WANG BINGZHANG: THAI POLICE FOUND ENOUGH TO EXPEL

S E C R E T SECTION 01 OF 02 BANGKOK 002359 SIPDIS SIPDIS DEPT FOR EAP/MLS AND EAP/CM E.O. 12958: DECL: 04/25/2016 TAGS: PHUM PREL PGOV KIRF CH TH HUMAN RIGHTS SUBJECT: WANG BINGZHANG: THAI POLICE FOUND ENOUGH TO EXPEL HIM REF: 03 BEIJING 02095 AND PREVIOUS Classified By: Political Counselor Susan M. Sutton for 1.4 (b) (c) and (d) ¶1. (S) Summary: Poloff recently met with Police Colonel Sanya Thongbud of Royal Thai Police (RTP) Special Branch II to discuss the 2001 investigation of Chinese dissident Mr. Wang Bingzhang (see Reftel) and verify claims made by a human rights advocate from the NGO Worldrights. Sanya revealed that, despite finding no evidence that Wang was involved in operational planning to bomb the Chinese Embassy in Bangkok, his investigation uncovered enough to convince the RTP to expel Wang from Thailand and prohibit his reentry to the Kingdom. Sanya also spoke openly about the conduct and methods used by PRC officials in their efforts to get at suspected Chinese dissents in Thailand and neighboring countries. End Summary. (S) The Case Against Wang and Worldright's Selective Listening -------------- -------------- ¶2. (C) On April 18, 2006, Poloff met with Police Colonel Sanya Thongbud to verify information provided by human rights NGO Worldrights. Sanya led an investigation into Wang's activities in Thailand in 2001 at the request of the Chinese Embassy. According to Worldrights, during a meeting in March 2005, Sanya stated his investigation uncovered "no involvement by him (Wang) or any other evidence that he was involved in any terrorist activities against the Chinese Embassy." As such, Worldrights sought US Embassy assistance in requesting a written statement from the RTP which the organization could use in its defense of Wang who is currently incarcerated in China. ¶3. (S) Sanya began by stating that the Worldrights representative had a clear agenda and selectively listened during the March 2005 meeting. Sanya agreed that his investigation of Wang did not uncover any operational plans to attack the Chinese Embassy in Bangkok. However, Sanya said that he did find, in Wang's possession, a 10-page letter that Sanya referred to as "a functional, administrative plan to attack China and seize power." According to Sanya, the plan was written in Chinese, signed by Wang Bingzhang, and addressed to the Minister of Defense of Taiwan. Sanya said Wang denied that the letter belonged to him. Poloff asked to see the letter, and Sanya said that he would need to search his files because he recently moved to a new office and has yet to unpack his files. (S) Wang PNG'ed from Thailand - But to Protect Whom? -------------- -------------- ¶4. (S) Sanya said that, based on the findings of his investigation, the RTP did not have sufficient evidence to charge Wang with a crime. Nonetheless, due to the evidence that Wang was engaged in what Sanya termed "administrative planning to attack and seize control of China," the RTP did not want Wang to remain in Thailand. The police deported Wang and, according to Sanya, placed his name on a list of persons prohibited from entering the Kingdom. Sanya said the decision to deport Wang was made to protect both Wang and the reputation of RTP. ¶5. (S) Sanya reported that PRC officials in Bangkok were actively pressuring the RTP to "deliver" Wang to them. Sanya implied that he knew what this meant and that he did not want the RTP to be a party to such an action. To solve this dilemma, and rid the RTP of an unwanted problem, Wang was deported even though he had committed no punishable offense in Thailand. (S) Chinese Purchasing Power -------------- ¶6. (S) Sanya provided unsolicited commentary about his experience in dealings with PRC officials in Thailand. He said that PRC officials often approach RTP contacts to request assistance in locating (and sometimes "delivering") individuals who they believe to be in Thailand. He said that members of certain branches of the RTP (and other Thai security forces) routinely accept cash payments for assisting Chinese officials to locate persons of interest to the PRC. Sanya stated that, after locating the sought individual, the corrupt Thai official will turn a blind eye to whatever might happen next. Sanya insisted that he was not a party to any such activity. He stated that he did not want himself or the RTP to be a tool for the political agenda of other nations or interests. He further reported that the Chinese were particularly frustrated with him for not "delivering" Wang. He claimed that the Chinese complained to him that working with the Thai is exceedingly difficult and that it is much easier in Vietnam and Cambodia where they can simply lay out a small sum of cash and get what/who they want. ¶7. (S) COMMENT: Based on Poloff's conversation with Col. Sanya, it would appear that Worldrights is only reporting half of the story. Following their March 2005 meeting with Col. Sanya, Worldrights made public assertions that the RTP refuted Chinese claims of Wang's involvement in "a plan to bomb the Chinese Embassy." Sanya confirms that this much is true, but it does not represent the full picture. Sanya said that he is willing to provide written answers to our questions regarding his investigation if Post channels a request through MFA. In light of U.S. Congressional interest in this case from the office of Senator Herb Kohl, we plan to pursue obtaining a written statement from the RTP. However, based on the information provided by Col. Sanya, it may be difficult for the RTP to provide any new details that will actually be of use to Wang. ARVIZU