Congressional Record, Volume 156 Issue 100 (Wednesday, June 30, 2010)

[Congressional Record Volume 156, Number 100 (Wednesday, June 30, 2010)]
[House]
[Pages H5267-H5270]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]

AFFIRMING SUPPORT FOR A STRONG ALLIANCE WITH THAILAND

Ms. WATSON. Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and agree to the
resolution (H. Res. 1321) expressing the sense of the House of
Representatives that the political situation in Thailand be solved
peacefully and through democratic means, as amended.
The Clerk read the title of the resolution.
The text of the resolution is as follows:

H. Res. 1321

Whereas Thailand became the first treaty ally of the United
States in the Asia-Pacific region with the Treaty of Amity
and Commerce, signed at Sia-Yut'hia (Bangkok) March 20, 1833,
between the United States and Siam, during the administration
of President Andrew Jackson and the reign of King Rama III;
Whereas the United States and Thailand furthered their
alliance with the Southeast Asia Collective Defense Treaty,
(commonly known as the ``Manila Pact of 1954'') signed at
Manila September 8, 1954, and the United States designated
Thailand as a major non-North Atlantic Treaty Organization
(NATO) ally in December 2003;
Whereas, through the Treaty of Amity and Economic
Relations, signed at Bangkok May 26, 1966, along with a
diverse and growing trading relationship, the United States
and

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Thailand have developed critical economic ties;
Whereas Thailand is a key partner of the United States in
Southeast Asia and has supported closer relations between the
United States and the Association of Southeast Asian Nations
(ASEAN);
Whereas Thailand has the longest-serving monarch in the
world, His Majesty King Bhumibol Adulyadej, who is loved and
respected for his dedication to the people of Thailand;
Whereas Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva has issued a 5-
point roadmap designed to promote the peaceful resolution of
the current political crisis in Thailand;
Whereas approximately 500,000 people of Thai descent live
in the United States and foster strong cultural ties between
the 2 countries; and
Whereas Thailand remains a steadfast friend with shared
values of freedom, democracy, and liberty: Now, therefore, be
it
Resolved, That the House of Representatives--
(1) affirms the support of the people and the Government of
the United States for a strong and vital alliance with
Thailand;
(2) calls for the restoration of peace and stability
throughout Thailand;
(3) urges all parties involved in the political crisis in
Thailand to renounce the use of violence and to resolve their
differences peacefully through dialogue;
(4) supports the goals of the 5-point roadmap of the
Government of Thailand for national reconciliation, which
seeks to--
(A) uphold, protect, and respect the institution of the
constitutional monarchy;
(B) resolve fundamental problems of social justice
systematically and with participation by all sectors of
society;
(C) ensure that the media can operate freely and
constructively;
(D) establish facts about the recent violence through
investigation by an independent committee; and
(E) establish mutually acceptable political rules through
the solicitation of views from all sides; and
(5) promotes the timely implementation of an agreed plan
for national reconciliation in Thailand so that free and fair
elections can be held.

The SPEAKER pro tempore. Pursuant to the rule, the gentlewoman from
California (Ms. Watson) and the gentlewoman from Florida (Ms. Ros-
Lehtinen) each will control 20 minutes.
The Chair recognizes the gentlewoman from California.

General Leave

Ms. WATSON. Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that all Members may
have 5 legislative days to revise and extend their remarks and include
extraneous material on the resolution under consideration.
The SPEAKER pro tempore. Is there objection to the request of the
gentlewoman from California?
There was no objection.
Ms. WATSON. Mr. Speaker, I rise in strong support of this resolution,
and yield myself as much time as I may consume.
Mr. Speaker, I want to thank my good friend, Congressman
Faleomavaega, for introducing this important resolution, which calls
for a peaceful resolution to the political situation in Thailand
through democratic means.
As we all know, earlier this year Red Shirt protesters occupied the
streets of Bangkok for 9 weeks. At first, these protests were peaceful.
Over time, however, clashes between the Red Shirts and the security
forces escalated into urban warfare. By mid-May, 89 people, the vast
majority of them civilians, had been killed, and around 1,800 wounded,
including a renegade Thai general who joined the antigovernment
protests.
Since the outbreak of these protests, the government has made
significant strides towards addressing the concerns of the protesters.
Earlier this month, Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva announced that he
plans to hold new elections by the end of 2011.

{time} 1930

His fans called for all parties to join together in upholding the
institution of the constitutional monarchy, working towards resolving
fundamental problems of social justice, ensuring that the media can
operate freely, creating an independent committee to investigate the
street protests, and establishing political rules through solicitation
of views from all sides.
I believe that the Prime Minister's plan is a positive step towards
achieving democratic reconciliation. Earlier this month, the Prime
Minister survived a vote of no confidence in the parliament over his
handling of the protests, demonstrating that there is support for the
PM to lead the country towards reconciliation.
I want to remind my colleagues that Thailand is one of the United
States' closest friends and most dependable allies. In 1833 we
concluded the first treaty with an Asian nation when we joined with
Thailand in the Treaty of Amity and Commerce. In 1954, we forged a
military alliance. And in 2003, the United States designated Thailand
as a major non-NATO ally.
Because of our long history, I believe that we must do everything we
can to support reconciliation in Thailand and to convey our sincere
hope that Thailand continues to prosper with democracy, stability, and
the rule of law. That is why I cosponsored House Resolution 1321, and I
urge all my colleagues to join me in supporting this resolution and
moving it towards speedy adoption.
Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.
Ms. ROS-LEHTINEN. Mr. Speaker, I am proud to yield such time as he
may consume to the gentleman from Hawaii (Mr. Djou), a member of the
Armed Forces and Budget Committees and the first Member of Congress to
be of half Thai descent.
Mr. DJOU. Thank you to the gentlelady from Florida. I also want to
express my thanks to Mr. Faleomavaega for bringing this resolution.
Mr. Speaker and Members, it is with some degree of sadness that I
rise to speak in support of this resolution. Mr. Speaker and Members,
it is my understanding from the House Historian's Office that I am the
first Member of the United States Congress of Thai ancestry.
For myself, Thailand is not just a place. It is not just an ally of
the United States. It is some place where my mother was born and raised
and most of my mother's side of the family continues to reside. I of
course speak in very strong support of this resolution asking for a
peaceful resolution of the conflict and dispute going on currently in
Thailand.
Mr. Speaker and Members, for us here in this Nation, while we may
have very strong and bitter disagreements between Republicans and
Democrats, conservatives and liberals, we ultimately resolve our
differences peacefully at the ballot box--not with a cartridge box. But
now what is happening in Bangkok, Thailand, is saddening,
disappointing; and it is something that we all, as Americans, must be
troubled by. Thailand is an important ally for the United States in
Southeast Asia and has been the lynch pin of our strategic interests in
Southeast Asia for decades.
What I have seen on the streets of Bangkok and what my family has
witnessed firsthand over the last few months is incredibly
disappointing. Last month, Mr. Speaker, my family, when I talked to my
cousins, it was with both joy and sadness to see what had transpired in
our immediate family. It is with incredible honor and distinction that
I was able to take the oath of office as a Member of the United States
Congress. But my first cousins, who were born and raised in Thailand,
unfortunately witnessed firsthand what was happening on the streets of
Bangkok and saw firsthand the violence that was going on in the city
center.
I think it is a reminder to all of us as Americans the uniqueness,
the importance, the vitality and the incredible, incredible good
fortune we have to call ourselves Americans.
But it is also what is happening in Bangkok that should remind us
that we as a Nation should lead by example and remind all of the
peoples of the world of what we can have and what we have here in this
Nation, and it doesn't have to always end in violence.
Mr. Speaker and colleagues, I strongly urge passage of this
resolution and hope, on behalf of my family, that these differences
that are going on right now in Thailand are resolved peacefully.
Ms. ROS-LEHTINEN. Mr. Speaker, I would like to yield myself such time
as I may consume.
I would like to start out by thanking the gentleman from Hawaii for
those insightful words and for his personal commitment and family honor
in making sure that we can have a peaceful resolution to this conflict.
And I also rise in support of this resolution which honors our
Nation's long-standing alliance with the Government and the people of
Thailand. It

[[Page H5269]]

also calls for a settlement of the political situation in that country
through peaceful and democratic means.
The scenes on television screens around the world last month of
Bangkok burning were unnerving to all who wish the Thai people well. A
2-month political crisis, which killed 88 people and injured more than
1,800, reduced landmarked buildings in the Thai capital to ashes. The
fact that Thailand's King, the longest-serving monarch in the world,
has been hospitalized for the past several months only added to the
sense of urgency over the fragile political situation.
So this resolution provides an opportunity to extend best wishes for
a speedy recovery to His Majesty who celebrated the 60th anniversary of
his coronation this past May 5.
Thailand is the first Southeast Asian nation to have a formal
diplomatic agreement with us in the United States. A treaty of amity
and commerce was signed with the administration of President Andrew
Jackson in 1833. The offer of a herd of domesticated elephants by the
present Thai King's great grandfather, while politely declined by
President Lincoln as unsuitable for the American climate, has long been
cited as an example of the warm and enduring bonds between the American
and Thai people.
When the congressional leaders gathered in Statuary Hall last week to
commemorate the 60th anniversary of the outbreak of the Korean War, the
flag of Thailand proudly flew with those of other allied nations behind
the Speaker's podium. Thailand sent a regiment of 1,294 men to that
conflict, of which 129, 10 percent, perished on the Korean peninsula.
Further cooperation with the United States during the Vietnam and Iraq
wars in east Timor and during a series of refugee crises in Southeast
Asia has further cemented bilateral ties.
Cobra-Gold, the largest multi-national military exercise in the
world, has brought the United States and the Royal Thai Armed Forces
annually together for the past 29 years to enhance regional peace and
stability. The growing trade between our two countries has made
Thailand America's 25th largest goods trading partner according to the
statistics provided by the U.S. Trade Representative.
So it is clearly in America's interest for the recent violence to
come to an end so that this militarily dependable and economically
vibrant ally can move forward toward national reconciliation.
Hopefully, the proposed national reconciliation will lead to a
permanent healing of Thai society so that the Thai people do not escape
from the tiger into the crocodile, as the Thai saying goes, moving from
one crisis to another.
This resolution, Mr. Speaker, calling for an end to violence through
peaceful and democratic means and for a rededication to our vital
alliance is something our Members should strongly support, as do I.
Mr. MANZULLO. Mr. Speaker, as the senior Republican on the Asia
Subcommittee of the House Foreign Affairs Committee and as the co-chair
of the Friends of Thailand Caucus, I rise in favor of H. Res. 1321,
which expresses support for resolving the political situation in
Thailand through non-violent, democratic means. The relationship
between the United States and Thailand goes back over 175 years to when
the U.S. signed its first agreement with an Asian nation as part of the
Treaty of Amity and Commerce with Siam. Thailand is one of America's
closest friends and dependable ally. In fact, the King of Thailand
generously offered President Abraham Lincoln a supply of elephants to
help Union forces win the Civil War. Thailand has also contributed
troops and supplies for U.S. military engagements in Korea, Vietnam,
the Persian Gulf, Afghanistan, and Iraq for which we are forever
grateful. After several decades of mostly military dictatorships, by
the early 1990s, Thailand established democratic rule, furthering
bolstering its status as a partner of the United States. As a result,
in 2003, the U.S. designated Thailand as a major non-NATO ally.
Thailand has also grown to be a significant trading partner of the
United States. In fact, exports from Illinois to Thailand were one of
the few bright spots during this recession--increasing 8.1 percent
between 2008 and 2009. Thailand is one of the top 25 export markets for
Illinois products. I was pleased and honored when the Ambassador from
Thailand came to visit northern Illinois last April to learn more about
what America has to offer.
However, ever since 2006, the political situation inside Thailand has
been a state of turmoil. We have all been pained to see the media
images of violence and burned-out buildings. Obviously, only the Thai
people can resolve their own internal conflicts. I hope that this
resolution can play a constructive role in helping to encourage all
sides to resolve their differences peacefully. I trust that the 5-point
national reconciliation plan proposed by the Prime Minister of Thailand
and highlighted by this resolution is fully implemented.
This resolution is important to reaffirm our support for democracy,
non-violence, and the people of Thailand. I urge the government of
Thailand to follow through on its commitments as outlined in their 5-
point plan. I also urge all parties in Thailand to join in this effort
and settle their differences peacefully. Therefore, I encourage my
colleagues to vote in favor of H. Res. 1321.
Ms. JACKSON LEE of Texas. Mr. Speaker, I rise in strong support of H.
Res. 1321, expressing the sense of the House of Representatives that
the political situation in Thailand be solved peacefully and through
democratic means. I thank my colleague, Mr. -Faleomavaega, for
introducing this important resolution.
Beginning in mid-March 2010, anti-government protestors occupied
parts of Bangkok for nine weeks. Initially peaceful, the demonstrations
and the response from the security forces became increasingly
aggressive, eventually spiraling into urban warfare. Most of the
protestors, known as the ``red shirts,'' are loyal to former Prime
Minister Thaksin Shinawatra who was ousted in a military coup in 2006.
On May 3, 2010, the Thai Prime Minister, Abhisit Vejjajiva, offered
talks and proposed a ``reconciliation plan'' including an election on
November 14, 2010 in an effort to end the political crisis that
immobilized Bangkok and killed 88 people and wounded hundreds. Although
the violence has subsided, the political divisions remain stark and the
threat of more confrontation lingers. Continuous progress has been made
on the Thai Government's reconciliation plan. A public forum was
convened on June 17, 2010 as a brainstorming session on how to move the
process forward. According to the Prime Minister, the views gathered
during this public forum reflect visions for both the Thai people and
society and were in line with those of the government. Two committees
will be set up by the end of June. The first committee will focus on
strategies and priorities for reform to be proposed to the government
and the second will work on nation reform assembly which will serve as
a channel for all sectors of society to put forward their views and
proposals with help from academic works.

Thailand has been a long-time military ally and a significant trade
and economic partner. Our close relationship and longstanding
friendship with Thailand dates back to 1883 when the two countries
signed the Treaty of Amity and Commerce. Despite differences on Burma
policy and human rights issues, shared economic and security interests
have long provided the basis for U.S.-Thai cooperation. Thailand
contributed troops and support for U.S. military operations in both
Afghanistan and Iraq and was designated as a major non-NATO ally in
December 2003. Thailand's airfields and ports play a particularly
important role in U.S. global military strategy, including having
served as the primary hub of the relief effort following the 2004
Indian Ocean tsunami.
As a major recipient of foreign direct investment, and with exports
of goods accounting for over 70 percent of its GDP in 2007, Thailand's
economy depends heavily on its trading partners. Economic relations
with the United States are central to Thailand's outward-looking
economic strategy. According to the U.S. Commerce Department, U.S.
trade with Thailand in 2008 consisted of $9.1 billion in exports and
$23.5 billion in imports. The State Department reports that although
Japan is Thailand's biggest trading partner, the United States is
currently Thailand's largest export market.
With more than 200,000 people tracing their ancestry to Thailand, our
two nations share extensive social and cultural links.
We recognize that enormous challenges remain ahead. Thailand has a
past of turbulence and turmoil--the country has experienced 18 coups in
the past 77 years. I am hopeful that their continued progress can lead
to an ever more fruitful economic and political relationship between
the United States and Thailand, contributing to the well being and
prosperity of both our nations.
The United States is hopeful that Thailand's political problems will
be solved peacefully and through democratic needs. The United States
supports the national reconciliation plan proposed by the Prime
Minister which encompasses upholding the monarchy, instituting
political reform, and eradicating injustice.
Ms. ROS-LEHTINEN. Mr. Speaker, I yield back the balance of my time.
Ms. WATSON. Mr. Speaker, I yield back the balance of my time.
The SPEAKER pro tempore. The question is on the motion offered by

[[Page H5270]]

the gentlewoman from California (Ms. Watson) that the House suspend the
rules and agree to the resolution, H. Res. 1321, as amended.
The question was taken.
The SPEAKER pro tempore. In the opinion of the Chair, two-thirds
being in the affirmative, the ayes have it.
Ms. WATSON. Mr. Speaker, I object to the vote on the ground that a
quorum is not present and make the point of order that a quorum is not
present.
The SPEAKER pro tempore. Pursuant to clause 8 of rule XX and the
Chair's prior announcement, further proceedings on this motion will be
postponed.
The point of no quorum is considered withdrawn.

____________________