Us Ambassador In The Poo

[bust]

YANGON, Myanmar — Thailand's aggressive campaign to protect its ailing king from criticism escalated into a diplomatic feud on Wednesday when the Thai police said they were investigating the United States ambassador to the country in connection with a royal insult.

The police said that the ambassador, Glyn T. Davies, had diplomatic immunity and could not be charged for such a crime. But the authorities are obliged by law to investigate a complaint lodged last week, said the deputy spokesman of the national police, Maj. Gen. Songpon Wattanachai.

“We have to accept the complaint and proceed with it,†he said.

General Songpon said that if comments by the ambassador were judged to be insulting to the monarchy, the government might proceed with some kind of reprimand, although he was unsure of the form it might take. “We may have to issue a warning to him,†the general said.

The investigation highlights how much relations between Thailand and the United States have deteriorated recently.

The king, who turned 88 on Saturday, was born in the United States and played a major role in a decades-long close alliance, especially during the Vietnam War.

Now the king is ill. He has not been seen in public since September, and he did not make an appearance for his birthday, as has been tradition.

As his health has worsened, the monarchy has become highly politicized.

Critics accuse the country’s military rulers, who demand absolute loyalty to the monarchy, of harnessing the deep reverence that Thais have for the king to buttress their own power.

When the military government seized power in May 2014, it banned all political protests. Yet on at least two occasions, the junta allowed groups of protesters carrying portraits of the king to convene in front of the United States Embassy, including during a gathering last month of about 200 people led by an ultranationalist Buddhist monk.

Relations with the United States cooled markedly after the American government denounced the military takeover last year. The United States has avoided any visits to the country by high-level officials. American officials have also repeatedly said that jailing people for perceived slights against the monarchy violates free speech.

Winyat Chatmontree, a lawyer who has represented many people accused of the crime, known as lèse-majesté, said that from a strictly legal standpoint, the accusation against the ambassador was weak. Mr. Davies criticized the lèse-majesté law, which includes punishment of up to 15 years in prison for violators.

“He didn’t target the monarchy,†Mr. Winyat said. “His actions do not fall under the scope of the offense.â€

Mr. Davies, who was sworn in as ambassador in September, told an audience at the Foreign Correspondents’ Club of Thailand last month that the American government was concerned by “lengthy and unprecedented prison sentences†handed down by Thai military courts to civilians for violating the lèse-majesté law.

“We believe no one should be jailed for peacefully expressing their views,†he told the audience.

The comments prompted the protest in front of the United States Embassy last month. Then, last week, a Thai man, Sonthiya Sawasdee, filed a complaint with the police against Mr. Davies.

“I am a Thai person who reveres our king above everything,†read the complaint, a copy of which was posted on Mr. Sonthiya’s Facebook page. “Any action of a person who incites disobedience towards the monarchy is unacceptable by the Thais.â€

The junta has had opportunities to smooth over the current dispute but has chosen to issue warnings to Mr. Davies instead. Referring to the ambassador’s remarks last week, a spokesman for the junta, Sansern Kaewkamnerd, said comments that were “not neutral†or showed “personal bias†could damage “the longstanding relationship†between Thailand and the United States.

A spokeswoman for the American Embassy said staff members would seek guidance from Washington before responding.

http://www.nytimes.c...&smtyp=cur&_r=0

[Guest]

" A spokeswoman for the American Embassy said staff members would seek guidance from Washington before responding. "

 

I think it's called diplomacy, unknown skills by ambassador Davies , the head office reply will not be any better. Most Thai's I know, are getting bored with these farang and their views in our country.

[dean]

You must not know many Thais

[jitagawn]

Well the ambassador should have kept his mouth shut---duh.

He is not in Kansas

 

That being said the current administration is a huge problem

 

Of course Farang never understand Thainess

[dean]

I was somewhat flippant in my last remark but your views on the United States posted on this board are well known but no one is demeaning you for posting them. I don't know much about Davies but, after googling his name and reading about him for 30 minutes, he seems to be much better as Ambassador than his female predecessor. Several points; his criticism was toward the jail sentences given for less malaise; two, it takes only one person in a country of 70 million to start a criminal investigation; and three, the Junta could have handled it two ways. They chose the public way, just as they did in allowing Thais to carry pictures of the King and protest in front of the U.S. embassy. Diplomacy is a two way street.

[pasathai1]

someone just looking for an excuse to dislike America.

[dean]

In case you missed my point about Diplomacy, the same thing has been going on in other countries for a long time. Paint the U.S. in an unflattering light to take attention away from themselves. Which isn't to say that the U.S. isnt hypocritical. Your reaction is just what the Junta is counting on.

[Guest]

" You must not know many Thais "

 

I'm sure your right ... Merry Christmas from a few anyway

[dean]

Concerning Diplomacy, I think that Mongo said it best;

[dean]

I didn't know that Thais celebrate Christmas but Happy Holidays to you and everyone on this board.