The Associated Press

Comments from officials overseas about martial law being imposed in Thailand:

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U.S. State Department spokeswoman Jen Psaki said the U.S. was very concerned. We “urge all parties to respect democratic principles, including respect for freedom of speech. We expect the Army to honor its commitment to make this a temporary action to prevent violence, and to not undermine democratic institutions.”

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The European Union said Thailand’s priority was to hold elections and establish a functioning, legitimate government. “We call upon all parties to exercise restraint and work together in the interest of the country and urge the military to respect international human rights standards, including media freedom.”

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Philippine Finance Secretary Cesar Purisima said the Thai unrest might spook investors but that trade was still flowing and supply chains still moving. “We’re just cheering on the sidelines for them to resolve it. Thailand is a great country. They’ve shown their resilience and we’re confident that this is a short-term hiccup.”

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Indonesia’s Foreign Minister Marty Natalegawa said his country hoped normalcy could be restored quickly. “Indonesia has consistently called for respect of constitutional process and democratic principles in order to promote national reconciliation and unity, reflecting the wishes of the Thai people.”

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Japan’s Chief Cabinet Secretary Yoshihide Suga urged Thailand to resolve the disputes peacefully. “We would like to urge all relevant parties to exercise restraint and not to use violence, and we strongly hope that they can peacefully resolve the differences of their positions through democratic process and sincere dialogue.” Suga said Japan will take necessary steps to ensure safety of the Japanese citizens and the companies in Thailand.

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Australia’s Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade urged all parties in Thailand to resolve their differences through peaceful democratic processes. “Thailand has Australia’s goodwill and support as it tries to find ways to settle its political difficulties.”

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AP writers Raf Casert in Brussels, Jim Gomez in Manila, Philippines, Niniek Karmini in Jakarta, Indonesia, and Rod McGuirk in Canberra, Australia, contributed to this report.

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