DEMARCHE DELIVERED: SPEAKING OUT ON GITMO AND

C O N F I D E N T I A L BANGKOK 005020 SIPDIS E.O. 12958: DECL: 08/04/2015 TAGS: PREL PTER PHUM PINR PINS TH SUBJECT: DEMARCHE DELIVERED: SPEAKING OUT ON GITMO AND DETAINEES REF: SECSTATE 142348 Classified By: Charge d'Affaires Alexander A. Arvizu for reasons 1.4 (b ) and (d) ¶1. (C) Upon receipt of reftel, Embassy has done the following: -- Incorporated talking points for possible use in relevant high-level meetings with senior RTG officials; -- Discussed main points with working level counterparts in the RTG (See para 2); -- Post also anticipates dissemination to the media of cleared fact-sheets or placeable op-eds as indicated in reftel. ¶2. (C) Poloff delivered reftel demarche to Mr. Peerasak Chantavarin, Director, Social Division of the Department of International Organizations (IO),MFA and Mr. Chakkrid Krachaiwong, First Secretary in the Department of American and South Pacific Affairs (AA),MFA. These officials specifically asked about how the USG dealt with American officers who had been found guilty of misconduct at Guantanamo. Chakkrid asked whether the US turned over detainees to be prosecuted in their countries of origin, and under which circumstances detainees could be tried in the United States. Several officials were also curious about the history and territorial status of the base at Guantanamo. Peerasak also mentioned that it was important not to let the controversy over Guantanamo be construed as the US "taking action" against Muslims. ARVIZU