,,iv #aahth ,,congress #ast ,session ,h4 ,,res4 #cfi ,,in ,,the ,,house ,,of ,,representatives ,may #e1 #bjbc,ms4 ,wild submitted the following resolution2 which was referred to the ,committee on ,foreign ,affairs ,,resolution ,supporting the ,united ,states-,thailand alliance and urging the ,government of ,thailand to protect and uphold democracy1 human rights1 the rule of law1 and rights to freedom of peaceful assembly and freedom of expression ahead of the #bjbc general elections in ,thailand1 and for other purposes4 ,whereas the ,kingdom of ,thailand 7once commonly known as the ,kingdom of ,siam7 and the ,united ,states of ,america first established relations in #ahah1 and entered into the ,treaty of ,amity and ,commerce1 signed on ,march #bj1 #ahcc1 which formalized diplomatic relations between the #b countries2 ,whereas ,thailand was the first treaty ally of the ,united ,states in the ,asia-,pacific region1 has a relationship with the ,united ,states that is built upon a commitment to universal values1 and remains a steadfast friend of the ,united ,states2 ,whereas through the ,southeast ,asia ,collective ,defense ,treaty1 done at ,manila on ,september #h1 #aied 7commonly known as the ,manila ,pact71 the ,united ,states and ,thailand expressed a joint desire to strengthen the fabric of peace and freedom and to uphold the principles of democracy1 individual liberty and the rule of law2 ,whereas1 in #aifb1 the ,united ,states and ,thailand signed the ,thanat-,rusk communique1 through which the ,united ,states pledged to provide assistance to ,thailand if it faced aggression by neighboring nations2 ,whereas through the ,treaty of ,amity and ,economic ,relations ,between the ,kingdom of ,thailand and the ,united ,states of ,america1 done at ,bangkok on ,may #bi1 #aiff1 along with a diverse and growing trading relationship1 the ,united ,states and ,thailand have developed strong economic ties2 ,whereas the ,united ,states recognizes ,thailand as a founding member of the ,association of ,southeast ,asian ,nations 7commonly known as ,,asean72 ,whereas1 on ,november #ab1 #bjbb1 ,president ,joseph ,r4 ,biden and the ,,asean leaders elevated ,united ,states-,,asean relations to a ,comprehensive ,strategic ,partnership to open new areas of cooperation vital to the future prosperity and security of the ,united ,states and ,,asean member nations2 ,whereas ,thailand successfully served as host for the ,asia-,pacific ,economic ,cooperation forum in #bjbb-- 7#a7 to revitalize economic recovery2 7#b7 to restore connectivity following disruptions from the ,,covid-#ai pandemic2 and 7#c7 to integrate inclusivity and sustainability objectives in tandem with economic goals2 ,whereas ,thailand was designated a major non-,,nato ally in #bjjc1 and is #a of the strongest security partners of the ,united ,states1 a relationship reaffirmed by the ,joint ,vision ,statement #bjbj for the ,u4,s4-,thai ,defense ,alliance2 ,whereas the ,government of ,thailand and the ,government of the ,united ,states hold numerous joint military exercises1 including ,cobra ,gold1 the largest annual multinational military exercise in the ,indo-,pacific region1 which is hosted by ,thailand2 ,whereas the ,government of ,thailand continues to be a partner on humanitarian and refugee assistance1 including in multinational relief efforts following the #bjjd ,indian ,ocean tsunami and #bjae ,nepal earthquake2 ,whereas ,thailand currently hosts more than #ie1jjj refugees1 primarily from ,burma1 and is an important ,united ,states partner in the provision of humanitarian assistance to ,burma2 ,whereas ,thailand ended its absolute monarchy and transitioned to a constitutional monarchy in #aicb1 and has since revised its ,constitution #ai times1 including its #aiig ,constitution1 which enshrined democratically elected representatives in a bicameral national assembly and the ,prime ,minister as head of government2 ,whereas1 on ,may #bb1 #bjad1 the ,royal ,thai ,armed ,forces launched a coup d'etat through which it repealed the #bjjg ,constitution1 declared martial law1 and replaced the civilian government with a military junta1 known as the ,national ,council for ,peace and ,order 7referred to in this preamble as the ,,ncpo71 which was led by ,army ,commander in ,chief ,prayuth ,chan-ocha2 ,whereas1 on ,march #bi1 #bjaf1 the ,,ncpo unveiled a draft constitution1 and on ,august #g1 #bjaf1 the ,,ncpo held a deeply flawed referendum on the new constitution1 which was intended to legitimize the document2 ,whereas the #bjaf referendum was marred by widespread violations of rights to freedom of expression1 association1 and peaceful assembly2 ,whereas the ,,ncpo ignored numerous calls from the ,united ,nations and foreign governments to respect people's rights to freely express their views on the draft constitution1 and sharply curtailed freedoms in the lead-up to the constitutional referendum1 prosecuting journalists and critics of the draft constitution1 censoring the media1 and preventing public gatherings of more than #e people2 ,whereas the new ,constitution1 which was ratified on ,april #f1 #bjag-- 7#a7 entrenched ,thai military power at the expense of civilian political control2 7#b7 obligated subsequent governments and ,members of ,parliament to adhere to a junta-issued #bj-year reform plan2 7#c7 contains provisions weakening the #ejj-member lower house and reserving #bej seats in the senate for ,,ncpo-appointed senators and ,,ncpo leaders1 including the top leadership of the military and police2 and 7#d7 gives outsize power to unelected junta-selected senators to choose subsequent ,prime ,ministers2 ,whereas1 in ,march #bjai1 ,thailand held elections that-- 7#a7 several independent monitoring groups1 citing both procedural and systemic problems1 declared to be not fully free and fair and heavily tilted to favor the military junta2 and 7#b7 resulted in the ,,ncpo's political party1 headed by ,prayuth ,chan-ocha1 forming a new government and appointing ,prayuth as ,prime ,minister2 ,whereas1 in ,january #bjbj1 the opposition political party ,future ,forward was dissolved and banned on order of ,thailand's ,constitutional ,court following a flawed legal process premised on spurious charges2 ,whereas the ,constitutional ,court also ruled that ,prime ,minister ,prayuth ,chan-ocha did not violate a constitutional provision limiting him to #h years in office1 despite having remained in power since the ,august #bjad coup d'etat2 ,whereas the ,government of ,thailand has not made progress in its investigation of violent attacks against some democracy activists and the forced disappearances and killings of ,thai political dissidents across ,asia2 ,whereas1 since ,february #bjbj1 tens of thousands of protesters across ,thailand1 composed primarily of students and youth1 have peacefully called for democratically elected government1 constitutional reform1 and respect for human rights2 ,whereas the ,government of ,thailand responded to these largely peaceful protests with repressive measures1 including intimidation tactics1 excessive use of force during protests1 surveillance1 harassment1 arrests1 violence1 and imprisonment2 ,whereas1 between #bjbj and #bjbc1 authorities of the ,government of ,thailand have filed criminal proceedings against more than #a1hjj activists for participating in mass demonstrations and expressing their opinions1 including more than #bhj children1 #da of whom were younger than #ae years of age2 ,whereas reports published in ,july #bjbb by nongovernmental organizations found that ,thai authorities used ,pegasus spyware against at least #cj prodemocracy activists and individuals who called for reforms to the monarchy1 and against academics and human rights defenders who have publicly criticized the ,government of ,thailand2 ,whereas1 in ,october #bjbb1 the ,government of ,thailand abstained from a vote on a ,united ,nations resolution to condemn ,russia's illegal and illegitimate annexation of #d eastern regions of ,ukraine2 ,whereas1 in ,december #bjbb1 the ,government of ,thailand hosted senior ministers from the ,burmese military junta despite efforts by the ,united ,states and ,,asean to isolate the junta's leadership diplomatically2 ,whereas1 in #bjbb1 ,china was ,thailand's largest trading partner1 with bilateral trade reaching #ajg1jjj1jjj1jjj and accounting for nearly one-fifth of ,thailand's total foreign trade volume2 and ,whereas the ,government of ,thailand continues to consider the ,draft ,act on the ,operation of ,not-for-,profit ,organizations1 which1 if enacted-- 7#a7 will impose severe restrictions on nonprofit organizations operating in ,thailand2 and 7#b7 will have an irreversible chilling effect on civil society in ,thailand and across the ,southeast ,asia region generally3 ,now1 therefore1 be it ,that the ,house of ,representatives-- 7#a7 reaffirms the strong relationship between the ,united ,states and ,thailand1 a relationship based on shared democratic values and strategic interests2 7#b7 is in solidarity with the people of ,thailand in their quest for a democratically elected government1 political reforms1 long-term peace1 and respect for established international human rights standards2 7#c7 urges the ,government of ,thailand to protect and uphold democracy1 human rights1 the rule of law1 and rights to freedom of peaceful assembly1 freedom of expression1 and privacy2 7#d7 urges the ,government of ,thailand to create conditions for credible and fair elections in ,may #bjbc1 including by-- 7,a7 enabling opposition parties and political leaders to carry out their activities without undue interference from state authorities2 7,b7 enabling media1 journalists1 and members of civil society to exercise freedoms of expression1 peaceful assembly1 and association1 without repercussion and fear of prosecution2 and 7,c7 ensuring that the tallying of votes is fair and transparent2 7#e7 urges the ,government of ,thailand to release and drop charges against political activists and refrain from harassing1 intimidating1 or persecuting those engaged in peaceful protests and civic activity more broadly1 with particular care for the rights and well-being of children and students2 7#f7 calls on the ,government of ,thailand to drop consideration of the ,draft ,act on the ,operation of ,not-for-,profit ,organizations and reform other laws and regulations undermining free expression and access to information2 7#g7 urges the ,government of ,thailand to investigate and end spyware attacks that have targeted academics1 human rights defenders1 and key members of various prodemocracy groups2 7#h7 calls on the ,government of ,thailand to repeal or revise laws and decrees that are used to censor online content and speech related to the electoral process1 including ,thailand's-- 7,a7 lese majeste law2 7,b7 ,computer-,related ,crime ,act2 and 7,c7 sedition laws2 7#i7 communicates to the ,government of ,thailand that continuing violations of the rights of the people of ,thailand to express themselves and participate in the political process will make it impossible for the ,united ,states to recognize the next general election as free and fair1 regardless of outcome2 and 7#aj7 unequivocally states that direct or indirect military or royal intervention before1 during1 or after the general election would-- 7,a7 undermine bilateral relations between the ,united ,states and ,thailand2 and 7,b7 endanger economic and security assistance to ,thailand and regional and economic cooperation4