full year since the last U.S. Ambassador, Davies, departed.

 

Quote

Michael George DeSombre is globally recognized as a preeminent authority on mergers and acquisitions and high profile negotiations.  A partner in the law firm of Sullivan and Cromwell since 2004, Mr. DeSombre leads their mergers and acquisition practice in Asia where he has been resident for over 20 years.  His extensive representation of American and other international clients has honed his skills as a negotiator opposite Chinese and other Asian counterparties.  Mr. DeSombre is active in the region’s intellectual and philanthropic communities and deeply involved in the American community in Asia.  His keen understanding of Asia, extensive network of contacts and ability to bridge the legal, financial and policy worlds make him an excellent candidate for Ambassador to the Kingdom of Thailand.

Quote

 

the Worldwide President of Republicans Overseas, Inc. since 2013, he refocused the organization to address key concerns for Americans overseas.
 

In 1990, Mr. DeSombre received a B.A. in Quantitative Economics and an M.A. in East Asian Studies from Stanford University, where he was a Phi Beta Kappa scholar.  He graduated from Harvard Law School magna cum laude in 1995 and received the Reginald F. Lewis Prize in International Business Law. Mr. DeSombre is fluent in Mandarin Chinese and speaks some Korean and Japanese.

 

 

His bio seems to have him mostly involved lately in Hong Kong, and nothing much on any past connections with Thailand. His law firm bio says he's been in Hong Kong since 1997. Perhaps it's getting a little too hot there now.

 

https://www.state.gov/desombre-michael-george-kingdom-of-thailand-july-2019/

 

https://www.sullcrom.com/lawyers/MichaelG-DeSombre

 

DeSombre had previously been talked about as a candidate favored by the Trump White House to become the assistant secretary of state for East Asian and Pacific affairs.

Edited September 26, 20196 yr by TallGuyJohninBKK

7 minutes ago, TallGuyJohninBKK said:

 

As of July 17, it looks like Trump has actually nominated someone to be the next U.S. Ambassador to Thailand:

 

 

https://www.congress.gov/nomination/116th-congress/966

 

https://www.whitehouse.gov/presidential-actions/president-donald-j-trump-announces-intent-nominate-individuals-key-administration-posts-13/

 

Referred to the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, and no further action reported.

 

So right now, it's been just about one full year since the last U.S. Ambassador, Davies, departed.

 

 

His bio seems to have him mostly involved lately in Hong Kong, and nothing much on any past connections with Thailand. His law firm bio says he's been in Hong Kong since 1997. Perhaps it's getting a little too hot there now.

 

https://www.state.gov/desombre-michael-george-kingdom-of-thailand-july-2019/

 

https://www.sullcrom.com/lawyers/MichaelG-DeSombre

 

 

Leads their merger and acquisition practice - maybe Donald wants to buy Thailand - missed out on Greenland. 

24 minutes ago, TallGuyJohninBKK said:

 

I think a goodly share of them do know it... whether they understand it clearly or just in the uniquely vaguely Thai kind of way.

 

I was really inferring in a uniquely vague way as you pointed out - like the 3 (not so) wise monkeys. 

It's kind of interesting to note -- all of the U.S. Ambassadors to Thailand since 1975 have been people considered to be "career foreign service officers" as opposed to strictly political appointees.

 

So if confirmed by the Senate, Trump's nomination of DeSombre would be the first political appointee to be named U.S. Ambassador to Thailand in about 45 years. (The last prior political appointee was named in 1973 and departed in 1975.

 

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_ambassadors_of_the_United_States_to_Thailand

 

Edited September 26, 20196 yr by TallGuyJohninBKK

Yes, Thailand is a democracy and so is any country who like empty talking like USA, North Korea, Vietnam etc.

And before anything I recommend research democracy as it originated in Greece.