US denounces Thai coup, warns on relations

[webfact]

US denounces Thai coup, warns on relations

WASHINGTON, May 22, 2014 (AFP) - The United States warned Thursday it was reconsidering cooperation with ally Thailand after a military coup, which Secretary of State John Kerry denounced as having "no justification."

Kerry urged the restoration of a civilian government, respect for press freedom and "early elections that reflect the will of the people."

"I am disappointed by the decision of the Thai military to suspend the constitution and take control of the government after a long period of political turmoil, and there is no justification for this military coup," he said.

"While we value our long friendship with the Thai people, this act will have negative implications for the US-Thai relationship, especially for our relationship with the Thai military."

Kerry did not specify measures but the Pentagon said it was reconsidering cooperation with Thailand on training exercises.

The drills, which started Monday and run through next Tuesday, involve about 700 US Marines and sailors.

"We've been reviewing our military-to-military assistance including the CARAT exercise," Pentagon spokesman Colonel Steven Warren told reporters, referring to the latest drills.

State Department spokeswoman Jen Psaki said that the more than $10 million in US assistance could be suspended after a review is completed.

"We've taken preliminary steps to suspend military engagement and assistance while we consider the facts on the ground," Psaki told reporters.

The United States provides $11.4 million in aid to Thailand each year, including $3.7 million in military assistance.

Kerry called on the Thai military to release detained leaders of political parties and voiced concern at the shutdown of media outlets.

"I urge the restoration of civilian government immediately, a return to democracy and respect for human rights and fundamental freedoms, such as press freedoms. The path forward for Thailand must include early elections that reflect the will of the people," Kerry said.

Thailand is the oldest US ally in Asia and offered crucial support to the United States on conflicts including the Korean and Vietnam wars. The United States provides $11.4 million in aid to Thailand each year, including $3.7 million in military assistance.

Under domestic law, the United States is obliged to curb assistance to a foreign military if it carries out a coup. Washington briefly suspended aid after a previous coup in Thailand in 2006.

Psaki stated clearly that the United States considered Thailand's takeover a coup. The United States last year took pains not to call the Egyptian army's overthrow of elected president Mohamed Morsi a coup.

The State Department in a message urged US citizens to "exercise caution" in Thailand and to avoid any large gatherings as they could spiral into violence. But it stopped short of recommending that Americans avoid Thailand, a popular tourist destination.


-- (c) Copyright AFP 2014-05-23

[ratcatcher]

I await the friendly messages to Kerry and Psaki by resident American expats, following their remarks.

Obama will probably be texting Yingluck.

[Dumu Ali]

Thai soldiers I salute you

America gives you small money and are not the leaders of Thailand

Thailand is a brave modern nation

RESPECT

[ratcatcher]

Perhaps Obama should send in a carrier strike group to scare the Thais and save Thailand.

[issanaus]

Sorry , no oil here.

[zydeco]

Take your aid and stuff it. No justification? You want "no justification?" How about going through the airports back home and being frisked like a criminal, having your luggage torn open and things stolen and when you complain about it getting a form letter telling you, "tough." Even under martial law, Thailand is not half the police state the US is on a normal day.

[ozsamurai]

So, who's favorite pet monkey politician got locked up then? Affecting your wallet is it America? Who cares... take care of the mess that is your own. Denounce... pathetic.

"and there is no justification for this military coup"... what? do they need to find suspected WMD like you guys to trample on liberty..... you are still being serious?

Oz

[uty6543]

For a lot of expat's living here (not all) the military coup is the best solution for Thailands current problems. The politicians could not and would not do the right thing for the country so the military have. We support you.

[Mentors]

Hope the Western world will freeze all assets from the Junta and the 'invisisible hands'.

[Payboy]

Sorry , no oil here.

But lots of oily's for RnR.

[Pralaad]

Why is US always the first one in to ruin the relations with everybody?

Does US government not understand Thailand does not care?

[dhrobertson]

Hope the Western world will freeze all assets from the Junta and the 'invisisible hands'.

Why? What other solution would you have advocated?

I prefer to take an optimistic view. Let's see what the military can do to straighten a few things out before handing back to the electorate.

[GAS]

Very easy to understand why the US would come out against this, they know this could happen to them so they are worried. Just as happened here we have massive looting going on by the govt in the US.

This photo and article on Zerohedge that was just posted explains it nicely!
http://www.zerohedge.com/news/2014-05-22/us-government-explained-one-chart

[uptheos]

Under domestic law, the United States is obliged to curb assistance to a foreign military if it carries out a coup.

What does this actually mean?

Is the aid paid weekly, monthly, three monthly, annually or what?

[landslide]

Seems to be a double standard from the Obama Administration. Egypt's military overthrows the elected government, but it is not a coup. Thailand's military suspends the government, and it is a coup. Thailand's "coup" is substantially less violent than the Egyptian "coup". I guess Muslims are given more latitude than Buddhists.

[harrry]

I wonder how many us aircraft thailand can not buy with the $10million it does not get. Maybe they will buy cheaper from elswhere to save the money.

[BigMountain]

all the anger towards the US is quite hilarious. I hope they end all military assistance, the quicker the better

[Tatsujin]

Based on past performance, I'm quite sure "Thailand" doesn't really give a monkey's what the US or EU think.

[Stradavarius37]

This is just an obligatory statement that they have to make. In reality - they are far to worried about China to do anything with Thailand.

[Local Drunk]

all the anger towards the US is quite hilarious. I hope they end all military assistance, the quicker the better

That would be a great idea!

[NongKhaiKid]

Seems to be a double standard from the Obama Administration. Egypt's military overthrows the elected government, but it is not a coup. Thailand's military suspends the government, and it is a coup. Thailand's "coup" is substantially less violent than the Egyptian "coup". I guess Muslims are given more latitude than Buddhists.

Double standard yes but the US really needs Egypt on side because of it's influence in the Middle East and stance against Islamic fundamentalism.

In Asia the US has plenty of ' friends ' and could get by without LoS which isn't really concerned too much with foreign relations.

[tx22cb]

Posters here seem very selective in their criticism of the US foreign policy.

When it comes to foreign ownership of Thai houses & businesses, we complain to our embassies.

If the coup (or a different coup in the future) were to start expelling foreigners and nationalising foreign assets, would we quietly allow the Thais to do so?

Just because this coup has not affected us much, we should not condone a coup.

And I don't hear a lot of complaints when the US denounce North Korea (and, in the past, South Africa) - so we are fine with some types of interference?

Thailand need the US more than the US need Thailand.

[bangkokheat]

Thai soldiers I salute you

America gives you small money and are not the leaders of Thailand

Thailand is a brave modern nation

RESPECT

did you just get off the plane?

[zydeco]

all the anger towards the US is quite hilarious. I hope they end all military assistance, the quicker the better

I'll take Thailand any day over the US. Yea, why don't you go back there? The land of private companies determining your credit ratings and dictating what public services you're eligible for, where the people operating TV cameras at stop lights look to see if your tire merely touches the white line so they can send you a $750 fine, where if you carry too much cash in public you can be detained and your money confiscated as suspected "drug money," where courts order you who to hire and even sell your property to, where being too critical of Obama gets you a visit from secret service, where the military uses US citizens as cannon fodder to service the greed of banksters, oil companies, pharmaceutical cartels, and Hollywood cyber monopolists. My personal anger towards the US predates the martial law declaration by decades. These threats from the Ichabod Crane in the State Department are merely the latest moves in preserving the greedy desire of American oligarchs to enrich themselves and their vassals at the cost of average people's security and safety throughout Thailand.

[Seastallion]

Under domestic law, the United States is obliged to curb assistance to a foreign military if it carries out a coup.

What does this actually mean?

Is the aid paid weekly, monthly, three monthly, annually or what?

Think of it as international tea money for the US to maintain a presence in SE Asia

[GeorgeO]

US is a busted flush.

How dare they moralise

With their lousy schools, obscene inequality, racism and cultural vacuum I have no interest in their opinion on anything

Hear, hear. They spout off about providing aid to Thailand in an amount which is about equivalent to what the leading contenders in the US spend on their election campaign...!! One has to wonder how the US would have dealt with a similar situation on its own soil. I dread to think of the death toll...!!

[dukeandduke]

Some of you people are hysterical and predictable. You condemn the U.S., but you're OK with the EU, Japan, Australia and others saying the same thing. Peace out.

[DP25]

I wonder how many us aircraft thailand can not buy with the $10million it does not get. Maybe they will buy cheaper from elswhere to save the money.

You can't buy even one fighter plane for $10 million.

Thailand doesn't care about the aid, it was basically money to pay for the US having war games on Thai soil. If they don't have the war games the money isn't needed anyway. Thailand's budget is like $80 billion a year, they don't care if the US suspends a few million in 'aid' that was just self serving anyway.

[cacruden]

We all know now that the President Obama lead US speaks loudly and carries a feather

[Seastallion]

Seems to be a double standard from the Obama Administration. Egypt's military overthrows the elected government, but it is not a coup. Thailand's military suspends the government, and it is a coup. Thailand's "coup" is substantially less violent than the Egyptian "coup". I guess Muslims are given more latitude than Buddhists.

It all depends on if the US likes the government in question or not, or likes the rebellion or not. In Morsi's case, as he was backed by The Muslim Brotherhood, the US was glad he was overthrown and so pretended not to notice that it was a military coup.

Conversely, even though the Assad government in Syria is evil and breaking international laws and human rights, the rebels have Hezzbollah and Al Qaeda links, so bad luck citizens of Syria, US will not lift a finger because it is a "domestic matter" (besides, Syria is a net consumer of oil, not a net producer).

As for Thailand, Kerry's words are just duty to satisfy diplomatic obligations. I suspect Kerry (and the Administration) are actually quite pleased with events but can not say so publicly.