THAILAND COUP: IMPLEMENTING SANCTIONS

C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 02 BANGKOK 005799

SIPDIS

SIPDIS

DEPARTMENT FOR F, P, EAP
OSD FOR DASD/ISA
NSC FOR WILDER
PACOM FOR J00 AND FPA HUSO

E.O. 12958: DECL: 09/20/2021
TAGS: PREL PGOV MARR MASS EAID KDEM PHUM TH
SUBJECT: THAILAND COUP: IMPLEMENTING SANCTIONS

Classified By: Ambassador Ralph L. Boyce. Reason 1.4 (a and d)


1. (C) Summary. The September 19 military coup in Thailand
clearly appears to mandate implementation of sanctions under
Section 508 of the Foreign Operations Appropriations Act.
Subject to legal exemptions for programs such as the Peace
Corps, or those aimed at providing disaster assistance,
HIV/AIDS programs and other programs not benefiting the
military, Post supports the immediate suspension of
obligations or expenditures of funds under programs such as
International Military Education and Training (IMET),Foreign
Military Financing (FMF),the Economic Support Fund (ESF),
International Narcotics Control and Law Enforcement (INL),
and others until the President determines and certifies to
Congress that a democratically elected government has taken
office. Post further proposes that those military programs
that are similar to initiatives subject to Section 508, but
not part of the Foreign Operations Act, also be suspended
until the installation of an acceptable interim civilian
caretaker government. These programs would include our
comprehensive military exercise program, and programs already
funded for maritime security under Section 1206 of the
National Defense Authorization Act of 2006. Although these
additional sanctions might only be in place for a brief
period, they will give the United States a useful tool to
prod the military-led Council for Democratic Reform under the
Constitutional Monarchy (CDRM) to take necessary intermediate
steps resulting in a freely elected civilian government. The
first such step -- appointment of an interim civilian
government -- could take place in the next couple of weeks.
We believe that an official statement issued in Washington on
September 20 announcing that the United States is imposing
sanctions, to include the suspension of IMET and FMF, will
demonstrate our resolve to the CDRM. End Summary.

SECTION 508 SHOULD BE APPLIED


2. (C) This message is designed to assist Washington policy
makers in assessing the implications of Section 508 to the
coup situation in Thailand. Post fully expects and supports
a determination that 508 sanctions apply. Embassy Sections
are compiling data outlining the programs likely to be
affected. Among these are our IMET and FMF programs and law
enforcement programs funded by INL, ATA and others. We
understand that notwithstanding authority exists to shield
some programs, including the Peace Corps, Overseas Foreign
Disaster Assistance, USAID Operating Expenses, HIV/AIDS
programs, child survival programs and others from 508 and
that those programs in Thailand would likely not be
suspended. Post seeks guidance on whether regional programs
funded by INL and implemented by the International Law
Enforcement Academy (ILEA) would be subject to 508. (NOTE:
Most regional programs at ILEA include about 10 percent Thai
students with the remaining students coming from about a
dozen other countries. Post understands that there may be a
508 exemption for programs that benefit Thailand as part of a
larger regional activity. END NOTE).

CONSIDERATION FOR IMET


3. (C) Effective immediately, we have stopped sending Thai
soldiers to the United States on IMET programs. We
understand that Washington has leeway in determining whether
the suspension of IMET will necessitate that Thai soldiers
already in training programs in the United States must be
immediately withdrawn and sent back to Thailand. If
possible, we ask that students already in programs be allowed
to complete their course work. Although not subject to 508,
we likewise propose that no new Thai students be admitted to
the U.S. Service Academies until 508 sanctions are lifted but
request that students already enrolled at those schools be
allowed to complete their studies. Additionally, attendees
already enrolled in Counterterrorism Fellowship
Program-funded courses should continue until completion of
their course but Thai participation in future courses will be
suspended.


BANGKOK 00005799 002 OF 002


GOING BEYOND 508


4. (C) It will likely be months before Thailand will have a
democratically elected government and we can lift 508
sanctions. In order to give us intermediate measures to
encourage the Thai to respect democratic norms, we propose
also suspending other military programs, the suspension of
which will not jeopardize vital U.S. national interests,
until the Thai install an acceptable interim civilian
caretaker government. As part of these additional sanctions,
we propose notifying the Thai that we will stop all planning
and execution of military exercises, including Cobra Gold,
until an acceptable civilian transition government is in
place. Although these sanctions would place a tremendous
burden on exercise planners who are shaping Cobra Gold 07,
Cope Tiger, CARAT and other major exercises, we believe
flexible sanctions that can be removed prior to the lifting
of 508 sanctions will provide us with appropriate interim
measures to demonstrate to the Thai military the consequences
of their actions. As part of this collection of sanctions,
we propose suspending the implementation of regional maritime
security programs authorized by Section 1206 of the National
Defense Authorization Act of 2006. We hope that the CDRM
will quickly install an acceptable interim civilian
government that would allow us to remove these secondary
sanctions.

PROGRAMS WE WANT TO SHIELD


5. (C) Some of our security assistance programs in Thailand
are vitally important to U.S. interests. Included among
these are the Personal Identification Secure Comparison and
Evaluation System (PISCES) being implemented at Thai ports of
entry to monitor travelers entering and exiting the country,
the U.S. Military Information Support Team (MIST) with Civil
Affairs augmentation developing a psyops strategy for Thai
soldiers countering insurgents in Southern Thailand, and
discreet bilateral training to assist Thai soldiers rotating
to the South to identify and disarm IEDs. We believe that
these benign and non-lethal programs, which we understand are
not subject to 508, should be exempt from any sanctions we
impose and request Washington concurrence. The Global Peace
Operations Initiative (GPOI) is another program we should
continue to support, as Thailand is scheduled to host the
GPOI CAPSTONE event in May 2007, with participation from five
other countries.

A CLEAR STATEMENT ON SANCTIONS


6. (C) Post is compiling a more comprehensive list of
programs likely subject to 508 and secondary sanctions to
assist decision makers in Washington analyze the probable
impact of sanctions. While recognizing the difficulty
associated with approving sanctions, Post hopes Washington
can issue a clear statement on September 20 announcing that
the United States has suspended a number of security
assistance programs to Thailand in response to the coup
(Septel will provide Post's suggested language). Such a
statement, coupled with serious 508 sanctions that will not
be removed until the President can assure Congress that a
democratic government is in place -- and other sanctions that
can be removed once an acceptable interim civilian government
is in office -- will demonstrate U.S. commitment to a return
to democracy in Thailand.
BOYCE