Thread: US puts Thailand on its new terrorism risk list

Bangkok Post : US puts Thailand on its new terrorism risk list

US puts Thailand on its new terrorism risk list

• Published: 6/07/2011 at 12:00 AM
• Newspaper section: News

US President Barack Obama has announced a new US counter-terrorism policy with a shocking twist - putting Thailand and several other "close allies" on a new terrorism risk list.

Less than eight years after former president George W Bush declared Thailand a major non-Nato ally, the Department of Homeland Security has classified Thailand among countries that are known to "promote, produce or protect terrorist organisations or their members".

The document downgrading Thailand and other countries can be downloaded at this link.

Department spokeswoman Gillian Christensen said in a written statement that countries "may have been included on the list because of the backgrounds of arrestees, not because of the country's government itself". The spokeswoman did not respond to further questions, but appeared to be saying that a country is defined as a possible terrorist risk if it arrests suspected terrorists.

Along with Thailand, three other countries known as special US allies were placed on the risk list last month: Egypt, Israel and the Philippines.

ICE (the new name of the US immigration and customs department) has put 36 countries and the West Bank on its new watch list, and given them a group designator: Specially Designated Countries (SDCs). Citizens from countries on this list that wish to travel to the US will be required to submit to a new "Third Agency Check (TAC)".

Despite the fact that the new policy has reduced several countries from "major allies" to terrorist risks, Ms Christensen said they were still considered "partners in the struggle against terrorism ... partners in our efforts to combat global terrorism."

Foreign Ministry spokesman Thani Thongphakdi said he was surprised by the move as Bangkok and Washington have cooperated closely on counter-terrorism efforts.

The new Department of Homeland Security report, released in May, contradicted a report that Mr Obama issued on June 28, he said.

Obama's report noted the cooperation between the US and countries in Asia, including Indonesia, the Philippines and Thailand, in the fight against terrorism.

"The Foreign Ministry will ask the US [about the terrorism risk list] and will continue to provide information to the US in order to keep them up to date on the situation in Thailand," Mr Thani said.