THAILAND POLITICAL UPDATE: EXPLOSION NEAR PRIVY

C O N F I D E N T I A L BANGKOK 001470

SIPDIS

E.O. 12958: DECL: 03/09/2016
TAGS: PGOV TH TRT SNAP
SUBJECT: THAILAND POLITICAL UPDATE: EXPLOSION NEAR PRIVY
COUNCILLOR'S RESIDENCE; DEMONSTRATION AT THE SINGAPORE
EMBASSY

REF: BANGKOK 1445 AND PREVIOUS

Classified By: AMBASSADOR RALPH BOYCE. REASON: 1.4 (D)


1. (U) Summary: An explosion at a police box near the
residence of Privy Council Chairman General Prem Tinsulanonda
on March 9 afternoon has reportedly injured two persons. No
motive or suspects have been found at this point. Privy
Councillor General Surayud Chulanont on March 8 called for
Thaksin and his opponents to establish a dialogue in order to
end the current political turmoil. The anti-Thaksin People's
Alliance for Democracy (PAD) mounted peaceful demonstrations
at the Singapore Embassy and the Thai Stock Exchange office.
End summary.

EXPLOSION NEAR PREM'S HOUSE


2. (U) An explosion at an unoccupied police box near the
residence of Privy Council Chairman General Prem Tinsulanonda
on March 9 afternoon reportedly injured two persons. Police
sources tell us that the booth was not dedicated to security
for General Prem and had not been used for a year. Those
injured are believed to have been passersby. No motive or
suspects have been found at this point.

PRIVY COUNCIL MEMBER URGES DIALOGUE


3. (U) On March 8, Privy Councillor and former armed forces
Supreme Commander General Surayud Chulanont issued a call for
Prime Minister Thaksin and his opponents to sit down and find
a solution to the current impasse. Surayud said that he
supported Police Spokesman Pol. Gen. Achirawit Suwanphesat's
earlier call (Bangkok 1445) for both sides to reconsider
their stances.

DEMOCRATS TIRED, BUT STILL FIGHTING


4. (SBU) At a dinner at the Ambassador's residence for
visiting DAS John on March 8, several members of the
boycotting Democrat Party discussed the political situation.
They focused on the bubbling resentment over the PM's Shin
Corp deal, insisting that their research had uncovered
violations of law that were not being addressed in the legal
system due to the PM's abuse of power. We asked one whether
he really thought that these highly technical accusations
would have much resonance with the voting public. He agreed
that these might be "technicalities" but said they were worth
pursuing. "They got Al Capone on a technicality."


5. (C) Meanwhile, another Thai guest challenged the Democrats
to articulate what they stood for -- besides being against
Thaksin. The Democrat responded, "We won't be populist."
(Comment: thus demonstrating the mostly negative nature of
their party position. End Comment.) More substantively,
they discussed the problems with some of TRT's most popular
programs. The 30-Baht health program allows anyone to visit
a government health facility and pay only 30 baht (75 cents)
per visit. The Democrats argue that this is unsustainable
and the benefit should be limited to the really needy. They
criticized the village investment funds, the "million cow
program" and other government give-aways as patronizing to
the rural public, and an economic dead end that keeps them
dependent on government handouts rather than providing real
income growth. They also agreed, however, that their party
had done a very poor job in the last election articulating
their platform.

DEMONSTRATORS MARCH ON SINGAPORE EMBASSY AND STOCK EXCHANGE
OFFICE


6. (U) On March 9 a crowd of about 800 demonstrators
marched on the Singapore Embassy and later to the Stock
Exchange of Thailand (SET) office. This was far less than
the "thousands" promised by PAD earlier in the week. The
Singapore Embassy told us that the crowd was peaceful.
Outside the SET office across from the American Embassy, the
demonstrators heard anti-Temasek sale speeches and chanted
anti-Thaksin slogans.
BOYCE