Prayut Says US Disallows Him To Travel To The States

BANGKOK: -- Prime Minister Gen Prayut Chan-o-cha said he is not permitted to travel to the United States.

The prime minister’s remark came as he addressed the opening of a business forum held by the US-based Wharton University of Pennsylvania yesterday.

Speaking to business participants at the forum in the topic “Asia in a Borderless World”, Gen Prayut said Thailand was being kept under watch by all countries on which way it is going to move forward after the military coup in May.

In particular the United States which had enjoyed relationships with Thailand for over 200 years, he said.

The military junta said although the US will disallow him to travel there, Thailand still leaves the door open for cooperation on both social and economic aspects.

He said he had been serving in the army for 38 years and before retiring, he never had the idea to become or had a wish to become the prime minister.

However he asked that no matter what countries or what ruling systems they have, they are all considered living in the same globe.

After the opening speech, the prime minister set off on his two-day trip to Japan Friday to attend the United Nations’ conference on Disaster Risk Reduction held in Sendai today and tomorrow

Meanwhile an international relations academic Dr Panitarn Watanayakorn elaborated the word “US disallows” stated by the prime minister saying it was merely to express that the US does not extend invitation him to visit .

He said this was in accordance with the US laws that its leader won’t invite government leader who came from military coup to visit.

It was not a matter of blacklisting as this could affect the diplomatic relations, and the US had never banned entry by any Thai government leaders before.