EXCELLENT THAI-DPRK RELATIONS NOT SO USEFUL IN

C O N F I D E N T I A L BANGKOK 007184

SIPDIS

E.O. 12958: DECL: 11/18/2015
TAGS: PGOV PREL TH DPRK
SUBJECT: EXCELLENT THAI-DPRK RELATIONS NOT SO USEFUL IN
ABDUCTION CASE

REF: BANGKOK 005627

Classified By: POLITICAL COUNSELOR SUSAN M. SUTTON FOR REASON 1.4 (B,D)


1. (C) Summary. Allegations in a new book that North Korean
abducted a Thai woman working in Macao in 1978 have grabbed
local headlines and prompted Foreign Minister Kantathi to
pledge government efforts to return her to Thailand. Thai
officials, however, are finding their North Korean
counterparts less than helpful on the case, but this issue is
unlikely to derail Prime Minister Thaksin's planned visit to
Pyongyang next year. End Summary.

ALLEGED DPRK ABDUCTION OF THAI IN 1978
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2. (SBU) U.S. Army deserter and former North Korean resident
Charles Robert Jenkins' Japanese language book "Kokuhaku"
("To Tell the Truth") alleges that he knew a Thai woman who
had been abducted by DPRK authorities in the 1970's and
forced to marry a fellow U.S. Army deserter. This revelation
has grabbed local headlines (Note, the Nation newspaper has
run almost daily stories. End Note) and prompted pressure on
the RTG to make good on its broad pledge to protect Thai
citizens abroad.


3. (SBU) Based on Thai Embassy Tokyo's meetings with Jenkins
and a review of missing persons cases from the 1970's, Thai
officials believe that the woman in question is Anocha
Panjoy, a Thai national who went missing in 1978 shortly
after arriving in Macao to work. Her brother has been in
close contact with Thai authorities and Japanese NGO's
involved in the abduction issue.

SURPRISE! DPRK NOT SO HELPFUL
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4. (C) MFA officials told Poloff on 17 November that they
have met with North Korean diplomats to discuss this case,
but that the DPRK Embassy here denies having any knowledge of
Anocha. RTG officials are assiduously avoiding any
discussion of the "abduction," and in their dealing with the
North Koreans, refer to the issue as a "missing persons case"
so as not to offend their interlocutors. That said, Thai
officials are hoping that their repeated requests for further
information checks--in the form of daily phone calls to the
DPRK mission here--may yet produce some results. Given the
heavy press play, both the Foreign Minister and the Prime
Minister are personally interested in this case. When asked
if this issue could impede PM Thaksin's planned trip to
Pyongyang next year (ref) MFA officials said "not really."

COMMENT
--------------


5. (C) RTG officials make much of their "excellent relations"
with Pyongyang, often in an attempt to involve themselves in
such issues as the six-party talks. This case may highlight
how unhelpful the DPRK can be, even with "friends," but it
appears that this will not affect Thaksin's North Korea
policy.
BOYCE