No thaw in Thai-US relations without full democracy

It’s to be hoped that Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha’s government will not fall for its own propaganda and begin to actually believe that Thailand’s relations with the United States have improved since the coup that brought it to power.

Cooperative news media have helped the government convince some of the public that Washington has at last come to terms with the military-installed regime, offering by way of “evidence” photographs of Prayut being greeted by President Barack Obama at last week’s United Nations General Assembly in New York. The pictures, widely shared on the social media, were an attempt to show that the Thai general who staged the coup against an elected civilian government is now welcome in the US.  

In fact relations between Thailand and the US chilled because of the May 22, 2014, coup and have never come close to normalising since. Washington is adamant that democracy must be restored here quickly and that Thailand must begin paying greater heed to international standards in human rights.

The Obama administration has made it clear since the coup that the US wants peace and democracy in Thailand before it agrees to resume its long-term “partnership” with Bangkok. The coup itself and repressive measures imposed by the Prayut regime have made it impossible for relations to thaw.

In the meantime, in accordance with American law governing aid to nations where democracy and rights are undermined, the US suspended more than $4.7 million in security-related assistance to Thailand after the coup and scaled down joint military exercises.

Hard work behind the scenes by officials at the Thai Foreign Ministry and the US State Department has nevertheless enabled the two countries to maintain a semblance of the old status quo, even as Thai nationalists spread anti-American sentiment and press for stronger links to Beijing. At the moment, senior Foreign Ministry officials are hoping that new US Ambassador Glyn Davies will demonstrate his deep understanding of the Thai situation and recognise anew the importance of America resolving its differences with what had been its foremost ally in Southeast Asia.

Foreign Minister Don Pramudwinai meeting US Deputy Secretary of State Antony Blinken on the sidelines of the UN General Assembly was a positive sign, suggesting that Washington might soon be willing to expand cooperation with Thailand in matters of mutual interest. However, the American 

was careful not to give any indication that Washington has changed its 

view on the military government.

Foreign Ministry spokesman Sek Wannamethee has said that, for the benefit of our relationship, the Cobra Gold joint military exercises will take place as per normal next year, since the US recognises that Thailand has made progress in combating the trafficking of migrants in the region.

Prayut’s government should not misinterpret such modestly upbeat signals as a form of international blessing. As long as democracy remains subdued here and rights take a back seat to military control, Washington cannot reconsider its position. The White House, Congress and the Senate are legally bound to foster global democracy and to punish miscreant behaviour.  

Ambassador Davies has already made a good impression among the powers-that-be here and any hope resting on his influence is not misplaced, but Thais must bear in mind that he works for the US administration, not our military government.

If the Prayut regime wants to improve relations with the US, there is only one way: restore democracy soon. As long as elections continue to be postponed and freedom of expression and assembly remain restricted, the US is correct to maintain pressure while 

keeping its distance.