Skip to main content

US reviews Thailand aid, military ties after coup

By WTOP Staff

MATTHEW PENNINGTON
Associated Press

WASHINGTON (AP) — The United States is preparing to suspend up to $10 million in bilateral assistance to Thailand and is reviewing military ties after the nation’s armed forces took power after months of political strife.

Secretary of State John Kerry said there was no justification for Thursday’s coup which he said will have “negative implications” for the relationship between the U.S. and its oldest ally in Asia.

The bloodless military takeover quickly drew stiff international criticism. The European Union said it was following developments in Thailand with “extreme concern” and called for credible and inclusive elections “as soon as feasible.” U.N. Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon appealed for a prompt return to democratic rule.

Kerry said in a statement: “I am disappointed by the decision of the Thai military to suspend the constitution and take control of the government after a long period of political turmoil, and there is no justification for this military coup.”

He called for the release of detained senior political leaders of Thailand’s major parties, and voiced concern that media outlets have been shut down. He urged the immediate restoration of civilian government and a return to democracy.

After Thailand’s last military coup in 2006, the U.S. froze military assistance for a year-and-a-half until democracy was restored.

Under U.S. law, sanctions kick in if a country receiving American aid is judged to have undergone a coup. The Obama administration, however, did not make such a determination when a military takeover took place in Egypt, a country of strategic importance to Washington in the Middle East.

State Department spokeswoman Jen Psaki declined to compare the two cases, but said of the situation in Thailand: “We will be implementing it to the full letter of the law.”

Officials are now deliberating which aid to cut. Psaki told reporters up to $10 million in bilateral assistance from the department and the U.S. Agency for International Development and an undetermined amount from global and regional aid programs could be suspended.

She said the U.S. has been trying to make contact with Thai military leaders, and is working to maintain contact with the deposed civilian caretaker government.

Defense Department spokesman Col. Steve Warren said Thursday that the Pentagon was reviewing its military relationship with Thailand, including a military exercise that began Monday with about 700 Marines and sailors participating. He said officials are looking at various options, but no decisions have been made.

After the 2006 coup that toppled then-Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra, the U.S. took nine days before it announced its suspension of military aid, including funds for military sales, training of officers under the International Military Education and Training program, and funding for peacekeeping and counter-terrorism training.

According to a Congressional Research Service report, that response was seen as relatively mild. The suspended programs totaled more than $29 million. Some programs deemed to be in the U.S. interest continued.

Copyright 2014 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.

Don’t Settle for Student Loans to Pay for Online Education

By WTOP Staff
Online college programs are becoming a more popular choice for prospective students, with one study finding that more than 6 million students enrolled in at least one online course in fall 2015. The popularity of these courses can be attributed in part to their flexibility with working adults' schedules, students' ability to progress more quickly through online programs and, oftentimes, cheaper tuition. [See 10 low-cost online bachelor's programs for out-of-state students.]Online degrees can be beneficial to many college students, but some studies have shown online learners complete their programs at lower rates than students at traditional brick-and-mortar campuses. Individuals with student loans but no degree comprise two-thirds of defaulted borrowers. Though these numbers are not encouraging, just like for traditional programs, there are ways to reduce how much you'll need to borrow for an online program to ensure you won't become one of these statistics. Don't just settle on borrowing student loans to cover the whole cost of your program and living expenses. Instead, start thinking about how to cut costs and cover your balance in different ways, such as the following. -- Grants and scholarships: Even though you are taking an online course, you can still apply and receive grants and scholarships. But your first step should be to complete the Free Application for Federal Student Aid, commonly referred to as the FAFSA, which will allow you to receive a Pell Grant if your expected family contribution is low enough. The EFC criteria and award amounts are adjusted annually, but the 2017-2018 academic year awards range from $606 to $5,920, which could significantly lower the amount you borrow annually. Your next step is to apply for scholarships. You can start by checking online scholarship search engines, such as the Salt Scholarship Search, College Board's BigFuture and Peterson's. But don't forget to take advantage of local organizations and your school's financial aid office. Both may offer scholarships that you can't find with a national scholarship search. [Review these 10 sites to kick off your scholarship search.]For instance, organizations like the Elks Club, Knights of Columbus or the Rotary Club typically offer scholarships annually to local students. Just because you're going to school online doesn't mean you're ineligible. Visit your local library for scholarship listings, and ask around town. You might be surprised how many local organizations offer scholarships. While these scholarships typically aren't large, every little bit counts. Each dollar you receive in a scholarship is a dollar you don't have to borrow and pay interest on. -- Work-study: Another option for online students may be work-study awards. Not all students enrolled in online programs are eligible, but students at some schools -- including, for example, SUNY Empire State College and Liberty University -- are. Work-study awards are not given upfront like scholarships and grants. In most cases, they are an offer to earn up to the awarded amount if you secure an eligible work-study job. While there is a misconception that all work-study jobs must be on campus, students can work for off-campus, nonprofit or public employers as long as the work is in the public's interest. You may be able to work for a for-profit employer if the job is relevant to your course of study. No matter who the outside employer is, it will need to have an established agreement with your college for you to receive work-study funds. Remember, to be eligible for federal financial aid, you must be enrolled and pursuing a degree or certificate. If you're not working toward a credential, Pell Grants and work-study won't be option, but you may still be able to take advantage of private scholarships -- just be sure to read the eligibility criteria carefully. [Explore what to know about financial aid in online programs.]-- Pay as you go: One of the great benefits to enrolling online is the flexible schedule, which can allow you to complete your college coursework around your responsibilities. But prospective students often overlook using their part- or full-time job earnings as an option for paying for college. Almost 80 percent of college students in 2015 worked at least part time while attending classes, according to the National Center for Education Statistics. By budgeting and thinking strategically about your college costs, you can likely reduce your dependence on student loans by paying a portion out of pocket. Many -- but not all -- online programs are less expensive than traditional programs and often have shorter payment periods. Six, eight or 10 weeks are common course durations. Because of the frequency of payments in an online setting, you may be well-placed to pay as you go and possibly avoid borrowing altogether. Attending college online and avoiding student loans may be challenging, but if you are willing to put in the effort, you can limit the amount you need to borrow. More from U.S. News Q&A: Understanding Student Loan Discharge Eligibility Student Loan Refinancing Isn't Right for All Borrowers
Read Next Story

Related News

Frustration grows in Venezuela as earthquake death toll reaches 1,430

Israel and Lebanon sign framework agreement with US in ‘first step’ toward peace, Rubio says

Trump-endorsed populist poised to become Colombia’s next president as rival challenges vote