Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
05BANGKOK2260
2005-03-30 11:21:00
CONFIDENTIAL
Embassy Bangkok
Cable title:  

THAILAND: AMBASSADOR'S MEETING WITH THE

Tags:  PREL PHUM TH BIO NRC 
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This record is a partial extract of the original cable. The full text of the original cable is not available.
C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 02 BANGKOK 002260 

SIPDIS

DEPARTMENT FOR EAP/BCLTV. HQ USPACOM FOR FPA (HUSO)

E.O. 12958: DECL: 03/30/2015
TAGS: PREL PHUM TH BIO NRC
SUBJECT: THAILAND: AMBASSADOR'S MEETING WITH THE
CHULARATCHAMONTRI


Classified By: Ambassador Ralph L. Boyce, Reason: 1.4 (d)

C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 02 BANGKOK 002260

SIPDIS

DEPARTMENT FOR EAP/BCLTV. HQ USPACOM FOR FPA (HUSO)

E.O. 12958: DECL: 03/30/2015
TAGS: PREL PHUM TH BIO NRC
SUBJECT: THAILAND: AMBASSADOR'S MEETING WITH THE
CHULARATCHAMONTRI


Classified By: Ambassador Ralph L. Boyce, Reason: 1.4 (d)


1. (U) SUMMARY: During the Ambassador's March 28 courtesy
call on the leader of Thailand's official Islamic community,
the Chularatchamontri stated his support for the National
Reconciliation Commission (NRC) headed by former Prime
Minister Anand Panyarachun. The 89-year-old Muslim cleric
expressed his wish to visit the U.S. with members of his
Central Islamic Committee in an effort to support and reach
out to "moderate Islam." END SUMMARY


2. (U) Born Sawat Sumanyasak on January 27, 1916, the
Chularatchamontri is the 15th Muslim cleric to assume his
position, which dates back nearly 400 years to the Ayuddhya
period. The Chularatchamontri (or Sheikul Islam in Arabic)
is selected by the 45-member Central Islamic Committee and
appointed for life. On March 28, the Ambassador and
notetaker traveled one hour to the Office of the
Chularatchamontri, which is located on a compound on the
outskirts of eastern Bangkok, nearly surrounded by rice
fields. The Muslim leader's 20-acre complex (on land donated
by the Royal Crown Property Bureau) houses a large golden
mosque, offices for a staff of 50 and a sports stadium.


3. (U) The leader of Thailand's six million Muslims received
the Ambassador in a traditional Muslim turban and dressed in
a long white garment with a black robe adorned with a single
row of military-like rank insignia. He appeared lively and
at ease and opened the meeting by expressing delight that the
Ambassador had come to meet him. He noted that he was aware
from reports on presentation of credentials to the King when
new ambassadors arrived to Thailand, but few had come to
visit him.


4. (C) While the Chularatchamontri needed some assistance to
walk and to get up and down, his wit and intellect clearly
are unaffected by his advanced years. After the Ambassador
noted his various postings including his most recent
experience in Indonesia, the Chularatchamontri commented he
had traveled extensively, including most of Europe and even
to Egypt, "which is better than Napoleon could manage." He
then went on to tell a joke ending with a racy double

entendre.


5. (SBU) The Chularatchmontri noted the support that the
Muslim community has received over the years from the entire
Thai Royal family. (Note: The Ambassador noted he was going
to meet later that day with Princess Chulabhorn and the
Chularatchamontri asked the Ambassador to send special warm
regards to her. End note.) Expressing his desire to visit
the U.S., the Chularatchamontri and the Director of his
Office, Dr. Niran Pantharakit, suggested that a 10 member
delegation from the Thai Central Islamic Committee would be
interested in meeting with U.S. Muslim leaders. They are
particularly interested in forging ties between Thai Muslim
youth and U.S. Muslim youth groups.


6. (U) The Ambassador mentioned the visit of the Indonesian
Muslim leader, Ahmed Hasyim Muzadi, Chairman of Nahdlutl
Ulamu (NU),one of the world's largest Muslim organizations
(Septel). They discussed the Ambassador's experiences in
Indonesia and Embassy Jakarta's efforts to support moderate
Muslim academics.


7. (SBU) The Ambassador expressed his concern over the
increasing violence and social strife in the southern
provinces of Narathiwat, Pattani and Yala. The
Chularatchamontri commented, "We are taking the wrong
medicine for the disease that ails us." He alluded to
government efforts in the south as "medicine for a headache
(e.g. aspirin),"while the patient is suffering from a
stomach ache."


8. (C) On the issue of the newly formed National
Reconciliation Commission (NRC),headed by former Prime
Minister Anand Panyarachun (Septel),the Chularatchamontri
expressed confidence in Anand but was noncommittal about how
the NRC might move to alleviate the violence. (Note: In a
later conversation with Poloff, Dr. Narin revealed that the
Chularatchamontri had not been consulted directly about the
composition of the NRC. No members of the Central Islamic
Committee were chosen for the NRC. Dr. Narin had no
explanation for this apparent slight and queried Poloff about
details on the NRC appointment process and possible
membership. End Note.)


9. (SBU) The Chularatchmontri then said that some observers
have cited language as one of the main causes of problems
with Muslims in the South by pointing out that many southern
Muslims don't speak the central Thai language used throughout
the country and that most local officials (who are appointed
by Bangkok) don't speak the local Malay dialect. But the
Chularatchamontri rebutted this thesis, explaining that many
different ethnic groups in Thailand don't speak central Thai
as their native language, including Khmer speakers in the
Northeast, Karen speakers in the North and Chinese speakers
throughout the country. He also dismissed the notion by some
that the cause of separatist uprising is based partly on the
fact that Islam in Thailand is an "imported" religion. He
noted that all the other major religions in Thailand --
Buddhism, Hinduism, and Christianity -- are "imports." He
also asserted a strong local media bias against the Muslim
community, citing the example of newscasters referring to
separatists in the south as "Muslim bandits", when actually
the south was well known for criminal activity by bandits of
many races and religions, not just Muslims.


10. (C) Lastly, the Ambassador stated that he had no plans in
the immediate future to visit the far South. The Muslim
leader agreed that for the time being it was best not pursue
an Ambassadorial visit and thus cause unnecessary concerns
about U.S. involvement in the South.


11. (C) COMMENT: This initial encounter with the
octogenarian leader of Thai Muslims proved congenial, though
short on substance. We intend to explore the possibility of
facilitating a visit by him and members of the Central
Islamic Committee to the U.S. END COMMENT.

BOYCE