Was it an Insult to Thai-Muslims to Close the US Consulate General in Chiang Mai?

A few weeks ago, several hundred PAD supporters demonstrated in front of the US Embassy in Bangkok to protest Thaksin’s visit to America. They disagreed with the decision to allow a fugitive from the law a visa to enter the US. They were there several times but the demonstrations hardly hit the news. I don’t think there was anything in the Bangkok Post about it. Probably the only people to know about it were the ones stuck in traffic jams on Wireless Road.

Fast forward to Monday of this week. An urgent security message was sent out to American citizens. The embassy had been informed by the Royal Thai Police that a demonstration “involving several hundred people” was planned for the following afternoon. As a consequence, the embassy decided to close down at noon and send all non-essential personnel home. Why the security message this time and not before? Was it because the demonstrators were Muslims?

On the surface this seems to be an insult to all Thai-Muslims. I know there has been severe backlash to the video in Middle Eastern countries. The killing of Chris Stevens, the US envoy to Libya was unforgivable. But why treat all Muslims the same? All they wanted to do was hand in a letter of protest to the US Ambassador in Bangkok. As it turned out, there were only about 400 protesters in front of the US Embassy. According to some reports, there were far more police and media than protesters. The Nation described it as a “peaceful protest”.

I guess it is understandable to have closed the embassy in Bangkok as after all, you just don’t know. It could have been a lot worse. Embassy staff had to think about the safety of visitors to the embassy as well as their own staff. They have a right to close if they want to. However, another emergency message went out to US citizens last night. This time for a “possible gathering” at the US Consulate General in Chiang Mai this morning. The message said that they would close for the entire day. This is where I think it was going over the top. Only about a dozen or so Muslims turned up to submit a letter of protest to the consulate official. A letter! For a letter they closed the entire day.

Fortunately, US Ambassador Kristie Kenney has now come out to say that she is unworried by the situation in Thailand as the movement here is different from other countries and that both countries have long-established relations. She told MCOT that there is no need to issue a warning on safety concern for Americans living in the kingdom. She added that Thailand is a peaceful country and that she is confident with the security provided by the Thai authorities.

I am glad that both protests were peaceful and that the US Ambassador has now gone on record as recognizing that Muslims in Thailand are not the same as elsewhere.

What do you think? Was it an over-reaction and an insult to Thai-Muslims to close down the embassy and consul general or was it all justifiable?

13 thoughts on “Was it an Insult to Thai-Muslims to Close the US Consulate General in Chiang Mai?

  • October 1, 2013 at 7:33 pm
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    Not all Muslims are terrorists but most terrorists are Muslims. All a person needs to do is read the 1400 years of history and learn. read the encyclopedia about the Barbary pirates. Anything is an insult to Muslims they have a flip-flop standard to always play victim. Blame the infidel for what the Muslim does. Look at the south of Thailand? You don’t see Burni and Malaysia fighting do you?

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  • September 21, 2012 at 5:54 am
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    I think it was justifiable to close the embassy, after all muslims in Thailand,s South have carried out some horrendous atrocities. Who knows what is possible.

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    • September 21, 2012 at 6:35 pm
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      I don’t think the Muslims in the far south consider themselves Thai-Muslim. That is half the problem. Many of them don’t even speak Thai as they are more linked to Malaysia.

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  • September 20, 2012 at 7:04 am
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    This is an affront to all people of reasonable intelligence.Thailand has a buddhist majority and we have all seen enough of the muslim insurgents.

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  • September 20, 2012 at 7:04 am
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    After the past actions of a demented minority, I think they were right to take precautions. Australia is peaceful too, and look what happened here in the past few days. Better safe than sorry. If it had turned nasty and innocent ppl were hurt they would have said not enough was done. Rock and a hard place.

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  • September 20, 2012 at 7:03 am
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    It appears the protesters were demonstrating peacefully which was rather commendable. Still given the facts after what happened/happening in the Middle East and the death of the US officials in Libya I see the point why they decided to close the consulate. Also the WH has issued an order to all the US Embassies worldwide to be on high alert. It might just be the protocol they have to follow as a precautionary measures.

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  • September 19, 2012 at 8:37 pm
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    I think an insult to all Muslims, not just Thai Muslims.

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  • September 19, 2012 at 8:36 pm
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    Muslims protesters have a well documented track record of violence, PAD protesters do not. Comparing apples to oranges…

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  • September 19, 2012 at 8:06 pm
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    At least the Muslims protesting in Thailand acted in a civilized manner. As opposed to the disgusting behavior seen in Sydney last weekend.

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  • September 19, 2012 at 7:59 pm
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    Did they burn flags at that protest? Only ask as USA flag was burned yesterday as part of protest.

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