US Calls For Peaceful Resolution To Thai Political Crisis

[webfact]

US calls for peaceful resolution to Thai political crisis

WASHINGTON (AFP) -- The United States on Wednesday urged the Thai government and "Red Shirt" protesters pressing for fresh elections to seek a peaceful resolution to Thailand's deepening political crisis.

"We would continue to encourage both sides to work out their disagreements peacefully," said State Department spokesman Philip Crowley. "We don't believe that violence in any shape or form is a solution to this political challenge."

Protesters encamped in Bangkok's upscale retail district earlier ruled out talks with the government despite a looming crackdown that has prompted them to fortify their rally base with homemade barricades.

"This is something that has ultimately to be resolved in Thailand," said Crowley.

"We encourage the government and all parties within Thailand to work through these difficulties cooperatively."

Jatuporn Prompan, a leader of the anti-government campaigners who are pushing for fresh elections, said earlier that talks were "out of the question" after street clashes in Bangkok earlier this month left 25 people dead.

The protestors, who draw much of their support from the rural poor, are mainly partisans of former premier Thaksin Shinawatra, ousted in a 2006 coup and living in exile to avoid a jail sentence for corruption.

The demonstrators say the government of Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva is undemocratic because it came to power in a parliamentary vote after a court ruling removed Thaksin's allies from office.

-- ©Copyright AFP 2010-04-22

Published with written approval from AFP.

[newsfooter][/newsfooter]

[anotherpeter]

Well, why don't the red shirts talk?

Do they want more people dead?

[Insight]

This comes directly after the reds decided against any further talks with the government...

One would presume the US is watching their activities closely.

[Teddy3943]

The USA has to shut up their mouth talking about "peaceful solutions". How peaceful was the USA in Irak, Afghanistan, Vietnam and Granada?

O.k. I know some clever Americans, who I like, but too many of them are narrow minded, dumb or stupid.

Don't the USA understand that calling for new elections will trigger similar problems in the future?

Go play cowboy!

[Sisaketmike]

Well, why don't the red shirts talk?

Do they want more people dead?

Let me think; Shouldn't another country give America the advice to stop the war in Iraq, occupied because they want cheap, or free oil.

Arni is the solution, okay he had gained some weight, but they should send him to Indochina to TERMINATE.

It's that easy.

[jaideeguy]

Yeah......advise from 'the most peaceful and least corrupt country in the world" carries a lot of weight!!!

[LomSak27]

Nice of the Yanks to make the effort.

I do wish Euro nations would get their heads out of themselves, if only for a minute and do the same. Sadly with the volcano and EU Greece finacial implosion, how could you expect them to give a tinkards cuss for any other nation on the face of this earth besides their own and their two bit little problems.

It's like trying to get water from a rock

[ironhut]

The USA has to shut up their mouth talking about "peaceful solutions". How peaceful was the USA in Irak, Afghanistan, Vietnam and Granada?

O.k. I know some clever Americans, who I like, but too many of them are narrow minded, dumb or stupid.

Don't the USA understand that calling for new elections will trigger similar problems in the future?

Go play cowboy!

Unbelievable how some people will bash the US and its citizens with any opportunity. The comments above that basically bash every American other than the "clever" ones that the poster knows tell a tale about this poster...who is obviously not from the States and has a chip against them.

Please try to stay on topic and stay away from your bashing of Americans. Posts such as this one only serve to make the poster appear to have a serious issue.

Attacking populations from any particular country serve no positive purpose. Calling out Americans or any other countrymen as "narrow minded, dumb, or stupid" is reprehensible and has no place in this forum.

[jackr]

I do wish Euro nations would get their heads out of themselves, if only for a minute and do the same. Sadly with the volcano and EU Greece finacial implosion, how could you expect them to give a tinkards cuss for any other nation on the face of this earth besides their own and their two bit little problems.

It's like trying to get water from a rock

Whatever are you on about? It's nobody's business but Muang Thai's. Just because you don't hear anything from European nations in the tabloids, doesn't mean they don't give a hoot. It's called decorum. The only reason the Yanks are mouthing is that's the way they like to operate and think they're the world's momma.

[anotherpeter]

I do wish Euro nations would get their heads out of themselves, if only for a minute and do the same. Sadly with the volcano and EU Greece finacial implosion, how could you expect them to give a tinkards cuss for any other nation on the face of this earth besides their own and their two bit little problems.

It's like trying to get water from a rock

Whatever are you on about? It's nobody's business but Muang Thai's. Just because you don't hear anything from European nations in the tabloids, doesn't mean they don't give a hoot. It's called decorum. The only reason the Yanks are mouthing is that's the way they like to operate and think they're the world's momma.

Actually, you would probably find that they only reason the Yanks are mouthing is because a reporter asked them.

The Europeans aren't saying anything because no one cares what they think anyway, so no reporter will bother asking them.

[Redsunset]

The USA has to shut up their mouth talking about "peaceful solutions". How peaceful was the USA in Irak, Afghanistan, Vietnam and Granada?

O.k. I know some clever Americans, who I like, but too many of them are narrow minded, dumb or stupid.

Don't the USA understand that calling for new elections will trigger similar problems in the future?

Go play cowboy!

Why so much generalizing and stereotyping? Do you normally come onto an anonymous website and splash racism around? Why are you so bitter and full of hatred? Your post is extremely destructive. It is gross generalizations such as yours that are responsible for so much of the bad things that happen between people... Shame on you.

[Redsunset]

The USA has to shut up their mouth talking about "peaceful solutions". How peaceful was the USA in Irak, Afghanistan, Vietnam and Granada?

O.k. I know some clever Americans, who I like, but too many of them are narrow minded, dumb or stupid.

Don't the USA understand that calling for new elections will trigger similar problems in the future?

Go play cowboy!

Unbelievable how some people will bash the US and its citizens with any opportunity. The comments above that basically bash every American other than the "clever" ones that the poster knows tell a tale about this poster...who is obviously not from the States and has a chip against them.

Please try to stay on topic and stay away from your bashing of Americans. Posts such as this one only serve to make the poster appear to have a serious issue.

Attacking populations from any particular country serve no positive purpose. Calling out Americans or any other countrymen as "narrow minded, dumb, or stupid" is reprehensible and has no place in this forum.

I agree 100% with your response to this comment. It adds NO VALUE to the topic and is just an opportunity to spout off some personal frustrations, bitterness and immaturity.

[Redsunset]

Incredible how these type of blogs immediately become so racist.

Says a lot about people.

And we sit here criticizing how stupid the red shirts are... seems like the pot calling the kettle black.

All of us have a bit of growing up to do....

[landofthefree]

I do wish Euro nations would get their heads out of themselves, if only for a minute and do the same. Sadly with the volcano and EU Greece finacial implosion, how could you expect them to give a tinkards cuss for any other nation on the face of this earth besides their own and their two bit little problems.

It's like trying to get water from a rock

Whatever are you on about? It's nobody's business but Muang Thai's. Just because you don't hear anything from European nations in the tabloids, doesn't mean they don't give a hoot. It's called decorum. The only reason the Yanks are mouthing is that's the way they like to operate and think they're the world's momma.

Actually, you would probably find that they only reason the Yanks are mouthing is because a reporter asked them.

The Europeans aren't saying anything because no one cares what they think anyway, so no reporter will bother asking them.

Another Peter, I care what the Europeans think and like most people I also care what the USA thinks. Its hard to imagine how anyone couldn't isn't it? I am sure you don't think that America is more important than Europe, I think history has shown that we are best when we work together. The Vietnam war showed Americans how much they need allies to win a war.

[Publicus]

The USA has to shut up their mouth talking about "peaceful solutions". How peaceful was the USA in Irak, Afghanistan, Vietnam and Granada?

O.k. I know some clever Americans, who I like, but too many of them are narrow minded, dumb or stupid.

Don't the USA understand that calling for new elections will trigger similar problems in the future?

Go play cowboy!

Anyone who thinks or believes the transformative Pres Obama or the like people who switched their party affiliation to vote for him or committed to him from "independent" are cowboys is sadly behind the present generational and demographic trends or the future of the United States.

Regardless, when did the US Government call for new elections in Thailand? Who made the statement, the call? When? Where? Why, what justification? The US Government hasn't called for new elections in the country nor is it going to make such a call. The US Govenment is cooperating with the Abhisit government in regard to intelligence information about Thaksin, his location based on his communications, and the communications going on among the Redshirts and between the Redshirts and Thaksin.

Get your head out from where the sun don't shine and focus on Thailand. What would Russia say, if it had anything predicated on anything democratic or moral to say about the bloody mess in Thailand? The People's Republic of China? What moral authority does India have if India in fact cared? Same for Brazil. Etc.

And yes, the post about the EU calls out the Europeans - principally the western Europeans - for their silence and for their disconnect policies towards Thailand specifically and SE Asia in general. The world cares and wants to know what the EU or the US has to say about these such things. You missed the boat and are a dollar short and a day late besides.

Remember, or know, that Thailand is the oldest ally of the US in Asia and that HM The King was born in the USA in a suburb of (my hometown of) Boston and lived his early years there while his father was becoming an M.D. at Harvard Medical School.

Ask the PRC in Beijing what they want in Thailand. They might advise you they want a People's Republic of Thailand. The ruling Communist Party of China however won't say anything given their absolute rejection of democracy and human rights.

It's telling of those governments that have a predicate to speak out and those that do not or don't have the time, attention, commitment or nads to speak out.

Edited April 22, 2010 by Publicus

[Publicus]

The USA has to shut up their mouth talking about "peaceful solutions". How peaceful was the USA in Irak, Afghanistan, Vietnam and Granada?

O.k. I know some clever Americans, who I like, but too many of them are narrow minded, dumb or stupid.

Don't the USA understand that calling for new elections will trigger similar problems in the future?

Go play cowboy!

Unbelievable how some people will bash the US and its citizens with any opportunity. The comments above that basically bash every American other than the "clever" ones that the poster knows tell a tale about this poster...who is obviously not from the States and has a chip against them.

Please try to stay on topic and stay away from your bashing of Americans. Posts such as this one only serve to make the poster appear to have a serious issue.

Attacking populations from any particular country serve no positive purpose. Calling out Americans or any other countrymen as "narrow minded, dumb, or stupid" is reprehensible and has no place in this forum.

I agree 100% with your response to this comment. It adds NO VALUE to the topic and is just an opportunity to spout off some personal frustrations, bitterness and immaturity.

To which I would add an unfortunate and uncontrollable pathology.

[geriatrickid]

What is wrong with some of you? All the USA did was express a wish for peace? Is it a crime to ask for calm and for peace?

There was no statement of public interference. The Americans couldn't be anymore clear when they stated; This is something that has ultimately to be resolved in Thailand," said Crowley.

I don't want to hurt anyone's feelings but the EU did send a delegation in addition to the individual messages delivered by various Ambassadors expressing the same sentiment.

As was pointed out earlier in the thread, the Volcano fallout has pushed alot of things to the side as European governments had todeal with tens of thousands of stranded nationals. Besides, the Iranian situation is foreign affairs issue number 1 right now. Maybe if Thailand was threatening to incinerate 1/2 the world, people would pay more attention, I dunno.

[chantorn]

Well, why don't the red shirts talk?

Do they want more people dead?

View from RED:

The red shirt say they do not negotiate with murderer, now than 26 people has lost their live.

Would you negotiate with murderer?

View from Governments (Both Thai & US)

The RED are terrorist.

Why would Mark negotiate with terrorist? Would the US want to negotiate with the terrorist?

[anotherpeter]

Well, why don't the red shirts talk?

Do they want more people dead?

View from RED:

The red shirt say they do not negotiate with murderer, now than 26 people has lost their live.

Would you negotiate with murderer?

View from Governments (Both Thai & US)

The RED are terrorist.

Why would Mark negotiate with terrorist? Would the US want to negotiate with the terrorist?

Except that Abhisit is offering to talk. The reds are rejecting the offer, even though their people killed *at least* 6 during the protests.

[ozzieovaseas]

Trouble is the typical Thai response to issues in Thailand being compared to western values is "stay out of it, this needs to be settled Thai style"

IMO, this mindset is the very reason why democracy isn't working so great in LOS at the moment

Having said that im not sure which is worse...sticking your head in the sand OR being a complete and utter hypocrite

[quiksilva]

What is wrong with some of you? All the USA did was express a wish for peace? Is it a crime to ask for calm and for peace?

There was no statement of public interference. The Americans couldn't be anymore clear when they stated; This is something that has ultimately to be resolved in Thailand," said Crowley.

I don't want to hurt anyone's feelings but the EU did send a delegation in addition to the individual messages delivered by various Ambassadors expressing the same sentiment.

As was pointed out earlier in the thread, the Volcano fallout has pushed alot of things to the side as European governments had todeal with tens of thousands of stranded nationals. Besides, the Iranian situation is foreign affairs issue number 1 right now. Maybe if Thailand was threatening to incinerate 1/2 the world, people would pay more attention, I dunno.

Well said, no harm in making a call for a peace, I wish for a peaceful resolution to this issue too. Not that I think its very likely.

[dttk0009]

What is wrong with some of you? All the USA did was express a wish for peace? Is it a crime to ask for calm and for peace?

There was no statement of public interference. The Americans couldn't be anymore clear when they stated; This is something that has ultimately to be resolved in Thailand," said Crowley.

I don't want to hurt anyone's feelings but the EU did send a delegation in addition to the individual messages delivered by various Ambassadors expressing the same sentiment.

As was pointed out earlier in the thread, the Volcano fallout has pushed alot of things to the side as European governments had todeal with tens of thousands of stranded nationals. Besides, the Iranian situation is foreign affairs issue number 1 right now. Maybe if Thailand was threatening to incinerate 1/2 the world, people would pay more attention, I dunno.

Well said, no harm in making a call for a peace, I wish for a peaceful resolution to this issue too. Not that I think its very likely.

I think some of us just find it comical when the most war driven nation on the planet this last century, which is also currently engaged in 2 wars, calls for peace in a conflict that looks similar to the grassroots of its own foundation. I love the US, but the double dealing is entertaining sometimes.

[chainarong]

The USA has to shut up their mouth talking about "peaceful solutions". How peaceful was the USA in Irak, Afghanistan, Vietnam and Granada?

O.k. I know some clever Americans, who I like, but too many of them are narrow minded, dumb or stupid.

Don't the USA understand that calling for new elections will trigger similar problems in the future?

Go play cowboy!

Unbelievable how some people will bash the US and its citizens with any opportunity. The comments above that basically bash every American other than the "clever" ones that the poster knows tell a tale about this poster...who is obviously not from the States and has a chip against them.

Please try to stay on topic and stay away from your bashing of Americans. Posts such as this one only serve to make the poster appear to have a serious issue.

Attacking populations from any particular country serve no positive purpose. Calling out Americans or any other countrymen as "narrow minded, dumb, or stupid" is reprehensible and has no place in this forum.

Fully agree, Aust, NZ, EU and a dozen others have all sent the same message, when the good ol US gets paraded out , everyone leaps to their pen or keyboard, I know who I'd rather have on my side when the chipps are down and it ain't Somalia.

[thelinguist]

The USA has to shut up their mouth talking about "peaceful solutions". How peaceful was the USA in Irak, Afghanistan, Vietnam and Granada?

O.k. I know some clever Americans, who I like, but too many of them are narrow minded, dumb or stupid.

Don't the USA understand that calling for new elections will trigger similar problems in the future?

Go play cowboy!

Agreed. What hel_l has it got to do with the Yanks anyway. Mind your own business and get on with your own wars.

[jackdawson]

this is the same US that waterboarded a couple of suspected al qaeda IN thailand .

yeah, what it says carries a lot of weight (like none)

[danc]

I cannot see any harm in this nor anything political - it is the right "diplomatic" response and diplomatic in all senses in that it does not take sides.

European countries are exactly that, European, so respond in a different way, diplomatically, which is at the moment means keeping quiet, again not wanting to take sides.

I can only vouch for the media in the UK and media online at that, but the story has faded quickly from the agenda. The BBC online does update daily, with today for example suggesting very strongly that the Reds might compromise to something happening at 3 months - they, the Reds, played the media card quite strongly yesterday, but that is for another thread.

I will make the point once more that diplomatically countries hands are tied and we can conjecture who supports who behind the scenes, but it is only conjecture - I simply refuse to believe that anyone here has an inside line. As to why it is not more in the foreign media, it's the usual wake-up call to us ex-pats here who think we are the epicentre of the world - in their eyes, Thailand is not and never will be a global player, it's a nice place for people to go on holiday in the winter as it's hot and cheap, though not as cheap as it used to be. It always has political problems as it is famous for being as corrupt as they come, so the latest is only new/s if there are some serious nasties. Hence it has brief appearances around April 11th and now has disappeared again.

Sorry if that makes us appear a little unimportant here but it is the way it is. And yes, in the foreign media's eyes, getting people home with the problems of the volcanic ash is far far more important that a few people dying here whilst they argue the toss for the umpteenth time as to is head honcho here in LOS. The airport closure was bigger news as it left their citizens stranded, this is localised and so not of great interest to their readers...sorry and now you can all shout at me!

[ironhut]

It's the same US that fought valiantly in WWII with allies to prevent aggressions in Europe and other places.

It's the same US that has also been criticized for not acting enough in Somalia, Rwanda, South Africa, etc.

Posters like some of the above want to have it every way and sideways. Their main purpose in life is to attack the US for everything they do and anything they don't.

We all know people like these posters above. They sit on the sidelines and criticize...but have never in their life played the game or put themselves on the line with actions of their own.

[SICA]

I do wish Euro nations would get their heads out of themselves, if only for a minute and do the same. Sadly with the volcano and EU Greece finacial implosion, how could you expect them to give a tinkards cuss for any other nation on the face of this earth besides their own and their two bit little problems.

It's like trying to get water from a rock

Whatever are you on about? It's nobody's business but Muang Thai's. Just because you don't hear anything from European nations in the tabloids, doesn't mean they don't give a hoot. It's called decorum. The only reason the Yanks are mouthing is that's the way they like to operate and think they're the world's momma.

Seconded. What has it go to do with the US, sorry, the World Police! When other countries have their own house in order, then perhaps they can start giving out advice to others!

As for Europe, they don't have their house in order so, in this posters opinion, don't really have the opportunity of being drawn in to this mess.

[Publicus]

The USA has to shut up their mouth talking about "peaceful solutions". How peaceful was the USA in Irak, Afghanistan, Vietnam and Granada?

O.k. I know some clever Americans, who I like, but too many of them are narrow minded, dumb or stupid.

Don't the USA understand that calling for new elections will trigger similar problems in the future?

Go play cowboy!

Agreed. What hel_l has it got to do with the Yanks anyway. Mind your own business and get on with your own wars.

Wars such as saving the suicidal and looney Europeans from themselves during the Great European War (1914-1918) and then again from the European generated Nazi tyranny of the Second World War (Europe 1939 - 1945) (US 1941 - 45)? Your welcome very much for saving you from speaking Nazi German to this day.

FYI, I and many others opposed the war in Vietnam and quickly opposed the war in Iraq after Bush's WMD - Words of Mass Deception. Afghanistan is a genunine and legit war but the Europeans have orientated their militaries towards peacekeeping rather than fighting wars and can't even do peacekeeping right as evidenced so starkly in Rwanda, where despite a UN peacekeeing force primarily of Europeans genocide between the Tutsis and the Tootoos was rampant after a significant period of British colonialism which did much to promote the lunatic primitive genocidal resentments.

This hate the USA pathology is a serious problem among those who suffer from it and needs serious professional attention.

[kissdani]

I do wish Euro nations would get their heads out of themselves, if only for a minute and do the same. Sadly with the volcano and EU Greece finacial implosion, how could you expect them to give a tinkards cuss for any other nation on the face of this earth besides their own and their two bit little problems.

It's like trying to get water from a rock

Whatever are you on about? It's nobody's business but Muang Thai's. Just because you don't hear anything from European nations in the tabloids, doesn't mean they don't give a hoot. It's called decorum. The only reason the Yanks are mouthing is that's the way they like to operate and think they're the world's momma.

Actually, you would probably find that they only reason the Yanks are mouthing is because a reporter asked them.

The Europeans aren't saying anything because no one cares what they think anyway, so no reporter will bother asking them.

"We would continue to encourage both sides to work out their disagreements peacefully. ...We don't believe that violence in any shape or form is a solution to this political challenge."

That is actually what the diplomats and government officials of every Nation would say and i am sure more than a few did that already. There is nothing wrong to do so, that is the doplomatic business and nothing special that the US did it.

On the other hand, what we should not forget, in the past and present we can find examples where the involvement and interference of a big power state in the internal affairs of another more weaker state did go much more further than a diplomatic wish and hope that the conflicting parties come to a peaceful solution, self-regulating.

And such meddling didn't turn always out as the best decisions, but turned things worse and created a even bigger problem. Furthermore some people got hurt. So the helping hand of the big power state wasn't always appreciated but rather unwelcome, seen as aggression and unjust. Nobody likes to get hurt ot that this happen to their family and friends. People start to become angry at the uninvited helper. If you don't know that - read a history book or read some news.

That explains also some of the replies here. Albeit it is also maybe not absolutely essential to start a discussion about this right here and now in this thread. But the heat of the dispute will rise if someone starts to deny that such things happen at all.