"UNCLE SAM, I'M BEING BULLIED!"

C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 02 BANGKOK 004181

SIPDIS

SIPDIS

DEPT FOR EAP/MLS;
NSC FOR HOLLY MORROW

E.O. 12958: DECL: 07/12/2016
TAGS: PGOV PREL PHUM TH
SUBJECT: "UNCLE SAM, I'M BEING BULLIED!"

REF: A. THAKSIN'S JUNE 23 LETTER TO PRESIDENT BUSH


B. PRESIDENT BUSH'S JULY 3 RESPONSE LETTER TO THAKSIN

C. BANGKOK 3916

Classified By: Charge d'Affairs Alex A. Arvizu, Reason 1.4 (b) (d)


1. (C) SUMMARY: Over the past few days, the Thai media has
widely reported on and printed copies of the exchange of
letters between caretaker PM Thaksin Shinawatra and President
Bush (ref letters). While the President's letter to Thaksin
is regarded as uncontroversial and indeed has been praised by
some of our contacts, criticism of the PM ranges from a mild
"cry baby" label to accusations that he has "sold out
national sovereignty." Separately, the People's Alliance for
Democracy (PAD) announced that they are canceling the mass
demonstration scheduled for Friday at Sanam Luang, instead
opting to march to six different embassies (including the US)
to present open letters to foreign leaders "explaining the
current political situation in Thailand." End summary.


LETTER OF SHAME
--------------


2. (C) News of the controversial exchange of letters between
caretaker PM Thaksin and President Bush was first disclosed
by caretaker senator Kraisak Chunhavan on July 7. Kraisak
accused Thaksin of repeating attacks on "charismatic" figures
close to the King in his letter. On July 12, the letters
were published by the Matichon newspaper (the result,
apparently, of a leak from the MFA),and was quickly picked
up by all Thai media outlets. President Bush's letter has
been generally well-received, and in fact has been praised by
some Embassy contacts. The line "the Thai people are
resilient and the Thai democracy is strong" was covered in
most newspapers. Surin Pitsuwan, a leader from the
opposition Democrat Party told poloff the President's letter
was "a proper response to Thaksin's." However, the Thai
media has lashed out against Thaksin, calling his letters to
President Bush (and other world and Asian leaders) "shameful"
and "embarrassing to himself and the nation". A former Thai
ambassador (presumably Kasit Piromyo) reportedly commented
that Thaksin has "compromised the Kingdom's sovereignty" when
he "took domestic issues into the international arena". Thai
web blogs are also calling him a "cry baby" and a hypocrite
for his prior "condemnation of American influence in other
nations' domestic affairs". A comic in Thai newspaper
"Krungthep Thurakit" (Bangkok Business) yesterday portrayed
Thaksin sitting like a dog with a letter in his mouth while
President Bush pets him on the head, saying "Oh my...good
boy..."


WE HAVE LETTERS, TOO!
--------------


3. (C) Reportedly taking the King's health into
consideration (Note: The King fell while walking on Palace
grounds on June 24. End note.),the PAD announced that they
are canceling their planned demonstration on July 14, where
they hoped to draw tens of thousands of supporters to march
on Government House. Instead, the PAD will march to six
different embassies - China, Russia, France, Japan, Great
Britain, and the United States - to present open letters to
explain "the real political situation in Thailand." Sondhi
promised that demonstrations at Sanam Luang will resume after
the King's health improves.


COMMENTS - A CLOSE CALL
--------------


4. (C) The decision by Government House/MFA to release the
texts of Thaksin's letters to the President, and the
President's response, was probably a mistake. The letters
were leaked to the press ostensibly to refute the accusation
that Thaksin had referred to "a charismatic figure" in his
communication to the White House. There was no such
reference, of course, but the petulant tone of Thaksin's
letters strike many Thais as undignified, and have provided
more ammunition to his opponents. The postponement of the
PAD's demonstrations may put off political pressure a while
longer for the embattled caretaker PM, but it's only a matter

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of time before they try again. End comment.
ARVIZU