The US is not biased: US State Department; Thai-US relations

[webfact]

THAI-US RELATIONS
The US is not biased: US State Department

WASHINGTON: -- The US has expressed concern on the rising political tension in Thailand and reiterated that it is not biased when it is a political disputes and supports the expression of fundamental rights.

It urged all sides to refrain from violence, exercise restraint and respect the rule of the law, said Jen Psaki, the State Department Spokesperson.

It t is deeply troubled by efforts to block polls and otherwise prevent voting and urged all sides to refrain from violence.

"The United States is deeply troubled by efforts to block polls and otherwise prevent voting in Thailand, and by the most recent acts of political violence."

"While we do not take sides in the political dispute and strongly support freedom of expression and the right to peaceful protest, preventing citizens from voting violates their universal rights and is inconsistent with democratic values," she said.

The US is following the ongoing demonstrations in Bangkok closely. "We urge all sides to refrain from violence, exercise restraint, and respect the rule of law. Violence and the seizure of public or private property are not acceptable means of resolving political differences."

"We call upon all sides to uphold international norms that guarantee freedom of the press and the safety of journalists. The United States firmly believes all parties should work together to resolve differences through peaceful dialogue in ways that strengthen democracy and rule of law."

She said that as long-time friends of Thailand, the US strongly support the Thai nation and its people during this period.

-- The Nation 2014-01-27

[taony]

That's a joke. Just look what side they are on in the Ukraine protests. Those protesters are doing the same things the protesters here are doing, except taking it further. When they storm a government ministry, they don't just hand out letters and flowers, they stay there and take over.

[Snig27]

The real joke is the inability of these self-proclaimed educated protesters to understand why the whole world is appalled and finds abhorrent their actions, not just this weekend, but in the weeks leading up to this. Suthep's letter to Obama underlined this mental chasm and must have caused guffaws in DC for the moment it was distributed before being binned.

[jcb2001]

What a crock of S##t! I am lost for words!

Edited January 27, 2014 by metisdead
Bold font removed.

[rogerdee123]

Probably a very small percentage of the "whole world" even knows where Thailand is much less care what's happening here.

The US will buddy buddy up to whoever comes out on top.

[virtualtraveller]

If it looks like a democratic election, even a farcical one, their official line obviously would be to support the process. Unofficially, they realise there's a lot more to this. And they probably hold out this twee notion of dialogue towards a peaceful election as a superficial solution.

[cloudhopper]

translation - The US understands that all sides in this conflict are incorrigibly corrupt and incompetent and that the conflict is all about who can benefit from the continuing corruption. The US will continue to support any regime useful to our imperial goals that pretends to be a democracy.

[EricBerg]

The statement does not mention the now caretaker government at all. Before I remember they did mention the "elected government".

Means they accept the possibility of it being gone at some point. Of course they will then befriend the new government, whatever signature it has. After all geopolitics say Thailand is the last stand against islam in the region.

[blackman]

someone in government told my wife that the current Thai administration has defaulted on some kind of loan made by the US to Thailand

they have not paid anything for 5 months

maybe that's why they are so interested in the situation and support Yingluck

they want to get paid.....

[gerry1011]

This confirms what we all know.

Suthep and his crazy followers are acting against democracy.

Sent from my HTC One using Thaivisa Connect Thailand mobile app

[Ulysses G.]

The US will support whoever wins the VOTE. That leaves out the side that is trying to prevent it from happening.

[Melyn]

The Yanks will go with anyone who backs the TPP

Sent from my Nexus 7 using Thaivisa Connect Thailand mobile app

[Snig27]

Probably a very small percentage of the "whole world" even knows where Thailand is much less care what's happening here.

The US will buddy buddy up to whoever comes out on top.

And yet 20m a year come here as tourists. I'm not sure where you are from but most people globally do actually have a grasp of geography (middle America excepted) and a flick through newspapers around the world would strongly indicate that there has been a great deal of coverage worldwide – and some 43 countries have now supported elections.

As to what the US would do, I know history is not really taught in Thailand and in the US it tends to be US centric, but after the 2006 coup the US did not buddy buddy with the new regime. Nato also strongly opposed the coup. Several countries, the US included, cancelled contracts with the junta and these were mostly not revived until 2011.

[umbanda]

In the end..the US will oppose to anything that looks "red"....After so many years...The US still paranoid about any kind of socialist ideas and/or people's movement....and keep promoting its "Democracy for the 1%".....

[fstarbkk]

The US will support whoever wins the VOTE. That leaves out the side that is trying to prevent it from happening.

WRONG: The US supports whoever best serves their interests in the region. If you don't believe, look at their history of supporting people like Saddam Hussein and an endless list of bana-republic dictators over the years. If the favored regime manages to pull of some semblance of an election victory, all the better.

[smedly]

lets correct some replies and point made so far in this thread

The US has never made a statement that mentions the Government

When they refer to peaceful and none violent they are talking about all concerned

The Violence is an obvious one - guns grenades injuries and murder - not blowing whistles

I agree that blocking voters was not the right thing for the protestors to do - but then there have been many things over the last 2 years that were also very wrong

[Snig27]

The statement does not mention the now caretaker government at all. Before I remember they did mention the "elected government".

Means they accept the possibility of it being gone at some point. Of course they will then befriend the new government, whatever signature it has. After all geopolitics say Thailand is the last stand against islam in the region.

That's incredibly wishful thinking and hardly geopolitically aware. Thailand is not regarded as "the last stand against Islam" in the region. Where do you get that from? It fits neither with US policy nor with reality. Thailand is useful as a voice in the US drive to contain China but it's politically unacceptable for Obama to seen to be coddling an aspiring despot like Suthep. SEA is an incredibly important region for the US but it's a region where the democratic process is paramount - hence the support for Indonesia in the last decade. The very last thing the US wants or needs a country like Thailand ruled by an appointed council as touted by the dim Suthep.

[animatic]

This is just the boiler plate must be said reiteration of the stock state department stance on elections and governance.

Behind the scenes I am sure they know the lay and play for pay of the land, are are just waiting to see how things shake out.

Yes, they will deal with which ever government comes out on top,

but less easily if one is not 'legitimate' in some arcane philosophical calculation.

Edited January 27, 2014 by animatic

[kotsak]

It's been a long time since I watched the movie "The Ugly American" :>

[Prbkk]

From day one the USA has made it clear it supports the elected government. That was the appropriate response at the time and its position has not changed. I very much doubt that the Suthep antics are high on the Washington agenda. They support the status quo.

[LarryBird]

I'm curious why people think 'The US will support what is in it's best interest' is a clever/cynical point?

The US probably realizes what is best for the US long term is what's best for Thailand.

[Snig27]

lets correct some replies and point made so far in this thread

The US has never made a statement that mentions the Government

When they refer to peaceful and none violent they are talking about all concerned

The Violence is an obvious one - guns grenades injuries and murder - not blowing whistles

I agree that blocking voters was not the right thing for the protestors to do - but then there have been many things over the last 2 years that were also very wrong

They are talking about respecting the vote - that much is clear. The key here is how Suthep's "council" and his things like the list of 3000 he wants eliminated would play out in the US domestically. We've already seen the first Republican shot over Obama's bows over this and US mainstream media have taken a pro-vote and Yingluck stance. This is, after all, election year in the US and anyone who claims that South East Asia is not a pivotal region for the US in this year has not been paying any attention.

[soi41]

The statement does not mention the now caretaker government at all. Before I remember they did mention the "elected government".

Means they accept the possibility of it being gone at some point. Of course they will then befriend the new government, whatever signature it has. After all geopolitics say Thailand is the last stand against islam in the region.

So suddenly your favorite enemy the Thai/Chinese Shins have become Moslems??

Not sure that the people in Tak Bai ang Krung Sa would agree with you!

[chainarong]

The U.S like others in the area are taking a very serious interest in the Thai situation , the five eye's will be looking very closely at every development ,the current unrest could bring in new players to the area , players that upset the balance of military power , some have other agenda's, more involved , than just selling rice to China.

[thesetat2013]

translation - The US understands that all sides in this conflict are incorrigibly corrupt and incompetent and that the conflict is all about who can benefit from the continuing corruption. The US will continue to support any regime useful to our imperial goals that pretends to be a democracy.

AGREED

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[soi41]

someone in government told my wife that the current Thai administration has defaulted on some kind of loan made by the US to Thailand

they have not paid anything for 5 months

maybe that's why they are so interested in the situation and support Yingluck

they want to get paid.....

If someone told your wife, then it must be the truth!!

[BuddyPinkham]

The real joke is the inability of these self-proclaimed educated protesters to understand why the whole world is appalled and finds abhorrent their actions, not just this weekend, but in the weeks leading up to this. Suthep's letter to Obama underlined this mental chasm and must have caused guffaws in DC for the moment it was distributed before being binned.

Ummm, NOT THE WHOLE WORLD and not all the people.

[xminator]

That's a joke. Just look what side they are on in the Ukraine protests. Those protesters are doing the same things the protesters here are doing, except taking it further. When they storm a government ministry, they don't just hand out letters and flowers, they stay there and take over.

Not the same thing. Ukraine is mostly a fight between russian nationalists and ukraine nationalists. The protesters are protesting that their vote is not heard. In Thailand the protesters want to take away the basic right to vote from a huge number of peoples. So it could not be further between the motive and background.

[animatic]

From day one the USA has made it clear it supports the elected government. That was the appropriate response at the time and its position has not changed. I very much doubt that the Suthep antics are high on the Washington agenda. They support the status quo.

Not exactly. It will support AN elected government, if this one falls from legitimate methods,

they will support the next that arrises from legitimate methods.

They only support this one on the technical issue that it won and election and formed a government.

And that is not the same as supporting Thaksin, or PTP, or specifically Yingluck as PM.

[Snig27]

The real joke is the inability of these self-proclaimed educated protesters to understand why the whole world is appalled and finds abhorrent their actions, not just this weekend, but in the weeks leading up to this. Suthep's letter to Obama underlined this mental chasm and must have caused guffaws in DC for the moment it was distributed before being binned.

Ummm, NOT THE WHOLE WORLD and not all the people.

The world's media and governments seem fairly united in this. Perhaps I've missed a government that has commented on this that has not supported elections? You clearly have some inside information. Please share.