The European Union curtailed its diplomatic ties with Thailand yesterday in a move to pressure the National Council for Peace and Order (NPCO) to restore democracy in the country.
In a statement issued after their meeting in Luxembourg yesterday, EU foreign ministers said all official visits to and from Thailand will be suspended and all partnership agreements shelved until the kingdom returns to a democratic regime.
The limiting of diplomatic ties came in response to the military leadership's recent announcement, which the EU deemed to fall short of a credible roadmap for the country to return to constitutional rule.
"Against this background, the EU has been forced to reconsider its engagement," the foreign ministers said.
"Official visits to and from Thailand have been suspended, the EU and its member states will not sign the Partnership and Cooperation Agreement (PCA) with Thailand until a democratically elected government is in place," the ministers said, adding that other agreements will be affected, as appropriate.
EU member states have already begun to review their military cooperation with Thailand, they said.
According to the ministers, only an early and credible plan for return to constitutional rule, and the holding of credible and inclusive elections, would allow the EU to continue its support.
The EU pledged to keep its relations with Thailand under review.
The bloc demanded that fully functioning democratic institutions be reinstated to ensure the welfare of all citizens.
The ministers called on the junta to restore legitimate democratic processes and the constitution, through credible and inclusive elections.
They also called on all parties to exercise the utmost restraint, respect human rights and fundamental freedoms of the people, free all political detainees and end media censorship.
The NCPO on Sunday asked the EU for understanding on why the coup was staged.
The Foreign Ministry said yesterday it was disappointed by the EU's decision, and called on its European allies to review the decision in a bid to maintain the relationship and its long-term benefits.
Permanent secretary for foreign affairs Sihasak Phuangketkeow will meet the EU ambassador to Thailand to discuss the foreign ministers' decisions.
The EU decision, which came hot on the heels of the United States decision to downgrade the kingdom on its human trafficking watchlist, has raised concerns that Thailand's international trade is at risk.
Pornsil Patchrintanakul, vice-chairman of Thai Chamber of Commerce, said an obvious effect of the EU announcement is that the Thai-EU free trade area (FTA) dialogue would be suspended for one or two years, or until Thailand has an elected government.
Thai authorities should use this opportunity to study the pros and cons of the Thai-EU FTA, he said, and a comparative study of the FTA the EU signed with other countries should be made.
Mr Pornsil said Thailand's international trade is unlikely to be affected directly, saying the EU's decision was common practice.
Suphan Mongkulsuthee, chairman of the Federation of Thai Industries, said the FTI was ready to explain to the world community that the coup and the human trafficking situation were not as severe as outsiders may believe them to be.