Pro-junta group rallies in front of US Embassy

A pro-junta women’s group gathered in front of the US Embassy in Bangkok at 11:30 am on Monday, 23 May 2016, calling for the ouster of the US Ambassador to Thailand.

The group of about 40 women calling themselves ‘Satri Si Siam’ (Siamese Ladies) submitted a letter addressed to US President Barack Obama, urging the US to remove Glyn T. Davies, the US Ambassador to Thailand, from his post.

The letter was accepted by staff of the US Embassy.

The BBC Thai reported that representatives of the group said that the US Ambassador is impolite and politically biased, adding that the US authorities should have been more careful in selecting a representative who could understand Thailand better.  

Sa-nguan Khumrungroj, a citizen journalist, reported that the group sang the Thai Royal anthem before they dispersed at about 12:40 pm.

Last week, the Thai right-wing political elite raged at the US Ambassador after he publicly shamed the Thai Foreign Minister.

The right wing has also used a nationalist discourse to gain public support to oust the Ambassador, saying that the lèse majesté law makes Thailand more civilized than the US.     

A pro-junta women’s group calls for the ouster of Glyn T. Davies, the US Ambassador to Thailand in front of the US Embassy in Bangkok, 23 May 2016 (photo courtesy of Sa-nguan Khumrungroj)

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