BANGKOK — The chairman of Thailand's interim parliament has accused the United States government of "interfering" in Thai politics by calling on the ruling junta to lift martial law and abolish all restrictions on civil rights.

Pornpetch Wichiatcholchai, the head of the junta-appointed National Legislative Assembly (NLA), said the US broke "diplomatic protocol" by allowing Daniel Russel, the US Assistant Secretary of State for East Asian and Pacific Affairs, to talk about Thai politics during his speech at Chulalongkorn University on 26 January.

In his speech, Russel called upon the Thai military to repeal martial law and cease suppressing freedom of assembly and expression. He also raised concerns over the NLA’s retroactive impeachment of former Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra, which he said could be seen as politically-driven. 

Speaking at today's press conference, Pornpetch said he was not surprised by Russel's violation of "diplomatic protocol," because the US "thinks of themselves as a superpower" and likes to interfere in other nations' domestic issues.

"[The US] thinks that having an election is democracy. They don't care about other contexts, about other disputes," Pornpetch said.

He added, "However, I think that [Russel's speech] is still better than sending CIA or spies to interfere with our country."

Pornpetch is the latest Thai official to vent anger at Russel's perceived interference, despite the US envoy's insistence that the United States had no interest in taking sides in Thai politics. Yesterday, the Thai Ministry of Foreign Affairs summoned the US Charge d'Affaires to Thailand, W. Patrick Murphy, to discuss the speech given by Russel.

Murphy confirmed the meeting and said he repeated the US's stance, urging Thailand's military government to take the necessary steps to return the country to democratic rule. Murphy also insisted that the US has no intention to take sides in Thailand's domestic politics. 

"We believe it is a matter for the Thai people to work together to build democratic future," Murphy tweeted this morning. "We don't take sides."

The Thai military staged a coup against an elected government on 22 May 2014, ostensibly to restore order and put an end to anti- and pro-government protests in the capital city. Since seizing power, the junta has launched a national reform effort and invoked martial law to ban public protests, detain individuals without charges or a court warrant, and try detractors in martial courts where appeals are not permitted. 

The US quickly criticized the coup and called for a return to democratic rule in Thailand. As a result, pro-coup Thais, many of whom hail from Thailand's conservative and royalist factions, have been lashing out at the US government on social media for its perceived assault on Thai sovereignty. 

In the past 24 hours, the following message has been posted hundreds of times in comment threads on the US Embassy in Bangkok's Facebook account:

"Here is the Kingdom of Thailand. We are independent country. We can handle all our internal matters by ourselves. We have nothing to do with you. It’s none of your business. We, the majority of Thai people are warning you, don’t interfere in Thailand’s internal affairs regarding Martial Law. We are very happy with this law as it stands."

In today's press conference, Pornpetch insisted that the junta, known formally as the National Council for Peace and Order, intends to build a "sustainable" democracy that is in accordance with Thai traditions, and may not necessarily reflect the American definition of democracy.

"We are moving forward to a sustainable democracy, so we have different ideas than the US," Pornpetch explained. "[The NCPO] is committed to reforming Thai politics and paving way to sustainable democracy and election. I stress that Thai democracy is a regime that conforms to Thai customs, tradition, and spiritual guidance, which is democracy with the King as Head of State."

He also told reporters that Yingluck's impeachment is in accordance with "the constitution and the principles of rule of law."

"The US themselves have  impeachments in the past," the NLA chairman said, "They have done it in the cases of President Nixon and President Clinton."

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BANGKOK — Thailand's military junta has denounced a speech made by a senior United States official that criticized the ongoing suppression of human rights in Thailand.

In a talk given at Chulalongkorn University on 26 January, Daniel Russel, the US Assistant Secretary of State for East Asian and Pacific Affairs, called upon the Thai military to repeal martial law and all restrictions on freedom of expression.

"We are concerned about the significant restraints on freedoms since the coup," Russel said, "Ending martial law throughout the country and removing restrictions of speech and assembly – these would be important steps as part of genuinely inclusive reform process that reflects the broad diversity of views within the country."  (Read the full speech here).

According to a spokesperson of the Thai military government, Russel repeated his remarks in a meeting with Gen. Thanasak Patimaprakorn, a member of the Thai junta and the Minister of Foreign Affairs.

"As for the demand from the United States that Thailand lift martial law, Gen. Thanasak asked Mr. Daniel, if your country is like ours, with all the factors and restrictions, what would you do without martial law?" said the spokesperson, Maj.Gen. Sansern Kaewkamnerd. "Mr. Daniel could not answer that question, because his country never faced such a situation before."

The Thai military staged a coup against an elected government on 22 May 2014, ostensibly to put an end to the anti- and pro-government protests, and restore order in Thailand. Since seizing power, the junta has invoked martial law to ban public protests, detain individuals without charges or a court warrant, and try detractors in martial courts where appeals are not permitted. 

According to Maj.Gen. Sansern, Russel "understood" the situation in Thailand after his meeting with Gen. Thanasak on Monday. 

"Mr. Daniel has received information from every side. I believe he will exercise his judgment about which information he will consider. The Thai government has granted every side the right to talk freely with [the US diplomat] who asked for information," the spokesperson said, referring to the formal name of the junta, the National Council of Peace and Order. 

Russel, the highest-level US official to visit Thailand since the coup, also met separately with former Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra, who led the government toppled in the 22 May 2014 takeover, and former Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva, the leader of the opposition Democrat Party. Russel did not meet with the coup-leader and current Prime Minister, Gen. Prayuth Chan-ocha.

Speaking to reporters yesterday, Prayuth dismissed the US diplomat's call for lifting of martial law.

"If we don't have martial law, won’t it lead to chaos?" Gen. Prayuth said. "I am not bothering anyone. I only want to make this country peaceful."

He continued, "Since I came to power, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs has been doing a lot of outreach in terms of trade, investment, national security, and giving information to foreign nations. The superpowers understand us more. There are only few nations that are still stuck on the word democracy. But these countries still trade with us as usual. No one pressures us at all. Some countries even say, Thailand is in better shape than ever. It's just that they cannot say they agree with us."

On Wednesday, Somsak Jeamteerasakul, a well-known historian and critic of the coup currently living in exile, offered an answer to the question Gen. Thanasak reportedly posed to Russel during their meeting.

"Thanasak asks the US, what would you do?" Somsak wrote in a Facebook post. "Answer: The President would relieve the army chief of his command and court-martial him on a charge of high treason." 

Related coverage:
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For comments, or corrections to this article please contact: [email protected]

BANGKOK — Thailand’s military government has summoned the head of the United States Embassy after a senior US official criticized the junta's use of martial law and called for a return to democratic rule in Thailand.

The Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs, Don Paramatwinai, said today that the US Charge d'Affaires to Thailand, W. Patrick Murphy, has been summoned to discuss a keynote speech given by a top US State Department official on Monday.

A spokesperson from the US Embassy in Bangkok confirmed the meeting but declined to comment further.

In the talk on Monday, Daniel Russel, the US Assistant Secretary of State for East Asian and Pacific Affairs, called upon the Thai military to repeal martial law and all restrictions on freedom of expression.

He insisted that the US was not taking sides in Thai politics, but raised concerns over the impartiality of the impeachment of former Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra by the junta's interim lawmaker body last week. 

"When an elected leader is removed from office, is deposed, and then impeached by authorities — the same authorities that conducted the coup — and then when a political leader is targeted with criminal charges at a time when the basic democratic processes and institutions in the country are interrupted, the international community is going to be left with the impression that these steps could in fact be politically driven," Russel said to a crowd at Chulalongkorn University in Bangkok. (Read the full speech here).

According to the Thai Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs, Russel's remarks caused many Thais to be "worried and disappointed."

"Mr. Russel spoke about politics, instead of using the opportunity to speak about good things, especially topics that promote the relationship between Thailand and the United States," said Don, who used to serve as Thailand's ambassador to Washington DC.

"The aforementioned speech did not benefit anyone. It became news that negatively affected the reputation of the country. It is deeply disappointing. It is an interference in Thailand's politics."

Don added, "The impeachment of Ms. Yingluck is not a political issue. It was done through judicial procedures.  The United States does not understand Thailand’s political situation."

Former PM Yingluck was retrospectively impeached and banned from politics for five years last Friday by the National Legislative Assembly, whose members were handpicked by the ruling military junta that toppled her government on 22 May 2014. 

The lawmakers accused Yingluck of failing to stop corruption in her administration’s rice-pledging policy. On the morning that Yingluck was impeached, the Attorney-General also announced plans to pursue criminal charges, carrying a maximum 10 year sentence, against her in connection with the rice scheme.

In response to the US envoy’s call for the repeal of martial law, Don insisted that a majority of Thais are not affected by the law, which grants the military sweeping powers to curb freedom of speech and assembly. Since seizing power, the junta has invoked martial law to ban public protests, detain individuals without charges or a court warrant, and try detractors in martial courts where appeals are not permitted. 

"If we comply with the [US] and lift martial law and it leads to problems, how will those people who are asking for the lifting of martial law take responsibility?” Don said. "In reality, Thais don't even know there is martial law. A majority of Thais accept it and are not worried by it. The people who are worried about it are the minority."

He also claimed that the military coup on 22 May 2014 was not a coup after all.

"I insist that the military takeover in Thailand is not a coup, theoretically speaking," he said. "It was in fact a revolution to install stability."

During his visit to Thailand, Russel, the highest-level US official to visit Thailand since the coup, met with former PM Yingluck, former PM Abhisit Vejjajiva, and Minister of Foreign Affairs Thanasak Patimapakorn, but did not meet with Thai junta chairman and Prime Minister Prayuth Chan-ocha.

Related coverage:
Yingluck Discusses 'Unfair' Impeachment with Top US Diplomat
Prayuth Shrugs Off 'Snub' By US Diplomat
In Meeting With US Diplomats, Democrats Blame Thai Crisis on Corruption

For comments, or corrections to this article please contact: [email protected]