US Secretary of State Marco Rubio has wished the Thai people a happy Songkran and a year of good fortune.
In a statement issued on April 12th, he praised the long and close relationship between the two countries, saying that the US looks forward to “finding new ways” to work together to improve the lives and futures of both Thais and Americans.
Thailand celebrated Songkran, the traditional New Year’s Day, on Sunday, with the splashing of water and with families gathering to show respect to and be blessed by their elders.
The relationship between Thailand and the US has grown more strained since Rubio was appointed to the position under US President Donald Trump's administration.
US State Department spokesperson Tammy Bruce said last week that the US is alarmed by Thailand’s arrest of American lecturer Paul Chambers PhD, for allegedly violating the country’s lèse majesté and computer crime laws.
Bruce stated that the case reinforces the US’s longstanding concerns about the use of lèse majesté laws in Thailand, adding “We continue to urge Thai authorities to respect freedom of expression and to ensure that laws are not used to stifle permitted expression.”
Rubio has also issued a travel ban on senior Thai government officials involved in the deportation of 40 Uyghurs from a Thai detention centre to China in late February.
The ban also applies to their family members, but the US has not publically identified the officials.
Meanwhile, Pongpol Yodmuangcharoen, Industry Ministry's spokesperson, commented on Rubio’s Songkran message, thanking him for his commitment to uplifting lives and fostering mutual respect between the two nations.
“I trust that the US government will remain open-minded toward Thailand’s Section 112 (lèse majesté) law, which protects our monarchy, just as we continue to respect the laws and sovereignty of the US,” he wrote.
He expressed hope that the arrest of Paul Chambers will not affect the strong bilateral relationship.
He ended his message with: “Wishing you a joyful Songkran Day. It is a time when we make peace, not with weapons, but with water.”
