Obama supports Thailand to return to democracy

[webfact]

Obama supports Thailand to return to democracy



MANILA: --Prime Minister Gen Prayut Chan-o-cha said President Barak Obama has expressed his support for Thailand to return to democracy.

He was speaking to reporters in Manila where APAC Summit 2015 is currently being held.

Gen Prayut said as he and President Obama were seated next to each other, he then had a chance to speak to the US president.

He said he thanked Mr Obama for the posting of the ambassador to Thailand.

President Obama then said he also was delighted as the United States and Thailand have a long history of good relations which could not be abandoned.

The US president told him that he would be delighted to support the country to return to democracy which he assured the president he would try his best to enable the country back to full and sustainable democracy.

Gen Prayut also disclosed that the president acknowledged the complication of Thai politics and voiced concern of human rights.

He, however, assured the president that his government is taking care of the matter.

Gen Prayut also met Russian Prime Minister Dmitry Medvedev and has accepted his invitation to visit Russia in November next year to join the 120th celebration anniversary of the good relations of the two countries.

Source: http://englishnews.thaipbs.or.th/obama-supports-thailand-to-return-to-democracy


-- Thai PBS 2015-11-19

[jaywalker]

I do agree that some countries ARE better off with a thug in charge and simply are not ready for democracy, Singapore & Lee Kuan Yew come to mind.

However Chosen One is a bumbling blow-hard & nothing like Yew.

[webfact]

Prayuth Warns Obama Not to Trust Reports of Rights Abuses
By Sasiwan Mokkhasen
Staff Reporter

MANILA — Junta chairman Prayuth Chan-ocha said he told U.S. President Barack Obama today that concerns about human rights violations in Thailand were partly based on inaccurate news presented by people with bad intentions.

Gen. Prayuth said he and Obama had the brief conversation on the matter as they sat next to each other this morning at a regional economic summit in Manila. It was the second time Prayuth encountered Obama, whose government condemned the coup d’etat he staged in May 2014.

“Mr. Obama stressed that he’s well aware of the complexity of Thai politics, but the things that worried him are issues about human rights,” Prayuth said in an interview with Thai reporters in Manila today. “I insisted to him that I’m already trying to take care of these issues, but they were really [the results of] news presented by people with bad intentions. Sometimes, these reports were presented without any facts, so it led to misunderstanding.”

Full story: http://www.khaosodenglish.com/detail.php?newsid=1447917761


-- Khaosod English 2015-11-19

[nikmar]

It reminds me of the time my kid came home from school with a note from the teacher explaining how he had been lazy, naughty and cheeky to her.

My son did his best to tell us that it wasnt true and the teacher hated him and that he'd been a good boy really. Bless.

[skildpadden]

"Gen Prayut also disclosed that the president.....voiced concern of human rights. He, however, assured the president that his government is taking care of the matter."

Well taking care of the matter can mean a lot of things.

Does it mean that Thailand will acknowledge international laws (hey, maybe even sign a refugee treaty, so you won't send Chinese dissidents back to China?), or does it mean that no one will complain of human rights in Thailand out of fear of dying in jail?

[webfact]

President Obama shows understanding of political situation in Thailand



BANGKOK, 19 November 2015 (NNT)-Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha has met with U.S. President Barack Obama at the 23rd Asia Pacific Cooperation (APEC) where both parties confirmed the continuation of their long alliance.

The Prime Minister said he had an opportunity to speak with Mr. Obama unofficially during the APEC Summit as they were sitting next to each other.

General Prayut thanked the American President for assigning a new ambassador to Thailand while Mr. Obama said Thailand has been an American ally for a long time and the two nations wouldn’t abandon one another.

The U.S. President also expressed his understanding regarding the complexity of the political situation in Thailand and showed support for the country’s efforts to restore democracy. The Premier in return said he would continue to do his best.

-- NNT 2015-11-19

[daiwill60]

Any chance on Obama's version of the conversation (if he can remember it) being given, to an independent Non-Thai media outlet? Oh! and while they are at it, would it be possible to find out what the conversation was between Obama and the Vietnamese guy on the other side of Obama. Bet it was much more interesting and full of praise for the way in which Vn is pulling ahead of the local competitors on many levels.

[thelonius]

Prayuth Warns Obama Not to Trust Reports of Rights Abuses

By Sasiwan Mokkhasen

Staff Reporter

MANILA — Junta chairman Prayuth Chan-ocha said he told U.S. President Barack Obama today that concerns about human rights violations in Thailand were partly based on inaccurate news presented by people with bad intentions.

-- Khaosod English 2015-11-19

I can only presume he is referring to HRW after their letter to him yesterday which contained the following;

“Thailand’s forced return of these two rights activists into harm’s way in China after being explicitly told that they were refugees is cruel as well as unlawful,” said Sophie Richardson, China director. “These actions blatantly contradict the pledge to uphold rights that the prime minister made before the UN General Assembly. It’s deeply alarming, if not surprising, that the junta’s deference to abusive neighbors takes priority over the rule of law.”

“It seems clear that the forced return of these two activists was a deliberate, premediated rights violation by the Thai junta at China’s behest,” Richardson said. “Prime Minister Prayut should recognize that Thailand is moving toward the sort of pariah status reserved for the most rights-abusing countries, and right these wrongs.”

https://www.hrw.org/news/2015/11/18/thailand-activists-forcibly-returned-china

Blast those pesky people with their bad intentions, eh, prayuth?

[h90]

Obama is an idiot. i dont support Democracy in Thailand Thais need disiplin and cant handle freedom of the vote they have to turn it into a huge mess. No I think Military rule is what they need. Sorry to say. They act like spoiled rotten children and do not care anything about Democracy...

For the first sentence....I don't think there is any doubt.

I do support democracy in Thailand, but not tomorrow.....Make a strong constitution, repair police and courts and than slowly start it. Let be 10 or 20 years and hunt down everyone who abuse the system.

Thais will learn....

[h90]

As an American, I can agree with all that Obama is a Fool! Talking about Thailand's Democracy, lets talk about America's Democracy! Obama is a Dictator and has been ruling America as his personnel Kingdom! The American people are ready to Vote for the return of Democracy next November, 2016! There is hope, that a Vote for America next year will carry 40 out of 50 states, with the Vote Being Anti-Obama and the Socialist Democratic Party! Possibility of more states

with the recent activity of Obama's JV Team!

ALL politicians the world over are crooks.

I'm from the US too, & if you believe in "voting the bums out", you are delusional.

The US is so far in debt it's astronomically absurd.

The next president should eliminate the alphabet soup of agencies (FBI, NSA, DEA, SEC, etc, etc... ad nauseam [sp?]) and slash military spending by 90%.

NOPE, whoever gets elected next will just keep kicking the can down the road......except the cliff, and the end of the road is just getting nearer and nearer.

How will it end? Massive inflation, capital controls (look it up), and more jack-booted thugs taking away what small bits of liberty that still remain in the USA.

The idea of "America" was the best ever in the world, but sadly it has gone away, and now we are left with the authoritarian USA, where you are more likely to get shot by a cop than a terrorist.

It is the question if the president has the power to eliminate the alphabet soup....or if rather the alphabet soup will eliminate the president. I think the power is with other people who keep some actor as president and they are scared if some honest military man takes over in a country...because that could happen to them as well.

[terryp]

the fool with the extending nose really is sickening...he is on a total power trip

the other fool puppet from far away is no better and certainly has NO idea what peoples freedon AND rights mean

[Jingthing]

What's he supposed to say?

I don't support democracy.

The usual partisan predictable mindless attacks on Obama.

I don't agree with all his policies but to call him an idiot doesn't wash.

[jaywalker]

Obama is an idiot. i dont support Democracy in Thailand Thais need disiplin and cant handle freedom of the vote they have to turn it into a huge mess. No I think Military rule is what they need. Sorry to say. They act like spoiled rotten children and do not care anything about Democracy...

For the first sentence....I don't think there is any doubt.

I do support democracy in Thailand, but not tomorrow.....Make a strong constitution, repair police and courts and than slowly start it. Let be 10 or 20 years and hunt down everyone who abuse the system.

Thais will learn....

For the last sentence...

[jaywalker]

As an American, I can agree with all that Obama is a Fool! Talking about Thailand's Democracy, lets talk about America's Democracy! Obama is a Dictator and has been ruling America as his personnel Kingdom! The American people are ready to Vote for the return of Democracy next November, 2016! There is hope, that a Vote for America next year will carry 40 out of 50 states, with the Vote Being Anti-Obama and the Socialist Democratic Party! Possibility of more states

with the recent activity of Obama's JV Team!

ALL politicians the world over are crooks.

I'm from the US too, & if you believe in "voting the bums out", you are delusional.

The US is so far in debt it's astronomically absurd.

The next president should eliminate the alphabet soup of agencies (FBI, NSA, DEA, SEC, etc, etc... ad nauseam [sp?]) and slash military spending by 90%.

NOPE, whoever gets elected next will just keep kicking the can down the road......except the cliff, and the end of the road is just getting nearer and nearer.

How will it end? Massive inflation, capital controls (look it up), and more jack-booted thugs taking away what small bits of liberty that still remain in the USA.

The idea of "America" was the best ever in the world, but sadly it has gone away, and now we are left with the authoritarian USA, where you are more likely to get shot by a cop than a terrorist.

It is the question if the president has the power to eliminate the alphabet soup....or if rather the alphabet soup will eliminate the president. I think the power is with other people who keep some actor as president and they are scared if some honest military man takes over in a country...because that could happen to them as well.

I edited what you quoted as you were replying, to include the part about a president getting either assassinated or impeached if he tried to drastically slash the size of government.

I agree with you...It's impossible.

[h90]

As an American, I can agree with all that Obama is a Fool! Talking about Thailand's Democracy, lets talk about America's Democracy! Obama is a Dictator and has been ruling America as his personnel Kingdom! The American people are ready to Vote for the return of Democracy next November, 2016! There is hope, that a Vote for America next year will carry 40 out of 50 states, with the Vote Being Anti-Obama and the Socialist Democratic Party! Possibility of more states

with the recent activity of Obama's JV Team!

ALL politicians the world over are crooks.

I'm from the US too, & if you believe in "voting the bums out", you are delusional.

The US is so far in debt it's astronomically absurd.

The next president should eliminate the alphabet soup of agencies (FBI, NSA, DEA, SEC, etc, etc... ad nauseam [sp?]) and slash military spending by 90%.

NOPE, whoever gets elected next will just keep kicking the can down the road......except the cliff, and the end of the road is just getting nearer and nearer.

How will it end? Massive inflation, capital controls (look it up), and more jack-booted thugs taking away what small bits of liberty that still remain in the USA.

The idea of "America" was the best ever in the world, but sadly it has gone away, and now we are left with the authoritarian USA, where you are more likely to get shot by a cop than a terrorist.

It is the question if the president has the power to eliminate the alphabet soup....or if rather the alphabet soup will eliminate the president. I think the power is with other people who keep some actor as president and they are scared if some honest military man takes over in a country...because that could happen to them as well.

I edited what you quoted as you were replying, to include the part about a president getting either assassinated or impeached if he tried to drastically slash the size of government.

I agree with you...It's impossible.

If you are the agency that sends the bodyguards, you can have a word with him....don't even need to assassinate him. The money is anyway good...So sitting their for few years, play gulf, do what told to do and you and your family are financed for generations.....

[NongKhaiKid]

Obama understands !

How many times has each of us said ' I understand ' when something has been explained but it doesn't always mean agreement, acceptance, support etc but simply " I understand what you have said. "

Of course the Thais will pick the interpretation that suits them best providing they actually understood themselves !

How many times have we had wonderful, glowing statements made on behalf of others ?

[JeremyBowskill]

America could always bomb some democracy into Thailand, its working a treat elsewhere.

[waldroj]

Prayut seems to be hearing what he wants to. The statement "Obama supports Thailand to return to democracy" appears to be the same thing as the US has always been telling the junta from day one!

By Prayut's own admission, it's the Thai politics that's complicated, especially as he is taking care of it.

[BuaBS]

A nice read , on topic , with interesting things like :

"The demand for elections is made on behalf of ousted US-proxy Thaksin Shinawatra who Washington is eager to return to power."

http://thenewsdoctors.com/bangkoks-pivot-to-beijing-tony-cartalucci/

[DrTuner]

He supports Thailand's return to democracy? Alrighty then, when will the marines arrive?

[Eric Loh]

Lots of Obama bashing and some accolades and that's totally acceptable and should be encourage in a democratic system. The best part is that the American voters can chose and the President's term is limited. You can't enjoy these luxuries in a military coup government and no dissent allowed and no one can speak bad about the junta. Worse, they can stay for a very extended period. Democracy is still the best system.

[Crazy chef 1]

For me is still fascinating that the USA can build weapons who can with surgical precision bomb a target but are still not able to build a machine which can count votes...

[chainarong]

No one doubts that Thailand needs to return to Democracy , it all depends on what level , an un- Elected P.M. , an Un elected senate all X army Generals or do we have an honest election where the people can decide , have no doubts that the Junta leader would have no hesitation tomorrow to blow away 300 protesters who are only wanting back what the Junta took away, Democracy even though it was Thai Democracy is far better than a use buy out of date Thai General and a whole heap of military personal brown nosing to success , no wonder the US and its allies look side ways at Thailand.....................

[EnglishJohn]

America could always bomb some democracy into Thailand, its working a treat elsewhere.

Pheu-Thai already tried that.

It didn't work and now they are paying the price.

[Thai at Heart]

America could always bomb some democracy into Thailand, its working a treat elsewhere.

Pheu-Thai already tried that.

It didn't work and now they are paying the price.

You really are a naive person.

Meanwhile the army takes power with tanks and guns but that's all good.

First lesson of democracy is everyone has to learn to respect the result.

Second lesson. Everyone has to realise it is by a long chalk the least worst form of governance and thus worth defending.

Edited November 19, 2015 by Thai at Heart

[phantomfiddler]

And why wouldn,t o,bama support a return to democracy ? Democracy put a complete incompetent in charge of the world,s greatest nation ! All you have to do is promise to give everything free to the greatest number of ignorant loafers in return for their vote and you are IN, IN, IN !

[Colabamumbai]

Democracy, a four letter word in Thailand.

[JeffreyO]

I'll never understand how people find niche blogs and articles written by people who are so out-of-reality that they couldn't find their own nose but then use quotes from those articles as facts when they're written in such a bias fashion that there is likely no part of those articles that's true...

Then again, it supports their own bias so it must be true... right?...... Right?

[klauskunkel]

Gen Prayut also met Russian Prime Minister Dmitry Medvedev and has accepted his invitation to visit Russia in November next year to join the 120th celebration anniversary of the good relations of the two countries.

wondering if Medvedev/Putin will ask Prayuth about status of return to democracy, human rights, etc. just like Obama did?

[MZurf]

America could always bomb some democracy into Thailand, its working a treat elsewhere.

Pheu-Thai already tried that.

It didn't work and now they are paying the price.

No John, the whole country is "paying the price".