Prayut says US disallows him to travel to the states

[LuckyLew]

Imagine how much face must feel lost that Thaksin is welcome in the USA.

He does not lose face

I think it is an embarrassment to the USA that they allow a fugitive to enter their country

[emilymat]

Tee hee ! This means war.

[pegman]

I find this very interesting. The PM of Thailand has been disallowed from going to the USA, while it allows an convicted criminal on the run from the law to go. The American law, as I understand it will not allow a visa to anyone that has been convicted in a court of law. It still allowed Thakisin Shinitawatra to travel to the US after he was convicted by the court for corruption, while his Brother-in-Law, was PM.

I believe the US realized that the conviction was politically motivated. The courts have delivered multiple coups in the past decade.

Do you remember when Samak got thrown out for hosting a cooking show? Those Thai courts are a hoot.

The current PM is a criminal and should be rightly barred from U.S. travel.

Agreed, right up there with the SCOTUS. Bush>Gore, Dred Scott, Hammer v, Adair vs US, Citizen United, separate but equal,...........

[Shaunduhpostman]

More click bait on here everyday.

The headline is just plain deceptive.

The headline in the Thaivisa email newsletter uses even stronger language, "Prayuth Barred from Travelling to the United States."

He isn't barred in an way shape or form. <deleted>?

[Enoon]

Why does he always remind me of the bear off 'Rainbow'? Must be the intelligence and astute look.

"Bungle" the bear from "Rainbow"

Also they share similar political and social aims. Just as The General wants to "bring happiness to the people" so did Bungle and his crew want to "paint the whole world with a rainbow"

[daveyravey]

The Dumb tunnel vision Yanks have no idea as usual.

The Coupe was the best thing that happened here and it has gone very smoothly.

The good PM is doing a great job in a very difficult cultural environment.

The USA it seems cannot weigh up the fact that Thailand is at last being 'cleaned' up of the corruption and much more.

But it seems the USA prefer an elected corrupt government to an honest one!

What planet are you on??

His job as chief of the army was to stop the fighting, not intervene and take over!

If the Army had done their job we would still have a democratically elected government.

The only reason it is not so violent now is because the army are now doing what they should

have done for Yingluck..............protected and stopped the violence.

[aaacorp]

More cheese with that whine?

He can whine as much as he likes.

The only thing I'm worried about if he starts disliking certain nationalities.

Then many people here will be in trouble.

Hope we never come to that.......but you never know....................

First time i read something from you which is not all about the greatness and wonderful work and paradise environment the army created...

Start to wake up maybe?

[ggt]

The US is afraid that the self-appointed unelected PM of Thailand...may never want to leave...

[soalbundy]

Why does he always remind me of the bear off 'Rainbow'? Must be the intelligence and astute look.

He looks as if he is going to cry

[jdinasia]

Wah wah wah. Call elections, hell run in them too, you're doing such a good job and 93.7% of the Thai people love you so get legitimate and stop whining.

Had he failed to comment on this, what would you have said?

[Rancid]

I find this very interesting. The PM of Thailand has been disallowed from going to the USA, while it allows an convicted criminal on the run from the law to go. The American law, as I understand it will not allow a visa to anyone that has been convicted in a court of law. It still allowed Thakisin Shinitawatra to travel to the US after he was convicted by the court for corruption, while his Brother-in-Law, was PM.

Reputedly Taksin was the US's boy, if so explains why he still got visas & Prayut can't. Explains quite a lot more too about ensuing events if you think about it.

Mind you the US did allow the Taliban to fly in for a visit with open arms. Apparently they were not agreeable to certain arrangements, hence them being labelled toxic & the following invasion.

Bringing peace and democracy to a country near you...

[Daniel Ingalls]

The Secretary of State John Kerry should of kept his big mouth shut two months ago, claiming there was no justification in the over throw of the

last PM. .....Really?.......When for months the farmers have been yelling, "Where's our money" going from one government official to the next, demonstrations in Bangkok, Red shirts clashing with yellow/pink shirts,,,,,,it was time to put an end to it. Corruption was getting out of hand, people were getting frustrated. About

a dozen protesters were killed, hundreds injured. no end in sight. The time was right, and the General took charge. When the dust settled he began solving the problems the former PM ignored. Although he is a military man of some 36 + years, He came forth to the Thai people, told them what his plans were to improve things, every week he was on TV, even now after 10 months explaining his role as acting PM and what is expected to be done down the road when elections return to the country. I think he is doing the best he can based upon his skill as a Service man. He disbanded the Senators, some now up for impeachment,

Changed regulations, imposed martial Law until a new constitution is formulated, and approved by governmental authority he has appointed. He said he will step down when the new elections are held. I give him credit where it is deserved ..............blocking him from the US is a snobbish unjust act, and down the road some sort of reprisals will emerge. Obamabomb, is destroying every alley we have around the world, not solving problems, but creating more.

[aripengu]

Prayut says US disallows him to travel to the states?

The title of the news is wrong, they just don't invite him officially but he can go if he wants.

Why is that even a headline or news?

[DonaldBattles]

He is better off going to China and Japan as they like the way he took over the government. Maybe the government should restrain it's self from bad mouthing the USA. There is such a thing as restricting trade which could hurt a lot.

[klauskunkel]

Prayuth barred from traveling to the United States

Prayut says US disallows him to travel to the states

Prime Minister Gen Prayut Chan-o-cha said he is not permitted to travel to the United States.

the US does not extend invitation him to visit .

So, he is barred, disallowed, not permitted and will not get an invitation...

All I can say is, maybe you should find a nice American girl (no bikini) and get a fiancé visa...hope that helps, my man!

Edited March 14, 2015 by klauskunkel

[Srikcir]

Much of what Prayut says seems to be conjecture than based on fact or any actual action.

He understands the US government rightly distrusts him, doesn't appreciate his continued suppression of Thai rights and liberties, nor delay to return Thailand back to a democratic governance. He has pontificated several times sharp criticisms of US representatives speaking openly and freely about what they do not like about his one-man governance of Thailand. He knows he doesn't allow such freedom of speech in Thailand but is frustrated he cannot stop other nations from speaking out. He wraps all these frustrated feelings into a pronouncement that the US disallows him to travel to the US.

He makes no reference to actually being denied a request to visit the US.

The US does not have a law that automatically denies him entry. In fact, if he wants to enter the US in regard to UN meetings, sessions, etc. he cannot be denied entry. President Clinton did issue a Presidential Proclamation to prevent the President of Sudan into the US; but there was a UN International Court warrant for his arrest and he would likely not want to enter the US even with permission.

Let's face reality. The US is the last place Prayut wants to visit. His cries of being disallowed to visit the US is just a face-saving gesture than admitting his FEAR of being confronted by Western news media. He will only visit "safe" environments where the press and citizens are controlled and the US isn't one of those safe places.

[MobileContent]

This is a another rubbish of the dear General.

He can travel to the US such as a UN meeting but will be welcomed as a pariah. Comes 2016 and if the dear general wants to stay longer in power, then the UNSC might invoke sanctions against Thailand such as the UNSC had done against Myanmar, North Korea etc.

[StasD]

welcome to Russia!

[mesquite]

The article is as clear as mud. Can he go or can't he? No visa? Maybe a visa? No invitation from Obama?

[saminoz]

He is better off going to China and Japan as they like the way he took over the government. Maybe the government should restrain it's self from bad mouthing the USA. There is such a thing as restricting trade which could hurt a lot.

I'm sure North Korea will take him and complete the lookalike course.

[Daniel Ingalls]

The article is as clear as mud. Can he go or can't he? No visa? Maybe a visa? No invitation from Obama?

He would be labeled a diplomat, with said privileges. no visa required, getting into the White House, there then is another issue!

[SOUTHERNSTAR]

More cheese with that whine?

He can whine as much as he likes.

The only thing I'm worried about if he starts disliking certain nationalities.

Then many people here will be in trouble.

Hope we never come to that.......but you never know....................

Costas my kool aid drinking Greek friend we are all tolerated in Thailand, as there's always someone in authority who thingkz were all stupid and ignorant sex-pats, hell so do a lot of the expats here think that describes farangs.

Heaven forbid you ever decide to become a backpacker either, you know they eat their offspring, worship the dark arts, and frequently have sex with animals .... Well that's the way some old dinosaur farangs see them.

But yes, you're right it can change in an instance and then what? TVF Becomes VVF? (Vietnam visa forum) ?

You certain its only kool aid, because it must be something that makes you blind to the truth. Maybe he is on cheap/bad ouzo or something worse.

[Anthony5]

I find this very interesting. The PM of Thailand has been disallowed from going to the USA, while it allows an convicted criminal on the run from the law to go. The American law, as I understand it will not allow a visa to anyone that has been convicted in a court of law. It still allowed Thakisin Shinitawatra to travel to the US after he was convicted by the court for corruption, while his Brother-in-Law, was PM.

Convicted by whom ? By an ILLEGAL putchist military government who illegaly suspended the 1997 COnstitution and arrested, tortured and massacred dozens if not hundreds of students, children, women, academics ?

According to Transparency International Thaksin govt. was BY FAR THE LEAST corrupt in Thai history, while your hero Suthep has spent all his life cheating, stealing, killing etc... He had been regarded way back years ago by Democratic Party leader Chuan Leekpai "The most corrupt people in Thailand".

I think Thaksins brother in law was PM at the time Thaksin was convicted.

[SOUTHERNSTAR]

More cheese with that whine?

He can whine as much as he likes.

The only thing I'm worried about if he starts disliking certain nationalities.

Then many people here will be in trouble.

Hope we never come to that.......but you never know....................

I my culture (western) a person that whines is considered weak. So he continue to whine and show his weakness.

[GerdT]

The article has a very unfortunate headline since it is misleading because he certainly is entitled to travel to the US on private or state business (he could for example address the UN in New York).

What is unlikely is that he will get an invitation from the State Department or the White House for an official visit but that shouldn’t worry him to much, since official US policy doesn’t show any consistence on that subject.

A list of coups d'état on Wikipedia shows the exceptions from the rules in countries that have had US sponsored coups that didn’t try to install democracy and certainly not worth be added to that group of people that after the coups got official invitations.

[rotary]

I would guess he already took his kids to Disneyland so he has no reason to go to the USA anyway now

[Cisco]

"It was not a matter of blacklisting as this could affect the diplomatic relations, and the US had never banned entry by any Thai government leaders before."

I recall something back when Suchinda was looking to appoint a Prime Minister (before he decided he was the most suitable candidate). When the proposed name of his chosen PM was raised it was quickly made known by the U.S. that they would not allow that person into the U.S. as he was on a list of suspected drug traffickers. A Khun V... if I remember correctly?

Suchinda, of course, traded the epaulettes for the suit and tie and the rest is part of the history of coup cycles.

[Alwyn]

ok I give up .. why cant he travel to the USA?

seriously?

[asean]

He has not been disallowed. Obama just has not invited him for dinner. It even states this in the news article.

Edited March 14, 2015 by asean

[Robby nz]

Didn't Mrs O put a stop to the previous PM going to the US after she got a little to friendly with Mr President.

Probably for a different reason this time.