Daniel Russel insists on his political impartiality and the US support for the Thai people and Thail

[Lite Beer]

Daniel Russel insists on his political impartiality and the US support for the Thai people and Thailand

BANGKOK: -- US Assistant Secretary of State for Asian and Pacific Affairs Daniel Russel maintained that his visit to Thailand early this week was planned long ago before the impeachment of former prime minister Yingluck Shinawatra and that his visit here was to show the US support for the Thai people and the kingdom of Thailand and not any particular political parties or political groups.

In his exclusive interview with the Thai PBS, Mr Russel warned that it would not be easy for Thailand to convince the international community that it was committed to full restoration democracy in the country while martial law is still at place, freedom of expression is still restricted and inclusive political process remains elusive.

He stressed that only inclusive political process will lead to long-term stability which is important not just to Thailand but to the United States as well because Thailand is an important partner and ally.

Mr Russel said that normalization of relations between Thailand and the US would depend on the restoration of a credible democratically-elected a in Thailand and this can be made possible if all sectors of the Thai society are included in political process and have a role to play in determining the future of their country.

The US diplomat admitted that he was very direct and candid in his discussion earlier this week with Foreign Minister Thanasak Patimaprakorn on issues regarding martial law, freedom of expression, freedom of assembly and inclusive political process.

Mr Russel noted that it was a misconception that the US has deliberately delayed the appointment of a new ambassador to Thailand as a means to show its disapproval of the military coup.

He explained that it is normal to have a time gap between the departure of one ambassador and the arrival of a new one. He said that as soon as the White House make an announcement of the new ambassador, the appointee will be sent to Thailand by the State Department.

On human trafficking problem, Mr Russel said that he felt the Thai government was committed to resolving this problem in earnest. However, he pointed out that commitment itself must be backed up with real actions. There must be progress in the arrest of the traffickers and their prosecution, he said, adding that he is closely monitoring the result of this effort.

Source: http://englishnews.thaipbs.or.th/daniel-russel-insists-political-impartiality-us-support-thai-people-thailand

-- Thai PBS 2015-01-29

[Thai at Heart]

I hope this bloke keeps screaming from the top of the hills!!!]]

Mr Russel warned that it would not be easy for Thailand to convince the international community that it was committed to full restoration democracy in the country while martial law is still at place, freedom of expression is still restricted and inclusive political process remains elusive.

[tbthailand]

In his exclusive interview with the Thai PBS, Mr Russel warned that it would not be easy for Thailand to convince the international community that it was committed to full restoration democracy in the country while martial law is still at place, freedom of expression is still restricted and inclusive political process remains elusive.

as true as this statement is, the envoy has still been accused of 'interference' by right-wing royalists like the head of the 'NLA'.

[iReason]

Yes sir Danny Boy.

Tell it like it is.

Too many quotes I agree with. Might as well repost the whole thing here.

But, I particularly agree with this one:

"There must be progress in the arrest of the traffickers and their prosecution, he said, adding that he is closely monitoring the result of this effort."

And the Tin Pot Autocrats have done nothing but window dressing with their committees and sub-committees and bla bla bla.

These Tin Pots really seem to think the US hasn't dealt with their lowly sort before.

The Honeymoon is OVER Uncle Too.

[Squeegee]

Yes the OP is very quotable for all kinds of reasons. Here's a very good one to bear in mind for dozens of threads each week:

"However, he pointed out that commitment itself must be backed up with real actions."

This proves the point that the outside world knows darn well how things really are in Thailand and is most definitely not fobbed off by all the Thai talk, promises and so-called commitments.

Thailand, nobody is being fooled other than some of your own people (and about 5 Westerners for their own bizarre reasons). You've got so much work to do it's probably going to take your grandchildren's grandchildren to actually see the true light of day.

[tbthailand]

In his exclusive interview with the Thai PBS, Mr Russel warned that it would not be easy for Thailand to convince the international community that it was committed to full restoration democracy in the country while martial law is still at place, freedom of expression is still restricted and inclusive political process remains elusive.

as true as this statement is, the envoy has still been accused of 'interference' by right-wing royalists like the head of the 'NLA'.

OK, so I leave open the possibility that the head of the 'NLA' doesn't understand English at all and is unable to read what was said.

http://www.state.gov/p/eap/rls/rm/2015/01/236308.htm

[pedro01]

Can we presume Danny boy wasn't here when the grenades were flying?

[Tokay]

The PM's response... strict enforcement of martial law.

[NeilSA1]

Russel said "his visit to Thailand early this week was planned long ago before the impeachment of former prime minister Yingluck Shinawatra"

How fortuitous that YL was impeached just before his arrival.

[englishoak]

They do love a bit of dummy throwing the Thais, no 1 is get someone from outside to tell it like it is.

love the martial law bit, it just makes his points all the more clear and relevant

[noitom]

The US should stop soft pedaling here in Thailand and stand up for the rights of Thais and individual freedom, liberty, and justice for all. Just like it does with every other country. The US should stop spending US taxpayer money to treat Thailand as a special case worthy of special acknowledgements. Thailand is not special and it is not worthy.

[chainarong]

Mr Russel, you don't have to justify your position in regards to Thailand , many Expats have views on the situation, the critical point for you is representing your government , if we analyze we would see there was not much options left but to have a coup , however the direction in which the Coup leaders in some area's are taking is cause for alarm and concern , therefore your speech was quite correct, at least you were allowed to make your countries views known , many Thai's are in exile for just having an opinion.

[Torty]

Can we presume Danny boy wasn't here when the grenades were flying?

Correct.

And he never said a word about any of that at the time, even from the comfort of his very comfortable bureaucratic chair in Washington.

[AoChalong]

The only time the US doesn't like a self-appointed country leader is when it isn't "their" sponsored self-appointed leader.... notice the "understanding" attitude shown by the US towards the Egyptian military that removed President Morsi under similar circumstances.....

Former Ambassador to Egypt Frank Wisner said:

"It wasn’t the military that plotted the seizure of the government and grabbed it. It was a massive public uprising that, left unchecked, would have produced great violence. It would have left the military in the miserable position of having to control those demonstrations by force. The cry from the crowd was they wanted new elections … to help decide the country’s future, which has been so troubled. The military was faced with, genuinely overheated situation … It isn’t a coup in any classic sense and, yet, the military played a role in upsetting the government. We have to ask ourselves, then, finally, what are the interests of the United States? And here the president wisely has waiver authority and has to make a judgment. Egypt is the largest and most influential country in the Middle East. Egypt is central to peace with Israel. Egypt’s fate will influence the course of politics elsewhere in the region. So we want to be very, very careful before we go out and condemn an event that has, by the most recent polling of Egypt’s best pollsters, 80 percent support in the population. What is clear is the wave of anger against the government that drove Morsi from power, enjoyed massive, massive public support in the many, many millions of Egyptians."

So what's the difference between Thailand and Egypt?

A quote from a former President of the United States during the Central American "Banana Republic" days....

“He may be a bastard, but he’s our bastard”

Pres. Franklin D. Roosevelt

The same thing can be said about Thaksin and the Shinawatra clan.... Just as the Marcos clan in the Philippines and the Suharto clan in Indonesia received support from the US.... the Shinawatra clan is supported by the US because it is in the "interests" of the powers that be in New York and Washington DC...

In the end, it really isn't about "supporting democracy"...that's just a sound bite for the plebs....

[Ricardo]

"freedom of expression is still restricted and inclusive political process remains elusive."

So nothing new there, then.

But one does worry that, in their p.c. rush to show that they don't like military-governments this week, they risk pushing Thailand even further towards China's open arms, which surely cannot be the USA's long-term objective ?

[rametindallas]

Daniel Russel insists on his political impartiality and the US support for the Thai people and Thailand

And yet he meets with a disgraced ex-government that the polls show do not represent the Thai people or Thailand

http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/795872-thai-poll-martial-law-vital-to-maintaining-peace-and-order/

You know the best way to tell if a US diplomat (any diplomat) is lying? His lips are moving. He can insist all he wants but he is thumbing his nose at those currently in power and 'stirring the pot', as well.

[ggt]

It is my sandbox...my play toys...I call the shots...who can play...what hours they are allowed to enter the box...what hours they can drink and what they can say and not say...

This is our new democracy...any questions?

[MadDog2020]

So he met with the former PM and the former opposition leader, but not the current self-appointed leader.

But he not Thai, how could he possibly understand or know what is fair for Thai people!!

And I quote ' I am in charge now, how dare you question my power '

Ironic that any realistic definition of the type person quoted above would be a d....tor.

But that has been outlawed to say by said self appointed ruler.

He is a member of the State Department. It's his job to understand the Thai people if he is coming into the country and giving speeches.

His comments are simply irresponsible and should not be made in a speech or public interview and can only be interrupted as a desire for inciting more unrest in Thailand.

[akentryan]

Sometimes the wisest thing to do is to simply say nothing. This is a career diplomat who should know better. The US of A has no business meddling in Thai affairs without even considering conditions before and after the coup. Go back home and lecture your Presiident who now rules by presidential decree.

[oneday]

In his exclusive interview with the Thai PBS, Mr Russel warned that it would not be easy for Thailand to convince the international community that it was committed to full restoration democracy in the country while martial law is still at place, freedom of expression is still restricted and inclusive political process remains elusive.

as true as this statement is, the envoy has still been accused of 'interference' by right-wing royalists like the head of the 'NLA'.

Well your statement is certainly true, but I'm not sure what your point is. Can you expound?

If ANYONE wants to know what Mr. Russel is actually saying then they can just watch his interview with Thai PBS. There is absolutely nothing he is saying up through minute 17 of the interview that very few people cannot agree with. This PBS reporter really tried to get him with a lot of hard controversial questions on marital law and a few other issues so she did her job well.

I'm not sure I can put a link so just go to YouTube and search for his interview using this search string:

ตอบโจทย์ ไทยพีบีเอส : 8 เดือนรัฐประหาร สถานะ "ไทย" สายตา "สหรัฐฯ" (28 ม.ค. 58)

Of course, we will never know his exact words to anyone in the government, behind closed doors, other than what they tell us he said or from biased reporters that tell us what he said.

Edited January 30, 2015 by oneday

[zydeco]

Russel looks like what he is. A soft, pudgy little prig. A message boy for a government in Washington DC that fouls up each and every single foreign policy initiative it embarks on. Would Libya be better off with its "dictator," who had started to change and shift towards the US? What about Egypt? Could have saved several thousand lives, not to mention the Christian Coptic Church, had the US backed its ally, instead of the Muslim Brotherhood. And even Syria? Syria was at least stable and susceptible to diplomatic pressure before virtually everything crumbled into anarchy. Obama thinks the entire world should function just like a combination of New York City and Chicago, with all the depravity and greed of the former and all the fancied up corruption and violence of the latter.

[metisdead]

Off topic posts and inflammatory replies have been removed.

[aussieinthailand]

Thai politics for the Thai people ye'p cool with that, interfering? since when is saying as it is interfering? Is it his job to make statements regarding the US thoughts? Ye'p, So he did his job, welcome to the world of international politics. the fact is this country can do as it wants politically and it's not the US' business. But they both want to keep each other in the good books so diplomacy is how it works man.

And treating all countries equally,,, ye'p that happens here a lot huh Burmese workers are treated equally aren't they, the lao people and Cambodians also treated equally and not looked down upon, Geez man they they look down at each other and treat each other unequally, and the falang also treated unequally be they tourist or expat, remember the Thai price and falang price, that's equal isn't it.

But seriously If the US really wanted Thailand to re-install democratic process and rule of law, free speech and fix the human trafficking issues ivory trade, etc, then everyone knows how to get a Thai person to do something $$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$

So stop donating money simply cut all economic aid and stop buying products, it's making choices via the wallet, then you might get some action because money is everything here as we know.

[Sydebolle]

Did he remind, democratically elected and democratically re-elected Obama about his election promise to the electorate on Guantanamo Bay?
Where was mouthpiece Russell when Egypt went CIA-supported undemocratic? Where was Russell when Bush told Blix heading the UN monitoring/verification and Inspection Commission (looking for weapons of mass destruction delivered by the USA in their support of Saddam Hussein 1980-1988) to get his people out in 48 hours after which Bush started the war?

Russell - shut up and go home; you made America the laughing stock of foreign politics - once more again

[manhood]

To make a statement is not interfering at first and politicians have to do that and also have to put the finger in wounds as now the press can not do it while material law dont alow a free press.

And the problem is: Thais dont want to face the truth and statements that not fits into their point of view.

Better they would listen to much more statments from abroad and use the knowledge and experts from outside of the country to listen and use their statments for create an open and democratic new constitution and laws as well a government that has the minimum of an idea what means DEMOCRACY

I concerned about this country i am living in and love to live many many more ears but i want to see this country is flourishing paid by consistent action and not again mired in the corruption of the powerfull and family clans and the population is more the fool again of paing the bill!

[tbthailand]

In his exclusive interview with the Thai PBS, Mr Russel warned that it would not be easy for Thailand to convince the international community that it was committed to full restoration democracy in the country while martial law is still at place, freedom of expression is still restricted and inclusive political process remains elusive.

as true as this statement is, the envoy has still been accused of 'interference' by right-wing royalists like the head of the 'NLA'.

Well your statement is certainly true, but I'm not sure what your point is. Can you expound?

If ANYONE wants to know what Mr. Russel is actually saying then they can just watch his interview with Thai PBS. There is absolutely nothing he is saying up through minute 17 of the interview that very few people cannot agree with. This PBS reporter really tried to get him with a lot of hard controversial questions on marital law and a few other issues so she did her job well.

I'm not sure I can put a link so just go to YouTube and search for his interview using this search string:

ตอบโจทย์ ไทยพีบีเอส : 8 เดือนรัฐประหาร สถานะ "ไทย" สายตา "สหรัฐฯ" (28 ม.ค. 58)

Of course, we will never know his exact words to anyone in the government, behind closed doors, other than what they tell us he said or from biased reporters that tell us what he said.

The point is that the current ultra-nationalist in the 'NLA' appear to be interested in creating a foreign boogey-man or external 'threat' out of comments which potentially expose their impeachment decision for what it is. They can't address the actual statements because it is too obvious that they are doing exactly what the envoy says "could be"... so they need to simply demonize the messenger.

It's a normal tactic for this style of 'government'.

(PS: not only is his interview online, the text of his speech is at the US gov website : http://www.state.gov/p/eap/rls/rm/2015/01/236308.htm)

Edited January 30, 2015 by tbthailand

[rubl]

Well your statement is certainly true, but I'm not sure what your point is. Can you expound?

If ANYONE wants to know what Mr. Russel is actually saying then they can just watch his interview with Thai PBS. There is absolutely nothing he is saying up through minute 17 of the interview that very few people cannot agree with. This PBS reporter really tried to get him with a lot of hard controversial questions on marital law and a few other issues so she did her job well.

I'm not sure I can put a link so just go to YouTube and search for his interview using this search string:

ตอบโจทย์ ไทยพีบีเอส : 8 เดือนรัฐประหาร สถานะ "ไทย" สายตา "สหรัฐฯ" (28 ม.ค. 58)

Of course, we will never know his exact words to anyone in the government, behind closed doors, other than what they tell us he said or from biased reporters that tell us what he said.

The point is that the current ultra-nationalist in the 'NLA' appear to be interested in creating a foreign boogey-man or external 'threat' out of comments which potentially expose their impeachment decision for what it is. They can't address the actual statements because it is too obvious that they are doing exactly what the envoy says "could be"... so they need to simply demonize the messenger.

It's a normal tactic for this style of 'government'.

(PS: not only is his interview online, the text of his speech is at the US gov website : http://www.state.gov/p/eap/rls/rm/2015/01/236308.htm)

From the speech

"I'd add that the perception of fairness is also extremely important and although this is being pretty blunt, when an elected leader is removed from office, is deposed, then impeached by the authorities -- the same authorities that conducted the coup -- and then when a political leader is targeted with criminal charges at a time when the basic democratic processes and institutions in the country are interrupted, the international community is going to be left with the impression that these steps could in fact be politically driven."

So, the NCPO/NLA has to work on 'perception' after they voted to impeach based on facts ?