Thailand explains domestic situation to allies nations

BANGKOK, June 2 (TNA) - Thai authorities explain the domestic situation, including reasons for the May 22 coup, staged by the army-led National Council for Peace and Order (NCPO), to allied nations, including those attending the 13th Shangri-La Dialogue (IISS), held in Singapore from May 30-June 1, 2014. Thai Foreign Ministry Spokesman Sek Wannamethee, who is also Director-General of the ministry's Department of Information, told journalists on Monday that a Thai delegation, comprising Permanent Secretary for Foreign Affairs Seehasak Phuangketkeow, a deputy supreme commander and a deputy permanent secretary for defence, used the three-day IISS, a security summit in the Asian-Pacific Region, as an opportunity to explain the updated domestic situation and reasons for the coup to 27 other participating countries. Sek said that the Thai authorities elaborated on the NCPO's course of actions, including those concerning national reconciliation, national reform and the next general election so that the governments of other countries can review their stances towards Thailand. According to the spokesman, the explanation was in response to concerns voiced by many countries over the May 22 coup and calls on Thailand to return to a general election and democracy. The government of 39 countries have even announced their stances and measures against the May 22 coup in Thailand. The spokesman revealed that the permanent secretary for foreign affairs stressed on Thailand's stance on being a friend of the nations for a long time and having developed joint interest and cooperation in various fields, while urging the allied nations to look at the overall situation and long-term benefits before deciding on their stances towards Thailand. Importantly, the NCPO has already relaxed its measures, showing gradually positive developments in Thailand. The permanent secretary for foreign affairs reportedly had bilateral talks with representatives of many countries as well, including the United States, Australia, Japan and Germany, and the Thai authorities reportedly expressed a negative response to Australia for Canberra's recent announcement to reduce its relations with the Thai armed forces and to ban Royal Thai Armed Forces' chiefs from visiting Australia. Meanwhile, the Thai permanent secretary for foreign affairs is visiting Myanmar, the current chair of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN), on June 2, aimed to also explain the updated situation in Thailand. Other ASEAN member countries have also expressed their concerns over the situation in Thailand, the second largest economy in the 10-member bloc, as they have viewed that the situation in Thailand may affect the overall ASEAN region. But Thai authorities have confirmed that Bangkok is ready to proceed with its proactive international roles and policies. (TNA)