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US President George W Bush's visit to Thailand comes at a trying time for the Kingdom. Bush will deliver a "comprehensive" policy speech, in which he will discuss the importance of American engagement in Asia. For the American president, who has focused much of his foreign policy on the Middle East, Asia is an area where relations can be strengthened. Though American ties with South Korea remain strong, relations with China have been colder and more pragmatic - America has engaged Beijing, but not at the expense of Tibet or other long-standing sticky issues.

To illustrate his concerns for the plight of the Burmese people, Bush is also expected to meet with Burmese exiles and human-rights activists. First Lady Laura Bush is scheduled to visit a border clinic run by well-known Karen refugee Dr Cynthia Maung.

It is hoped that Bush's engagement on the Burmese issue, and his example could influence apathetic Thai leaders and officials to act on the issue of Burmese refugees, workers and human-rights activists. More than 1 million people from Burma are working in Thailand, taking up jobs that Thais do not want. Along the way, their cheap labour is helping this country prosper - a fact very few Thais seem to fully appreciate.

Bush will also discuss the strong, 175-year-old Thai-US bilateral ties during his visit.

Thai-US relations have not always been that rosy, however, especially during the early years of Thaksin Shinawatra.

In early 2003, Thailand was placed under an unwanted spotlight in the US Congress because of its dealings with the Burmese junta and its own domestic human-rights violations. The bloody three-month "War on Drugs" nearly caused a break in the two countries' ties, as US legislation required Washington to cut ties with any security agency charged with carrying out systematic extrajudicial or targeted killings of its citizens. Nearly 3,000 people - so-called drug-pushers and dealers - were killed under questionable circumstances. Thaksin's refusal to take a clear and meaningful position in the aftermath of the September 11, 2001 terrorist attacks on the US also strained bilateral relations. These problems were patched up when Bangkok agreed to dispatch troops to Afghanistan and Iraq as part of US-led coalitions.

Without a doubt, Bush's visit comes at a very complicated moment, as street protesters continue to take on democratically elected leaders with questionable priorities.

One can only hope that Bush will not let Thailand's commitment to the US-led global war on terrorism soften his stance on Thailand's stated position on Burma and other human-rights issues.

During a recent interview with The Nation, the US president called Thailand a "long-time friend" with "common values".

But as a friend with common values, Bush should appreciate the fact that the Kingdom is currently going through a very difficult moment in its post-Cold War history.

During the Cold War, democracy and liberty took a backseat to security. With the 1997 constitution, there were high hopes for change, but they, too, were trampled on by a military coup a decade later.

Over the past five years, the Thai people have watched as their democratic institutions have been ripped apart by a political elite with selfish interests, not to mention the self-proclaimed military heroes whose self-serving attitude make them no better than the civilian leaders. Bush will have to understand that for Thailand, a relatively free and fair election under the banner of democracy is not necessarily a cure.

We are living in a very complicated time. Our citizens are doing some serious soul-searching. A sizeable portion of the population is itching to bash the heads of those who disagreed with them. America need not be a referee for the Thai people. But it can, however, help its friend in need.

Bush will have to seriously engage Thailand as the country picks up the pieces and restores its democratic institutions and mechanisms.