Identifier | Created | Classification | Origin |
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06BANGKOK4373 | 2006-07-20 09:57:00 | CONFIDENTIAL | Embassy Bangkok |
1. (C) Summary. The liar's poker of Thai politics heated up this week, with Army Chief Sonthi Boonyaratglin ordering his own reshuffle of lower-level officers and Thaksin's caretaker government preparing to shift around senior civil servants. Speculation over possible senior-level defections from Thaksin's Thai Rak Thai (TRT) party continues. The PM took to the hustings to energize his grassroots base. The King will undergo spinal surgery the evening of July 20. End Summary. YOU WANNA SHUFFLE? LET'S SHUFFLE BIG BOY! -------------------------- 2. (C) In an apparent response to rumors that Thaksin was looking to push him out of his current job (ref), Army Chief Sonthi Boonyaratglin released an order on July 17 shifting 129 officers at the Colonel and lower levels out of sensitive positions in and around Bangkok. Many of these officers serve in combat units commanded by Thaksin's classmates from pre-cadet academy Class 10. Sonthi told reporters on July 19 that this reshuffle was free of political interference and under his authority alone. (Note. Most transfers at this level take place in December. End Note.) Thaksin repeated this line with reporters on July 20, saying that the transfers were "an internal affair...of the Army." Coming on the heels of recent coup rumors (ref), Sonthi's move has attracted a lot of attention. According to the English language Nation newspaper (no fan of the PM's), when asked about recent coup rumors "Thaksin appeared moody and replied: 'Your question is unconstructive.'" 3. (C) One Embassy military contact--in the "for what it's worth category"--believes that the cool and careful Sonthi would never have undertaken such a "provocative" move on his own. According to this same source, it was the Queen--no fan of Thaksin's--who directed the Army Chief to push back against the PM's cronies in the military. THAKSIN TRIES FOR A NEW DECK AT MINISTRIES -------------------------- 4. (C) Thaksin meanwhile, met with his cabinet on July 19 to discuss a reshuffle of senior civil servants, including Ministry Permanent Secretaries. According to press accounts, the PM intends to finalize the civil service list by October. Of these changes, the most high-profile has been the reported move of Somchai Wongsawat--the PM's brother-in-law--from the Ministry of Labor back to his original position in the Ministry of Justice. Conspiracy theorists have suggested that this move is designed to strengthen the PM's control over ongoing investigations of the opposition, deflect any investigations of Thaksin and his party, and prepare Somchai to take over the Justice Minister slot after new elections. Labor officials are reportedly overjoyed to see Somchai move on. BUT IS THE DINNER CROWD BLUFFING? -------------------------- 5. (C) Speculation about the dinner meeting of several cabinet ministers last Sunday--widely rumored as a pow-wow of ministers looking for an exit strategy from the Thaksin camp--continues to mount (ref). Those in attendance are publicly denying any conspiracy charges, instead claiming that the gathering at a local restaurant was merely a birthday dinner for Deputy Prime Minister and Commerce Minister Somkid Jatusripitak. Minister in the Office of the PM Suranand Vejjajiva--who has been rumored to be looking for a way out of the cabinet--told reporters that the meeting was a social occasion, but "naturally we had to discuss the political situation...were not going into a huddle to do anything." Press play of the meeting has prompted several other factions of the PM's Thai Rak Thai (TRT) party to make public pledges of allegiance to the besieged head of government. THAKSIN TALKS UP HIS ACES, ALL 80,000 OF 'EM -------------------------- BANGKOK 00004373 002 OF 002 6. (C) On July 18, Thaksin met with nearly 80,000 local-level village officials from around the country at a temple in Pathum Thani in ostensible celebration of the King's 60 year on the throne. The PM--who tried hard to not look like he was campaigning for the next election--told the officials that they, as representatives of the grass roots, are the foundation of TRT, and blamed the current crisis on those people in the opposition who fail to play by the rules. THE KING SITS THIS HAND OUT -------------------------- 7. (SBU) According to local press, the King will undergo surgery for his spinal condition (ref) the evening of July 20, and is expected to be in recovery for several days afterwards. "Get Well" books and messages have been placed at locations throughout the country. ARVIZU |