U.S. responding to coup, suspends some aid to Thailand
The Associated Press
FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 29, 2006-->
Published: September 28, 2006
WASHINGTON The United States suspended $24 million (€18.8 million) in military assistance to Thailand on Thursday, invoking laws that bar certain aid programs to governments that have taken power by force.
Affected by the suspension is a $16.3 million (€12.8 million) program to train and equip Thai forces for counterterrorism operations, $4.1 million (€3.2 million) for financing of commercial military sales to Thailand and $3.29 million (€2.6 million) for training and equipping Thai military personnel for multinational peacekeeping operations.
Also suspended was $130,000 (€102,000) for military training unrelated to peacekeeping operations. U.S. assistance for health programs will continue, including funds to help prevent the spread of AIDS and to prepare for a possible bird flu outbreak.
The announcement of the aid suspension by State Department spokesman Sean McCormack came nine days after the Thai military ousted elected prime minister Thaksin Shinawatra in a bloodless coup.
Officials were unable to provide a figure for the total U.S. assistance effort to Thailand, including military, economic and humanitarian aid.
The United States criticized the coup from the outset, calling it "a step backward for democracy." It also has said that the one-year time frame set by coup leaders for holding elections is too long.
Some U.S. military assistance will continue because it is not sent directly to the Thai government or because it serves a U.S. national interest. One such program is designed to combat development of weapons of mass destruction.
Thailand is a long-standing defense treaty ally of the United States.
Congress has approved over the years a number of amendments that forbid certain assistance programs to governments that have subverted democratic processes. The measures are designed to encourage only legal transfers of power.
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Hmm, I wonder what is the American Congress' stand on elections in Singapore. And their stand on MM Lee's recent comments that if ever the opposition of today come into power, and squandered the wealth of the nation, he would get the local military to take over the Government and throw out the opposition.
Edit: Kelvin, thanks for writing in. Context notwithstanding - as in all things viewed under the legal system we so love in Singapore it is the intent which is applicable.
Further Edit: Kelvin, I stand corrected yet again on my understanding of MM Lee's 'military coup' portion of his speech and have added to the para in red. My misunderstanding and mistake on that part. I still choose to retain the entire para which queries how the American Congress would react since they are now reacting to the Thai coup whom the locals claim are peaceful but in some relation to claims of corruption by the Thaksin regime. i.e. I believe the Americans would still call for a re-instatement of the government and democratic practices (therefore no coup) even if a coup were ostensibly to oust an incompetent government of the day. Thanks for your comments again.
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4 comments:
I don't believe that MM Lee said that he would get the military to come in and throw out the opposition. His statement was a suggestion about the incompetency of the opposition, instigating the takeover by the military (much like in Thailand), rather than a statement proposing action on the part of the PAP.
While I might not identify with the political leadership of the PAP, I do not feel it is prudent to take his comments out of context.
rgds,
Kelvin
Come on now, surely you cannot credibly ascertain that intent from the relevant statements. That is a poor logical extension by any count.
Your reply is a cop-out at best. I am disappointed.
rgds,
Kelvin Tan Wei Hann
No worries.
rgds,
Kelvin
and oh Perry,
my disagreement was not with the para in red. Rather, that you suggested that the military action was to be instigated by the political leadership of the People's Action Party. Nothing in MM Lee's statement can be credibly translated as such.
While I understand your concentration on the views of the American Congress with regards to military coups (bloodless or otherwise) and the emphasis on the return to civilian government, it is nonetheless not prudent to attribute the intention of staging a military coup to LKY when there wasn't an explicit statement by him to say so.
At best, LKY was suggesting an independent move on the part of the military. Whether the reality differs make no difference to my objection of your accusation.
rgds,
Kelvin
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