Prayut seeks time to make Kingdom stronger, rejects outside assistance
The Nation

BANGKOK: -- PRIME Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha has asked for time to make Thailand stronger, while defending his government's decision to maintain martial law.

He said the country had cooperated with the global community in hundreds of international peacekeeping missions over the past several decades, and now it was time for it to take care of its own problems.

"I would like to tell the world community that my government would like to request time to do things for Thai people and Thailand, too. We [are the ones who] now have problems," the PM said.

"We have done work in many other places. We don't want help from others now.

"Just allow us to get stronger, and we will do our duty to the best of our ability," he added.

Prayut also said that he listened to comments from all of the Kingdom's allies, but that he would decide whether to believe them.

The prime minister was speaking during his weekly national broadcast as part of the TV programme "Returning Happiness to People in the Country" last night. He was apparently responding to the recent diplomatic drama between Thailand and the United States after Daniel Russel, the US assistant secretary of state for East Asian and Pacific affairs, called |for the lifting of martial law |and described the impeachment |of former prime minister Yingluck Shinawatra as "politically driven".

Prayut said last year's coup was staged with the goal of ending political violence that had led to many deaths and injuries.

"We don't want to be a burden to our allies. If we can't solve our problems, we may end up having to need other countries to take care of us," he said.

"In fact, we have been an independent country for centuries. It's a shame to seek help from other countries to solve our own problems," he added.

Meanwhile, officials from the US Embassy this week sought a meeting with red-shirt leaders in the Northeast, a source said yesterday.

A group of embassy officials led by first secretary Timothy Trengle on Thursday travelled to Udon Thani seeking to meet with Kwanchai Praipana, a key red-shirt leader of the region.

However, Kwanchai could not meet them because he had business to attend to in Chon Buri, a source said.

Colonel Winthai Suwari, spokesman for the National Council for Peace and Order, said yesterday he was unaware of such a trip by US Embassy officials with the goal of meeting red-shirt leaders.

He believed the US mission would not, however, do anything that would adversely affect bilateral ties.

Deputy Foreign Minister Don Pramudwinai yesterday said it was good manners for diplomats not to interfere with the internal affairs of the country in which they are stationed. He urged the US government to consider why many Thai people had been angered by its latest moves involving Thailand.

PM's Office Minister Suwaphan Tanyuvardhana, meanwhile, said he was disappointed with the US, adding that for almost two centuries of Thai-US ties, the Kingdom had helped its ally in preserving its security interests.

In response to Russel's remarks, Suwaphan said: "The US should take into account the long relations [between the countries], and they should know what to say."

Thailand had the right to conduct its domestic and foreign policy as it sees fit, he said.

Source: http://www.nationmultimedia.com/politics/Prayut-seeks-time-to-make-Kingdom-stronger-rejects-30253039.html

-- The Nation 2015-01-31

i am afraid he is right...to the best of our abilities...ain't much?

US officials meeting with red shirt " leaders"..... Wow, here comes

another fire storm of from indignant government officials.... I

have said it before and I will say it again, Prayut will be in power

for at least 3 to 5 years. As time rolls by , you will hear less

and less talk about upcoming elections. A headline like this is

an example.

Edited January 30, 201511 yr by EyesWideOpen

Kwanchai could not meet them because he had business to attend to in Chon Buri, a source said.

Yea I am sure he turned down a meeting with U.S official. Who was the source, a member of the Junta speaking on behalf of a red?

Why not tell the truth, he was warned if he spoke to U.S officials he would be dragged away to the factory. The reds have been told they are not allowed to speak.

Colonel Winthai Suwari, spokesman for the National Council for Peace and Order, said yesterday he was unaware of such a trip by US Embassy officials with the goal of meeting red-shirt leaders.

Yea right. He would have known very well and that is why Kwanchai suddenly became indisposed.

"Prayut also said that he listened to comments from all of the Kingdom's allies, but that he would decide whether to believe them."

Based on evidence and alternate information one assumes.

Or is that just a poor translation of what was said?

Edited January 31, 201511 yr by Bluespunk

Maybe....2017......IMO, not next year........too much plundering to do....!

.

Prayut … rejects outside assistance ---

(Prayut) said the country had cooperated with the global community in hundreds of international peacekeeping missions ...

.

So it's okay to go into other countries, but no one can come in yours?

Can someone point out what peacekeeping missions and to where was thailand involved or how much financially thailand contributed to those peacekeeping or any other missions

So it's a shame to ask other countries for help is it? Thailand has asked and received help many times. Unfortunately like its citizens it does not respect help but takes every opportunity without giving anything back.

Of course lessening of the yoke would give the people a voice in changes they would like to see.

During Asia financial crisis in 1997 many Asean coutries borrow from IMF but Malaysia choose not toand survived the crisis .

Socialisms was not the way and China have shown on other ways.

Western sometimes might be wrong to judge the book from cover to go really understanding about it.

.... and the Baht gets stronger, and export are draining.....'

"we eat rice and falang eat bread"

Sufficiency economy,,,

- Bless

The General didn't need to seize power to end the violence from the protest. The military had other ways it could have helped the government to stop the violence. Or, did the General have other ideas?

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The General didn't need to seize power to end the violence from the protest. The military had other ways it could have helped the government to stop the violence. Or, did the General have other ideas?

Love to hear some of those ideas MB - from the great white hope himself...

Can someone point out what peacekeeping missions and to where was thailand involved or how much financially thailand contributed to those peacekeeping or any other missions

East Timor. Can't think of any others but there must be plenty.

more public budget to the army then, to be ready for the invisible threat of another invading country

Can someone point out what peacekeeping missions and to where was thailand involved or how much financially thailand contributed to those peacekeeping or any other missions

East Timor 1999, they sent 1500 troops to serve under Australian command.

Is it really diplomatic protocol for US consular staff to be meeting with red shirt leaders.

Can't think of the hundreds of peacekeeping missions General, I can only come up with 6 in the past 15 years, I'll just say that if the usual head in the sand approach doesn't work eat humble pie and ask for help , you are already getting help from China in a roundabout way with rail technology and look at all the help you are getting from the international business community with companies setting up in Thailand, your communications network is from outside all Thailand has done is borrowed the Idea's under licence , Thailand is built on outside Idea's and assistance there is not much that has been invented in Thailand , so to say you reject outside help I gather it will be selective.

Can someone point out what peacekeeping missions and to where was thailand involved or how much financially thailand contributed to those peacekeeping or any other missions

Thailand has been in many. You need to not be lazy and look it up yourself. Some maybe UN peace keeping mission. And money is not always the most important thing to sacrifice, but there is a high risk of losing your life during these deployments.

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Is it really diplomatic protocol for US consular staff to be meeting with red shirt leaders.

Well they can meet who ever they like , however to make a statement I guess that say's it all , only because the PTP were Democratically elected to represent the people, that's the bottom line , they are not interested in why ,who or what , Democracy is the key word. they fail inasmuch as there is no flexibility in their reasoning, pity we could do with a Coup in OZ with the cretins ruining the place.

"We honour and respect them, but we also have to monitor them,"

a comment yesterday about US diplomats

Look, this is just all hot air.

There is no chance AT ALL that the Junta will do anything that will loosen it's grip on the Thai people.

This is what the powers that be have been planning for years (since Thaksin's first election victory).

The fact that someone not from the powerful Bangkok families actually got elected and started to change things (including restructuring the military) was a wake up call to all those private jet owning, Paris shoe shopping, sloths.

Time for action.

This must never happen again.

Once and for all the oligarchs must always run Thailand.

The masses must always remain under their heel.

And so it will be.

Farang better watch out too.

More xenophobic isolationist nationalistic ramblings. Im not a fan of the red mess but this isnt heading in a positive direction either. Globalisation is real and no country has prospered by shutting it out. The only reason Thailand's economy has developed is because it has traditionally been a (relative to neighbors) open country. With a stagnant aging population, floundering economy and poorly skilled, poorly motivated and poorly educated workforce, a closed door approach is the last thing Thailand needs. This just reeks of the small elite guarding their turf to the scant benefit of the easily swayed, readily brainwashed, euphoric Thai masses.

A group of embassy officials led by first secretary Timothy Trengle on Thursday travelled to Udon Thani seeking to meet with Kwanchai Praipana, a key red-shirt leader of the region.

However, Kwanchai could not meet them because he had business to attend to in Chon Buri, a source said.

Timothy and entourage went all the way to Udon for nothing, because Kwanchai can't come to the phone right now...

Is it Thainess, or Bizarrenes? No, it's Misunderstandingness!

Why are US embassy officials going to Udon Thani to meet a Red Shirt leader, without usual protocol of advising Gov't?

Once again, US sticking it's beak in where it shouldn't be; they have no idea of diplomacy .....bunch of gung-ho amateurs!!!

Well this country sure needs help and should take help from outside and other countries; but sure not the way the US Government is strategically doing now as this is realy a internal matter and USA should stay away talking to former politicians in this country but should point the finger on things going wrong!!!!!

Thai ladies don't need farang anymore. Thailand will take care of them.

I am sure there are many Thais disagreeing with him, but they are not allowed critizism.

It's all mine and I am not letting go!