The US Embassy in Thailand has denied allegations that it is funding or providing support to any of the protests in Thailand.
In a statement issued Thursday, the Embassy said ambassadors and embassy personnel regularly meet with a broad cross section of Thai nationals, not just with students and the young, but also with government, military, business and other leaders. Such meetings do not imply endorsement of any particular views, it added.
The denial was in response to the recent dissemination, by a blogsite dedicated to purveying disinformation, of photos taken years ago during the tenure of the previous US Ambassador to Thailand.
Several Thai media websites are showing pictures of Mr. Parit “Penquin” [sic] Chivarak, a prominent student protest leader, meeting with former US Ambassador Glyn Davies at the embassy in 2016, as evidence of the alleged support for the current student-led protests in Thailand.
“The United States does not support any individual or political party, we support the democratic process and the rule of law. As friends of Thailand, we encourage all sides to continue to act with respect and restraint and engage in constructive dialogue on how to move the country forward,” said the statement.