US rebuked for involvement in Thai politics

[Flashermac]

Bangkok Post

10 May 2010

 

 

The US ambassador received a rebuke this afternoon from Foreign Minister Kasit Piromya for Washington's perceived intervention in Thai domestic politics, diplomatic sources said.

 

Ambassador Eric John was summoned by Mr Kasit at 4.30 pm.

 

[color:red]It followed a Sunday working breakfast involving US Assistant Secretary of State Kurt M. Campbell and former Thaksin cabinet members Jaturon Chaisaeng, a red-shirt leader, and Noppadon Pattama, a former foreign minister and legal adviser to former PM Thaksin Shinawatra.[/color]

 

The Foreign Ministry considers the present political stand-off between the government and the red-shirted demonstrators led by the United Front for Democracy against Dictatorship (UDD) to be a domestic affair. It needed no mediation from foreign partners, sources said.

 

Mr John was quoted as relaying a message from Mr Campbell, before flying on to Burma over the weekend, that the "US was here not to mediate a solution or to offer support for any particular outcome, but to underscore US support for Thailand, the oldest treaty ally in Asia, and for the Thai people in this challenging period."

 

The public highest level-yet US contact with the pro-Takky camp was seen as underpinning the red-shirted movement's proclaimed justifications, at a time the Abhisit government was trying desperately to disperse the demonstration and the ministry, in particular, was trying to nail down the fugitive Thaksin, who is believed to be behind the prolonged protest in the heart of the capital, the government source said.

 

The US embassy said the Sunday working breakfast was meant to hear views on the Abhisit's roadmap from all parties concerned. The invited government representative, the PM's deputy secretary general and acting spokesman Panitan Wattanayagorn, had called on Saturday night to cancel his attendance.

 

The US ambassador had been hosting a few rounds of discussions in the past two months with various people including former PM Abhisit's secretary general Niphon Phromphan, former Thaksin administration's deputy prime minister Chaturon Chaisaeng, and appointed senator Gen Lertrat Rattanawanit to see how Thailand would come out of the predicaments, sources said.

 

"We are neither anti-red or pro-red. We support principles (non-violent, peaceful resolution), talk to all sides, and want to promote relations between our two countries and peoples, and not to take sides in a partisan political debate that is not ours to mediate or to resolve the conflict," an American diplomat said.

 

Mr Campbell publicly said Sunday that "We strongly welcome the Prime Minister's roadmap for national reconciliation and commitment for new elections. We are also encouraged by the UDD's positive response to the roadmap. Restraint and foresight are critical for both sides at this time."

 

The US, he said, remained cautious about progress as those who don't want peace or political progress continue to employ violence as a means to undermine resolution of political differences.

 

"Like the unfortunate shootings Friday night that resulted in the loss of lives. In addition to those injured directly, political violence damages the nation, undermines democratic institutions and legal mechanisms for dispute resolution."

 

Military sources said the US has tried to assess what camp will govern Thai politics in future and would like to balance its investment away from Democrat backing.

 

"Washington has been closely attracted to Thai politics all along. The US was one of the six countries that was concerned about terrorist action during the airport occupation in November 2008 and has issued a statement of concern over political developments since then," the military sources said.

 

In fact, the Abhisit coalition government has relied very much on intelligence information from the US, as Deputy Prime Minister Suthep Thaugsuban and Mr Panitan said before the protests began in mid-March that the government had received intelligence from the US warning of possible sabotage at the protests.

 

The chronic political rallies in Thailand have caused concerns for all the Asean countries as well. Cambodia has reportedly lobbied some Asean members to issue a statement of concern rights after the 10 April incident, which saw 27 deaths and over 800 injured.

 

However, thanks to friendly member Indonesia's and indecisive Vietnam chair's reluctance, as well a strong protest by Kasit, no statement was issued.

 

Kasit had also to fly to Jakarta to brief his counterparts and President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono about the Thai situation and took time to update information to some 40 ambassadors who were attached to the Asean secretariat in Jakarta as well.

 

Previously, the International Crisis Group (ICG) has suggested Thailand consider mediation help from other countries to defuse its political crisis and avoid a slide into further violence.

 

 

 

Rink

 

[pasathai1]

have the u.s quit supplying military items to thailand and see how fast they start kissing u.s. ass

[shygye]

The current Thai government is so weak it has to blame others to save face.

[chuckwoww]

All countries do it. Except the UK of course. Always good to show a little independence.

[Hugh_Hoy]

Always good to show a little independence.

 

Yes, indeed. July 4 is a special day around here. :content:

 

 

HH

[chuckwoww]

Right. I guess Foreign Minister Kasit Piromya has studied the American model.

[Flashermac]

Is he pissed off at all the other diplomats who met the reds too?

 

 

[chuckwoww]

Probably doesn't give a shit. There's definitely political capital in asserting Thai nationalism though even with empty gestures.

[Gadfly]

Kasit agreed to the meeting and members of his Foreign

Ministry were involved in setting up the breakfast meeting. He then abruptly cancelled the meeting and accused the US of meddling in Thai affairs.

 

He cannot and has not denied any of this. Will this play well with Thais? Maybe to die hard yellow shirts, but not the red shirts familiar with the meeting. He has lost considerable credibility with the diplomatic community.

[chuckwoww]

Well Kasit was probably just having a bad day. Any idea why he was pissed off? I'm sure the US Ambassador was just trying to help.