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