“I wouldn’t look for big changes. We would continue to emphasise relations with Asean [including Thailand],” Davies said, before the result of the US presidential race became known. “Regardless of who becomes the next president, Thailand and the US will remain strong allies.”
He also saw no threats to economic ties, as major American companies would be looking at investing for the long term in the Kingdom.
Thailand and the US established diplomatic relations in 1833.
Davies’s remarks came amid uproar in Thai social media over the impact of a Donald Trump presidency. While Thais residing in the US tended to favour Trump, temporary and prospective visitors were worried about the fallout of the Republican candidate’s victory.
Thai permanent residents in the US said the eight-year era of outgoing Democrat President Barack Obama was “too lenient” towards illegal immigrants, raising fears of domestic terrorism.
“Not taking into account the huge increase in public debt under the Obama administration, many people also dislike Hillary Clinton for her numerous lies,” said one comment to a question posted on the Thai web forum Pantip.com “[Trump] also represents the Republican Party of which I’m a fan.”
But Thais looking at prospects of migrating to the US are worried about the implications of the election result.
“I’m afraid it will be harder for me to find a job after graduation,” said a Thai student in the US who asked not to be named. “Trump often said that immigrants steal jobs from locals. With him coming in, companies may need to prove that they are really unable to hire locals as a legitimate reason to hire expats.”
“I wish to live in the US, find a job there, but I changed my mind when I saw the possibility of Trump coming to power,” said a Thai computer programmer “I’ll have to change my plan.”
“It could be ten times harder to get travel visas to the US,” said a student Chongnang Preechajaroensilp.
The US is home to around 300,000 Thais.
Meanwhile, the US presidential election watch was organised yesterday at the Ambassador’s Residence in Bangkok, where more than 160 university students and officers from 10 diplomatic corps gathered to follow the vote counting.
Eager students at the event said that although the US and Thailand systems were quite different, they could see a sense of public commitment to politics in the US, which they felt could be adapted to strengthen democratic forces in Thailand.
“Neither of the candidates is a big favourite but we learn that Americans respect rules and the system must go on,” said Chakariya Cheewatara, a political science student from Chulalongkorn University.
“Americans are really alert when it comes to election. It could be because it’s the mother system of the US,” said Junjira Kuratham, political science student from Ramkhamhaeng University “I would like to see the same energy in Thai people, too,”
“American political culture is a good takeaway,” said Thammasat Univeristy law alumni Siravich Teevakul. “Political gatherings there are very consistent. It runs in their blood. Civilised politics is an indicator of a democratic process. And we really should look at politics from more systematic angles.”
Meanwhile, Richard Graves, vice chairman of Democrats Abroad Thailand, told The Nation that the result was a big surprise for him.
He said that while many Americans craved change, they were not discreet about what they were changing to. Graves said he did not think Trump would be able to fulfil many of his promises and may not win the next election.
Clinton’s defeat, he said, could be a result of sexism. Graves observed the fact that Clinton was an extremely intelligent and successful woman offended many people.
Graves reiterated that the election result showed many people in the US thought the system was not working for them so they strongly wanted change. And Trump was the person who had successfully persuaded them that he could bring about the change they were seeking.
Though the result may upset many Democrat supporters, Graves said he did not think democratic values in the US society would be destroyed. He said he believed people still had strong faith in democracy and it was unlikely that this election would create a deep divide in the society.
Democrats Abroad Thailand is a group of Democrat supporters living in Thailand. Some 50 members of the club yesterday gathered at a bar in Silom to watch live TV updates on the vote counting.

However, judging by the strong public reaction to the clip, which has spread like fire through the social media, we already have the cure.
The overwhelming response to the clip has been dismay – and even disgust – at the 28-year-old entertainer’s use of violence. Internet users are condemning the celebrity for taking justice into his own hands instead of acting like a responsible citizen by summoning the police.
The criticism grew further after the clip was broadcast on mainstream media, with even fellow celebrities slamming their colleague. Earlier this week GMM TV cancelled its contracts with the programme host with immediate effect, arguing that his actions ran contrary to its policy that celebrities must set a good example for youngsters.
The controversy has revealing lessons for Thai society.
Firstly, it has shown that the majority believes violence is unacceptable and deserves condemnation. It also demonstrates that those who resort to unnecessary and excessive violence risk facing legal action. Police have charged Acharanat with assault.
Meanwhile debate of the incident has introduced many people to the concept of anger management. That knowledge should prove useful to those who have problems controlling their mood. Poor management of emotions, particularly anger, can lead to crises in life and career, as the young entertainer has painfully learned.
The response to the clip also reveals a healthy grasp of right and wrong as well as the need to respect the law. Contrary to some opinions, ours still seems to be a civilised society of mainly law-abiding people.
Some might deny this, pointing to the widespread casual attitude displayed towards traffic rules and other laws. But signs are that Thais do have a strong social conscience, which gives us reason to hope for progress.
The road rage incident also contains a glaring lesson about the nature of celebrity. Entertainers who fall into the trap of believing that fame entitles them to disregard social norms will inevitably pay the penalty. Celebrities have once again been reminded of their important status as role models for the younger generation.
Debate of the incident seems to reflect a general and growing sense that resorting to force to achieve one’s ends is unacceptable. If that feeling spreads to the political sphere then we could see an end to the factional violence that has plagued us for the last decade. No more obstructing people from casting their votes, no more laying siege to state agencies, no more heavy weapons being used against political enemies, and no use of force by authorities against demonstrators.
If people were to really stop tolerating coercive violence, we should see no more cases of torture by officers of the law, the latest allegation of which came this week when a man was beaten to death during a police raid on a gambling den. The national police chief has called this a case of “unnecessary use of force”, according to a police spokesman.
The Army chief also has voiced his opposition to using violence to solve civilian problems. His words offer hope, however modest, that the military will desist from resorting to force in tackling political crises in future. If the country is to develop socially and economically, Thailand can little afford yet another coup.

The National Council for Peace and Order (NCPO) yesterday removed the permanent secretary at the Digital Economy and Society Ministry.
Songporn Komolsuradej was transferred as special inspector to the PM’s Office.
The NCPO promoted National Statistical Office director-general Wilailuck Chulewatanakul to replace Songporn at the ministry. Both appointments took effect yesterday.
The changes were made through an order by Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha, who invoked his power as the junta chief under Article 44 of the post-coup interim charter.
Songporn is the third permanent secretary at the ministry, formerly known as the Information and Communications Technology Ministry, to be removed from the post by the junta.
After seizing power in May 2014, the junta removed ICT Ministry permanent secretary Surachai Srisaracam in the middle of 2014 and replaced him with the then ministry inspector Methinee Thepmanee. Methinee was replaced by Songporn, who was then deputy permanent secretary, in the middle of last year.
Following the renaming of the ICT Ministry as Digital Economy Ministry in September this year, Songporn became the first permanent secretary of the ministry.
The new permanent secretary is expected to focus on hastening
completion of the village broad-band Internet project and push through the mergers of core redundant businesses of TOT and CAT Telecom.
The other priority is to closely coordinate with the National Broadcasting and Telecommunic-ations Commission to continue cracking down on websites containing content deemed insulting to the monarchy. During the meeting of the Digital Economy ad hoc committee chaired by Prayut last Wednesday, Deputy PM Prajin Juntong said the premier and those in charge of the village broadband Internet project were unhappy with the lack of progress.
A government source added that the premier also asked about progress in the ministry’s planned mergers of three core redundant businesses of TOT and CAT.
The village broadband Internet project, aims to provide connectivity to 24,700 villages, and was initiated in January this year by former ICT minister Uttama Savanayana. Uttama resigned to pave way for the establishment of the Digital Economy Ministry of which Prajin is now acting minister.

Reform of satellite industry
TOT was the only bidder for the project but last month the ministry informed TOT its decision to
scrap the project, saying the state agency’s technical bid proposal did not match the procurement terms of reference. However, the ad hoc digital economy committee last Wednesday instructed the ministry to transfer the Bt15-billion budget to TOT to implement the project.
A ministry source said the ministry took time to develop the project in order to ensure the project’s transparency.
CAT president Colonel Sanpachai Huvanandana said recently that CAT had already set a budget of Bt120 million to hire an adviser to study the merger of the three redundant businesses with those of TOT. It is expected to select the adviser this month.
Recently, the State Enterprise Policy Commission urged both TOT and CAT to finalise the hiring of advisers to study the mergers by the end of this year.
The other issue the new permanent secretary is expected to focus on is the plan to reform the satellite industry. The ministry wants to discuss with Thaicom its plan to put the company’s Thaicom 7 and 8 satellites back into the ministry’s existing concession regime.
The ministry believes that the two latest satellites, which operate under the NBTC’s licensing regime, should come under its concession regime, since the concession system is still in force.
Thaicom 4, 5 and 6 operate under the ministry’s concession, which finishes in 2021.

Yingluck started selling rice outside Bangkok’s Fashion Island shopping mall with other leading figures from the Pheu Thai Party, with 5-kilogram bags going for Bt100 each.
Each person could buy up to two bags only. Yingluck wrote on her Facebook page that she might sell more rice and ask her followers to wait for an update from the page.
A lot of people queued up to buy the rice from Yingluck, which helped her sell the bags very quickly.
When the former PM arrived at the mall, many supporters surrounded her and took photos with her.

The ruling bans Udomdej Rattanasatien and Narisorn Thongthiraj from holding any political office for five years.
A total of 221 NLA members voted to impeach Narisorn, while 206 voted to impeach Udomdej.
Narisorn is a former MP for Sakon Nakhon and Udomdej |represented Nonthaburi in the |previous House of Representatives.
In accordance with procedure, the NLA will now inform the accused, the National Anti-Corruption Commission (NACC), the Cabinet and the relevant state agencies.
In their statements made before the NLA, both politicians dismissed separate allegations by the NACC. Narisorn denied having voted on behalf of his party colleagues with their electronic ID cards.
Udomdej denied having submitted a constitutional amendment that had been tampered with to seek endorsement from Parliament.
However, the NACC maintained there was strong evidence against them, including video recordings.
Support from at least three fifths of the 250 NLA members, or 150 votes, is required to impeach |public office holders.
The legislative assembly also acts as the Senate, in accordance with the post-coup interim charter. But the NLA will not have the power of both Houses after the new constitution is promulgated.
Meanwhile, Chief Charter Drafter Meechai Ruchupan said the impeachment of the two former MPs would result in their electoral rights revoked for five years following the anti corruption law. However, this had nothing to do with revocation of electoral rights addressed in the new charter as it no longer addressed impeachment and its political implications.
But as their rights were revoked, that would result in them not being able to hold any political positions in the future.
They would also be barred from holding executive positions of |political parties as well, Meechai said.
Under the new charter, political rights including electoral rights would be revoked if proven guilty through the justice process, not impeachment, the CDC chief said.
The impeachment process relied on votes in parliament which, he said, was a political process that sometimes did not take evidence into account. So, it did not necessarily mean one was actually guilty.
As politics needs some changes and those found guilty should no longer enter politics, the process needed solid proof of guilt and that was the reason why the justice process was taken seriously under the new rule written in the new charter, rather than impeachment.
Meechai said it was possible that impeachment and its implication would later be addressed in the new political code of conduct.
Meanwhile, Chief Charter Drafter Meechai Ruchupan said the impeachment of the two former Mps would result in their electoral rights revoked for five years following the anti corruption law. However, this has nothing to do with revocation of electoral rights addressed in the new charter as it has no longer addressed impeachment and its political implications.
But as their rights are revoked, that would result in them not being able to hold any political positions in the future. They would also be barred from holding executive positions of political parties as well, Meechai added.
Under the new charter, political rights including electoral rights would be revoked if proved guilty through justice process, not impeachment, said Meechai.
Impeachment process, he said, rely on votes in parliament which is rather a political process that sometimes does not take evidence into account, and thus does not necessarily mean one’s actual guilt.
As the current politics needs some changes and those found guilty should no longer enter politics, this needs a solid proof of guilt and that’s the reason why justice process is taken seriously under the new rule written in the new charter, rather than impeachment.
Meechai said it’s possible that impeachment and its implication would later be addressed in the new political ethics code of conduct.