US chargé d’affaires acknowledges Thai government's concerns

BANGKOK, January 28 (TNA) - US Chargé d’Affaires W Patrick Murphy, in his capacity as the Acting US Ambassador to Thailand, has acknowledged and expressed his understanding about concerned issues raised by the Thai government. Murphy was quoted by Thai Deputy Foreign Minister Don Pramudwinai as pledging that he would help coordinate with relevant parties over the Thai government's concerns. The acting US ambassador's remarks followed his meeting with Don at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in Bangkok on Wednesday morning (local time). The acting US ambassador was summoned by the Thai Ministry of Foreign Affairs to clarify concerns of the interim Thai government, headed by Prime Minister General Prayut Chan-ocha, over US Assistant Secretary of State Daniel Russel's comments about Thailand's current enforcement of martial law and democratic process. Russel, who visited Bangkok from January 25-26 as part of his latest tour to four-nations in Asia and the Pacific, also met former Pheu Thai prime minister Yingluck Shinawatra, one day after she was impeached by the National Legislative Assembly (NLA) releated to her previous government's rice-pledging scheme, and former Democrat prime minister Abhisit Vejjajiva. Meanwhile, the Thai deputy foreign minister told journalists that he informed the acting US ambassador of the interim Thai government's discomfort about Russel's comments, which need an immediate clarification to prevent any repetition of such the remarks in the future. (TNA)