Police Say Anti-American Protest Not Violation of Martial Law

[Morch]

So America should not have laws that forbid it from providing material support to undemocratically elected governments? Or, is it expected to make a special case for Thailand?

Or are you speaking of the TIP trafficking report- that should be ignored, too?

So Thailand should not be held to the same standards as other nations? Well, I can almost agree with that as no way can it ever achieve that with a largely uneducated populace as its core, which is quite deliberate.

Given the USA's track record overseas of meddling in politics, installing new Govt's and generally ignoring anything they don't agree with as long as the oil flows, or they can retain "influence" in whatever country happens to interest them at that moment, it is rather hypocritical of the USA to tell Thailand what to do or not do.

Where is the USA telling Thailand what to do? They are not involved in anything that is going on in Thailand and have no intent to get involved.

Withdrawing "aid", imposing sanctions, cancelling military training exercises, negative statements from Foreign Ministers/Attache's etc . . . all "messages" sent by USA to Thailand that the USA is not happy or don't agree with things.

You still think that's not getting involved or not telling Thailand what to do?

This is not telling Thailand what to do. This is telling Thailand what is the USA's preference. Thailand can consider this

and choose its course of action. Choices got consequences. That's a reality.

On the other hand Thailand expects the USA to continue handing out aid, conduct military exercises, not to impose trade

restrictions and avoid criticism - sounds like Thailand is the one telling the USA what to do, by the same logic.

To put it in perspective - the aid withdrawn is a drop in a bucket, there are no meaningful trade sanctions imposed yet

(and the human trafficking thing have little to do with the coup, been an ongoing issue), the diplomatic language was not

overly harsh - you can check USA state department statements in similar situations. Pretty routine.

And again - this will blow over quicker than most people here seem to think.

[Morch]

does anyone in this forum believe that the US can do anything right in the eyes of some?

If the US came out in support of the coup . the haters would be against it, If the US came out against the coup as every civilized has, the haters would,, as they have in this thread, come out against it.

To them I suggest

Breath slowly in to a brown paper bag and stop hyperventilating, The US. as any other responsible country, will do and say what is in the best interest of their country. as I hope you country does.

I can believe that the US can do something right...but if one disagrees with it's foreign policy then that equates they are a hater?

I haven't seen Thai condemn US foreign policy until the US condemned Thailand on the coup..

So under your hater argument the US hates Thailand.

Really a silly argument on your part.

re. the OP.....It was 1 Thai person protesting the US Policy on Thailand....hardly indicative of the general feelings of Thai towards the US.

Oh, it's quite obvious the current storm in a tea cup brings out anyone with half an anti-USA agenda on this forum.

That's alright, though, fair play. The USA certainly lends itself to bashing sometimes.

There is a certain difference, methinks, between saying that the USA's stance with regard to the coup is wrong (which I

personally subscribe to), and loading this with hyperbole comments on USA telling Thailand what to do etc.

Indeed, I do not believe this is a real crisis, other than in the mind of few Thai ultra nationalists and some foreigners with

an agenda. As for "haven't seen Thai condemn US foreign policy" - Apart from Thailand not usually being much involved

with world diplomacy, they actually did whine about USA foreign policy not long ago (as when Surapong discovered there

is an embargo on Iran, which prevented Thai rice sales). Thailand rarely takes a real stand even on regional matters to do

with ASEAN neighbors, the PRC etc.

This too shall pass.

[ChiangMike]

does anyone in this forum believe that the US can do anything right in the eyes of some?

If the US came out in support of the coup . the haters would be against it, If the US came out against the coup as every civilized has, the haters would,, as they have in this thread, come out against it.

To them I suggest

Breath slowly in to a brown paper bag and stop hyperventilating, The US. as any other responsible country, will do and say what is in the best interest of their country. as I hope you country does.

A little cynicism is a good thing, and the US enacted some god awful foreign policy in the past (see Iraq invasion). That said I support the US government's criticism of the coup (along with the EU's and Australia's diplomatic stances towards the coup), don't see it as heavy handed or interventionist, rather diplomacy 101, which is a nice change of pace.

Folks here want to reduce questioning the coup to being for Thaksin and corruption, but I don't see it that way. I see it as the same old thing, patronage and cronyism and power - just different folks. The speech and social controls being implemented to 'clean up' are becoming disturbing and are not a step forward for the country but the opposite, and it's making the ground fertile for worse. Not sure where all this will go...

$.02

Edited July 1, 2014 by ChiangMike

[iphad]

On Thailand Military Coup

"There is no justification for this military coup," U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry said in a blunt statement.

"This act will have negative implications for the U.S.-Thai relationship, especially for our relationship with the Thai military. We are reviewing our military and other assistance and engagements, consistent with U.S. law."

http://www.reuters.com/article/2014/05/22/us-thailand-protest-reaction-idUSBREA4L0ZH20140522 Reuters US Edition

On Egypt Military Coup

"The Obama administration will not make a formal determination as to whether the ouster of Egyptian President Mohamed Morsy by the military was a coup, a senior administration official told CNN's Jill Dougherty

A coup determination would force the United States to end military aid to Egypt." http://edition.cnn.com/2013/07/25/politics/obama-egypt/

[Morch]

On Thailand Military Coup

"There is no justification for this military coup," U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry said in a blunt statement.

"This act will have negative implications for the U.S.-Thai relationship, especially for our relationship with the Thai military. We are reviewing our military and other assistance and engagements, consistent with U.S. law."

http://www.reuters.com/article/2014/05/22/us-thailand-protest-reaction-idUSBREA4L0ZH20140522 Reuters US Edition

On Egypt Military Coup

"The Obama administration will not make a formal determination as to whether the ouster of Egyptian President Mohamed Morsy by the military was a coup, a senior administration official told CNN's Jill Dougherty

A coup determination would force the United States to end military aid to Egypt." http://edition.cnn.com/2013/07/25/politics/obama-egypt/

You may want to check the slight difference in the amount of aid given by the USA to both countries.

The implications of cutting of some of the meager aid budget to Thailand are not the same as cutting off Egypt (with its fragile

economy and domestic situation).

No one is saying that the USA's policy is devoid of self interest.

[kaobang]

http://en.khaosod.co.th/detail.php?newsid=1404207435&section=11&typecate=06

[metisdead]

Off topic posts and replies have been removed.

[EBlair48]

Would you regard Pinochet's tenure as an advancement of democracy? Respect for human rights?

America is not perfect and has had some questionable leaders that have bent laws to their tastes. However Thailand is far less than perfect and has nothing but questionable leaders and US simply isn't going to ignore this particular failed state's new dictator at this time. He just isn't that important-apparently.

You've got this assbackwards.

It would be great if the US were ignoring this, but they're not and here's why :

You can say what you want about Thai people, but Thailand is important. It sits on a strategic location at the underbelly of continental East Asia. It is a therefore a lynch pin of the US 'pivot' towards Asia which is in itself a key part of the strategy to encircle China and Russia. Conversely, the Chinese have their own strategy to counter this and it's called the 'String of Pearls' doctrine.

Not only that, Thailand's borders cover much of the area designated by the UN as one of the world's five hyper-productive areas in terms of food (coincidentally, Ukraine sits on most of one of the other areas).

The bankers who control the US and the EU are getting their knickers in a twist because their boy Thaksin is out. Bankers hate losing their investment.

If you can control food, fuel and water you can control everything else relating to populations.

Agree, Thailand is strategically important to US by mere accident of geographic location to China.

I have not asserted US is ignoring Thailand, just its latest megalomaniac.

[EBlair48]

http://en.khaosod.co.th/detail.php?newsid=1404207435&section=11&typecate=06

Six is not five, and it was not a true test because, agree or not- it does violate martial law. " more than five may not gather.."

[kaobang]

http://en.khaosod.co.th/detail.php?newsid=1404207435&section=11&typecate=06

Six is not five, and it was not a true test because, agree or not- it does violate martial law. " more than five may not gather.."

the guy arrested few days ago for eating a sandwich and reading 1984 was 1

[EBlair48]

^ true, however that wasn't the reason given as to why it was not a violation, though it should have been by any thinking spokesperson.

Dissing foreign embassies under guise of anger was the reason given.

This just in; " Attitude adjustment.."

http://www.prachatai.com/english/node/4180

Police to summon ‘sandwich protest’ student activists for attitude adjustment

Tue, 01/07/2014 - 22:23 | by suluck

Deputy National Police Chief Somyot Phumphanmuang is to summon the student activists who ate “anti-coup sandwiches” in front of the US Embassy on Tuesday, and send them to the military for “attitude adjustment,” Naewna has reported.

[kaobang]

^ true, however that wasn't the reason given as to why it was not a violation, though it should have been by any thinking spokesperson.

Dissing foreign embassies under guise of anger was the reason given.

This just in; " Attitude adjustment.."

http://www.prachatai.com/english/node/4180

Police to summon ‘sandwich protest’ student activists for attitude adjustment

Tue, 01/07/2014 - 22:23 | by suluck

Deputy National Police Chief Somyot Phumphanmuang is to summon the student activists who ate “anti-coup sandwiches” in front of the US Embassy on Tuesday, and send them to the military for “attitude adjustment,” Naewna has reported.

is this Thailand or North Korea?

[srsv1238]

You mean like the mass turmoil that paralyzed Thailand for the past 6 months?

Sent from my SM-N900T using Thaivisa Connect Thailand mobile app

[james49229]

This protest is not illegal because it is not protesting anything regarding the actions of Thai politics, only US, which is fine. Also because this protest is aligned with the political goals of those currently in power.

[londonthai]

a woman standing outside the usa embassy on the 4th july with a placard "Long live the usa day" was charged with lesse majeste for mocking "long live the king" slogan.

she was released after 4 days without charges, but she had to sign a loyalty declaration to junta. http://prachatai.org/english/node/4214

the story shows double standards of thai police against protesters during marshal law

[iphad]

a woman standing outside the usa embassy on the 4th july with a placard "Long live the usa day" was charged with lesse majeste for mocking "long live the king" slogan.

she was released after 4 days without charges, but she had to sign a loyalty declaration to junta. http://prachatai.org/english/node/4214

the story shows double standards of thai police against protesters during marshal law

I'm not sure if you read her sign....it said:

"Long Live USA day

PL help US We need Democracy

But Thai elite dislike democracy

Thai Junta Pretended not to know

Thanks God give today"

your claim of double standards while not reading or reporting what the sign actually said is questionable.

she wasn't charged but her ploy worked somewhat to get farang worked up a little.

[jayboy]

There is never any mention of Japan's criticism. While it's not as drastic as halting military drills, it's pretty severe.

http://asiancorrespondent.com/124199/views-from-japan-on-the-thai-coup/

And, then there is this...

http://www.asiasentinel.com/society/asean-lawmakers-blast-human-rights-commission/

http://www.asiasentinel.com/society/open-letter-thai-junta/

Very good point.In fact the Japanese reaction was in some ways the most negative of all.

However it suits the narrative of the Junta to focus on the United States ( and the EU and Australia to a lesser extent ) so that disapproval can be labelled as that of the West - and by extension those hypocritical farang.

Complete nonsense of course.The disapproval is almost universal.Even China despite the realpolitik - partly as a result of its rivalry with the US, will not in the longer term wish to be associated with illegitimate regimes.In the meantime at least we can be entertained by embarrassing antics of apologists in interpreting routine diplomatic platitudes as fervent expressions of support.

Sent from my iPad using Thaivisa Connect Thailand

[londonthai]

a woman standing outside the usa embassy on the 4th july with a placard "Long live the usa day" was charged with lesse majeste for mocking "long live the king" slogan.

she was released after 4 days without charges, but she had to sign a loyalty declaration to junta. http://prachatai.org/english/node/4214

the story shows double standards of thai police against protesters during marshal law

I'm not sure if you read her sign....it said:

"Long Live USA day

PL help US We need Democracy

But Thai elite dislike democracy

Thai Junta Pretended not to know

Thanks God give today"

your claim of double standards while not reading or reporting what the sign actually said is questionable.

she wasn't charged but her ploy worked somewhat to get farang worked up a little.

her placard is gibberish, probably translated by google. The only issue police had with it is lesse majeste and that she was standing outside an embassy.

Thep Vetchavisit's lone anti-american protest was even more idiotic, with caricatures of president clinton and nixon (who was a president over 40 years ago). Those presidents were big time layers, but had nothing to do with situation in thailand. The only logical explanation for his lonely protest was media attention to his name and his disreputable medical practice http://www.tsroadmap.com/physical/vaginoplasty/thep-vechavisit.html

[ClutchClark]

^^^And, yet, here we are one week later still talking about it so he obviously did make an impression.^^^

Is it Hollywood that says there is no such thing as bad publicity?

[iphad]

a woman standing outside the usa embassy on the 4th july with a placard "Long live the usa day" was charged with lesse majeste for mocking "long live the king" slogan.

she was released after 4 days without charges, but she had to sign a loyalty declaration to junta. http://prachatai.org/english/node/4214

the story shows double standards of thai police against protesters during marshal law

I'm not sure if you read her sign....it said:

"Long Live USA day

PL help US We need Democracy

But Thai elite dislike democracy

Thai Junta Pretended not to know

Thanks God give today"

your claim of double standards while not reading or reporting what the sign actually said is questionable.

she wasn't charged but her ploy worked somewhat to get farang worked up a little.

her placard is gibberish, probably translated by google. The only issue police had with it is lesse majeste and that she was standing outside an embassy.

Thep Vetchavisit's lone anti-american protest was even more idiotic, with caricatures of president clinton and nixon (who was a president over 40 years ago). Those presidents were big time layers, but had nothing to do with situation in thailand. The only logical explanation for his lonely protest was media attention to his name and his disreputable medical practice http://www.tsroadmap.com/physical/vaginoplasty/thep-vechavisit.html

her placard is gibberish, probably translated by google.

oh you didn't understand it..ok no wonder you didn't read her sign.