US concerned about rising tension in Thailand

The United States on Monday expressed concern about the rising tension in Thailand and called for restraint from violence in the face of mass anti-government demonstrations. "The U.S. government is concerned about the rising political tension in Thailand and is following the ongoing demonstrations in Bangkok closely," State Department spokeswoman Jennifer Psaki said in a statement. "We urge all sides to refrain from violence, exercise restraint, and respect the rule of law," she added, denouncing violence and the seizure of public or private property as means "not acceptable " for resolving political differences. Anti-government rallies in Thailand, which began last month, were triggered by a government-backed amnesty bill that could have led to the return of Thaksin Shinawatra, the former prime minister and brother of incumbent Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra. Tens of thousands of protesters were forcing their way into key ministries in Bangkok, the nation's capital, and calling for Yingluck's government to resign, raising the political tensions to a level not seen in the Southeast Asian nation since the deadly unrest of 2010. "We call upon all sides to uphold international norms that guarantee freedom of the press and the safety of journalists," Psaki said. "The United States firmly believes all parties should work together to resolve differences through peaceful dialogue in ways that strengthen democracy and rule of law."