Is the Trump administration going soft on Thailand’s junta?

[webfact]

Is the Trump administration going soft on Thailand’s junta?

By John Sifton

The Washington Post

 

John Sifton is Asia advocacy director at Human Rights Watch.  

 

NEW YORK: -- A subtle but worrisome shift is taking place in U.S. relations toward Thailand, made manifest in this year’s multilateral U.S.-led Cobra Gold military exercises — one of the largest in the region — which begin in Thailand this week.

 

U.S.-Thai relations have been severely strained since the May 2014 coup in which Thai generals overthrew the civilian government. The National Council for Peace and Order (NCPO) junta, led by Gen. Prayut Chan-ocha, now its unelected prime minister, has kept its grip on power, replacing martial law with a constitution that gives it almost limitless and unaccountable power. Repeated promises to hold elections and return the country to civilian rule have been broken, and there are no signs that the junta plans to relinquish power anytime soon.

 

Since the coup, more than 1,000 politicians, activists and political opponents have been arrested, and many others have been picked up for “attitude adjustment” — as the military calls it — in military camps. The military has taken over law enforcement, prosecuting numerous critics of the junta in military courts. 

 

Full story: https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/global-opinions/wp/2017/02/12/is-the-trump-administration-going-soft-on-thailands-junta/

 

-- The Washington Post 2017-02-13

[Bluespunk]

"(his sister was prime minister during the 2014 coup)"

 

No she wasn't. 

[IMA_FARANG]

I suspect that the Trump administration has far more important things to consider than the Thai junta.

This may be a hot topic in Thailand, but in the world-wide view it is small chips in the U.S.   for the followers of Donald Trump.

 

[Credo]

....Trump probably thinks he talked to the Prime Minister and he got in trouble because of the one-China policy.   

[Eric Loh]

Check his tax return. If the Trump empire has business interests in Thailand, he will be soft. Same same Russia, Philippines when he literally went limp with bromance.

[sungod]

I don't think this years Cobra gold was planned in the last few weeks since his inauguration, most probably does not even know its going ahead.

[anotheruser]

Trump wouldn't even know who Prayut is. If I were Prayut I would probably try to keep it that way.

[asiamaster]

Worrisome? On the contrary this is great news!

[yellowboat]

This looks like Mr. Sifton's opportunity to bring relevance to his organization.   Doubt Mr. Trump would have time to think about Thailand until some time late 2018.   If Thailand wanted to engage in trade talks, that might get Trump's attention.  

 

Chinese rails, once laid, might catch his attention, but that will take a while.  Then again, the Chinese are going to building a high speed service between KL and Singapore.  That has not peaked his interest. 

[ALLSEEINGEYE]

given the opportunity Trump would be a far worse dictator than anyone is accusing Prayut of being.

 

Thailand is the safest it has been in the 14 years I have lived here. I hope it continues.

[anotheruser]

12 minutes ago, yellowboat said:

This looks like Mr. Sifton's opportunity to bring relevance to his organization.   Doubt Mr. Trump would have time to think about Thailand until some time late 2018.   If Thailand wanted to engage in trade talks, that might get Trump's attention.  

 

Chinese rails, once laid, might catch his attention, but that will take a while.  Then again, the Chinese are going to building a high speed service between KL and Singapore.  That has not peaked his interest. 

 

Again it would be better for Thailand to maintain a trade deficit to it's benefit with the USA and do it quietly. Prayut doesn't want crazy talk of 35% tariffs on Thai rice.

[Srikcir]

"Thai officials are touting Harris’s visit as a sign that the United States is acquiescing to the junta’s indefinite rule."

Make that Thai officials for the Military government - not exactly a resounding voice for honesty and more likely to praise their superiors, aka the RTM.

Unconvincing.

[sungod]

So America is not friendly to other military governments or 1 party states? I think Sifton is clutching at straws here.

[wirat69]

1 hour ago, yellowboat said:

That has not peaked his interest. 

Your spelling has me piqued!!

 

[Jingthing]

6 hours ago, IMA_FARANG said:

I suspect that the Trump administration has far more important things to consider than the Thai junta.

This may be a hot topic in Thailand, but in the world-wide view it is small chips in the U.S.   for the followers of Donald Trump.

 

trump's presidency (as the rest of his life) is largely based on his personal interests, business profit and otherwise. Such as the wall, which he hopes will be an eternal monument to his ego and Nordstrom department store pulling his daughter's products because they don't sell. 

 

I suspect trump's level of interest in Thailand is less than zero so going with the flow of whoever is in power here makes sense. Why get involved with something that doesn't interest you? 

 

[phantomfiddler]

11 minutes ago, wirat69 said:

Your spelling has me piqued!!

 

Sorry for peeking ?

[wakeupplease]

8 hours ago, IMA_FARANG said:

I suspect that the Trump administration has far more important things to consider than the Thai junta.

This may be a hot topic in Thailand, but in the world-wide view it is small chips in the U.S.   for the followers of Donald Trump.

 

Quote of the week and very true, but at sometime in the not to distant future Mr Trump (love him or hate him) Will find time to visit the Thai situation I am sure

[chainarong]

6 hours ago, sungod said:

I don't think this years Cobra gold was planned in the last few weeks since his inauguration, most probably does not even know its going ahead.

Same as the squadron of F22 up in Darwin, planed long ago.

[FitnessHealthTravel]

8 hours ago, Eric Loh said:

Check his tax return. If the Trump empire has business interests in Thailand, he will be soft. Same same Russia, Philippines when he literally went limp with bromance.

And that makes him different from...

[FitnessHealthTravel]

Trump has way bigger fish to fry. If there is stability and Thai's aren't trying to blow up US Citizens then he'll go with the flow!

[Emster23]

I would imagine cultural, political, economic set up of Thailand might make Trump and supporters green with envy

[bangon04]

Every morning at 6am, Donald Trump sits in the Oval Office with his head in his hands, crying quietly to himself, and mumbling... oh dear what more can I do to win the approval of General Prayuth Chan-Ocha of Thailand??? I really need his approval as he has shown himself to be a reliable and true friend in the background fight against Chinese hegemony in the asia pacific region......

[Puccini]

14 hours ago, Bluespunk said:

"(his sister was prime minister during the 2014 coup)"

 

No she wasn't. 

 

Yes, she was. Here is the complete sentence from which you quoted:

 

Quote

The coup was Thailand’s second in eight years, and both were aimed against a towering political figure, Thaksin Shinawatra, and his family (his sister was prime minister during the 2014 coup), whose newer and expansive rural political base was viewed as increasingly threatening both the military and Thailand’s conservative elites.

 

The sister of Thaksin Shinawatra was Prime Minister at the time when the 2014 coup took place, wasn't she?

[Bluespunk]

1 minute ago, Puccini said:

 

Yes, she was. Here is the complete sentence from which you quoted:

 

 

The sister of Thaksin Shinawatra was Prime Minister at the time when the 2014 coup took place, wasn't she?

His sister wasn't PM during any coup.

 

[sawadeeken]

5 minutes ago, Bluespunk said:

His sister wasn't PM during any coup.

Huh???? Really?????

What is Taksins sister's name?

Who is Yingluck?

 Who did this last coup give the boot to?

Answer:   Yingluk...... Taksins sister named Yingluk was that PM......

[Bluespunk]

8 minutes ago, sawadeeken said:

Huh???? Really?????

What is Taksins sister's name?

Who is Yingluck?

 Who did this last coup give the boot to?

Answer:   Yingluk...... Taksins sister named Yingluk was that PM......

At the time of the coup

 

A: She was no longer the PM

 

B: she wasn't even caretaker pm any more {stood down before coup}

 

C: There wasn't even a govt due to sutheps lunacy before coup on May 22nd.

 

[chickenslegs]

15 minutes ago, Bluespunk said:

His sister wasn't PM during any coup.

I think you are being a little pedantic.

She was not PM when the "military coup" took place and the army settled into government.

She was certainly PM during the time that the military coup was being plotted (with certain other politicians). Some people believe that there was an administrative coup, which caused her to resign or be removed from her position so that the military could more easily justify their actions.

[Bluespunk]

1 minute ago, chickenslegs said:

I think you are being a little pedantic.

She was not PM when the "military coup" took place and the army settled into government.

She was certainly PM during the time that the military coup was being plotted (with certain other politicians). Some people believe that there was an administrative coup, which caused her to resign or be removed from her position so that the military could more easily justify their actions.

I'm sticking to the facts.

 

She wasn't pm at time of coup.

[sawadeeken]

4 minutes ago, Bluespunk said:

At the time of the coup

 

A: She was no longer the PM

 

B: There wasn't even a govt due to sutheps lunacy

 

Copied and pasted from the original article:

Given the long and close relationship between Thailand and the United States, this was not a decision taken lightly. The coup was Thailand’s second in eight years, and both were aimed against a towering political figure, Thaksin Shinawatra, and his family (his sister was prime minister during the 2014 coup), whose newer and expansive rural political base was viewed as increasingly threatening both the military and Thailand’s conservative elites. Calling it a coup has major implications in U.S. law: The federal “coup clause” requires cuts to direct foreign assistance to any country in which a government is deposed by coup until democratic, civilian rule is restored. Since the coup, the United States has not provided Thailand any direct training or military sales financing. 

 

Pay special attention to this part......

Thaksin Shinawatra, and his family (his sister was prime minister during the 2014 coup),

and good night..........

[Bluespunk]

Just now, sawadeeken said:

Copied and pasted from the original article:

Given the long and close relationship between Thailand and the United States, this was not a decision taken lightly. The coup was Thailand’s second in eight years, and both were aimed against a towering political figure, Thaksin Shinawatra, and his family (his sister was prime minister during the 2014 coup), whose newer and expansive rural political base was viewed as increasingly threatening both the military and Thailand’s conservative elites. Calling it a coup has major implications in U.S. law: The federal “coup clause” requires cuts to direct foreign assistance to any country in which a government is deposed by coup until democratic, civilian rule is restored. Since the coup, the United States has not provided Thailand any direct training or military sales financing. 

 

Pay special attention to this part......

Thaksin Shinawatra, and his family (his sister was prime minister during the 2014 coup),

and good night..........

The article is wrong on the point I quoted.

 

That's why I quoted it.