CONSERVATIVE JURIST BECOMES PRESIDENT OF THAI

C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 02 BANGKOK 006478

SIPDIS

SIPDIS

E.O. 12958: DECL: 10/25/2016
TAGS: PGOV PHUM KDEM TH
SUBJECT: CONSERVATIVE JURIST BECOMES PRESIDENT OF THAI
LEGISLATURE


Classified By: Political Officer David R. Greenberg, reason: 1.4 (b) an
d (d).

SUMMARY
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1. (C) The National Legislative Assembly (NLA) on October 24
elected conservative jurist Meechai Ruchupan as its
President, despite widely publicized criticism of Meechai for
various reasons, including his association with deposed Prime
Minister Thaksin and with the military coup leaders in 1991.
The Thai Rak Thai party's Acting Leader predicted Meechai's
election will lead to further friction with activists,
particularly People's Alliance for Democracy (PAD) leader
Sondhi Limthongkul. While the interim constitution provides
that the NLA carries out all legislative functions, it is
unclear whether the NLA will seek to pass a wide range of
laws. Irrespective of who holds the NLA presidency, a
genuine system of checks and balances will have to wait until
the next constitution and elections. End Summary.

MEECHAI IN A LANDSLIDE
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2. (C) In an October 24 vote for the presidency of the NLA,
NLA members chose Meechai by an overwhelming margin; Meechai
won 167 votes, compared with 47 for his closest competitor,
Prasong Soonsiri. The vote took place after days of vocal
criticism of Meechai's candidacy by NGOs and civil society
groups. These critics noted Meechai's involvement in
drafting the interim constitution issued by the Council for
Democratic Reform, which staged the September 19 coup. He
also was involved in drafting the interim constitution
following the 1991 coup by the National Peace Keeping Council
(NPKC),as well as significant orders and announcements
issued by the NPKC. Meechai played a pivotal role in the
issuance of the 1992 Emergency Decree on Amnesty, following a
violent crackdown by the security forces against protesters
in May 1992. He also was criticized for having worked on
Thaksin's behalf in recent years; some in civil society see
Meechai as lacking principles, because he has used his legal
talents to assist anyone in a position of power.


3. (SBU) Because of Meechai's background, NGOs complained
that, if he became Assembly President, the NLA would not be
independent and would not serve as a proper check on the
power of the interim administration. Meechai's supporters,
on the other hand, cited his reputation as one of Thailand's
foremost legal figures, and his prior service as Speaker of
the Senate. The Thai-language press coverage of Meechai's
victory was mixed, with some newspapers denouncing the vote
as having been rigged by the coup leaders.

THAI RAK THAI LEADER WARNS OF CONFLICT
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4. (C) In an October 24 lunch with the Ambassador and EAP DAS
John (septel),Thai Rak Thai Acting Leader Chaturon Chaiseng,
on hearing of Meechai's election, said this development
portended further conflict between the CNS and activists,
especially People's Alliance for Democracy top figure Sondhi
Limthongkul. Chaturon noted that Sondhi had backed Prasong
Soonsiri (himself a highly controversial figure) in the
contest for the NLA presidency; Sondhi also had requested
assistance (NFI) from the Council for National Security (CNS)
and failed to receive it, Chaturon claimed. (Note: According
to press reports, approximately 100 people held a protest
outside the NLA at mid-day on October 24, criticizing the
body as a rubber stamp and also denouncing "the dictators who
robbed democracy and tore down the constitution." Media
reports identified the demonstrators as part of a loose
network against the September 19 coup. End Note.)

NLA ROLE REMAINS UNCLEAR
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5. (SBU) The interim constitution provides that the NLA
performs the functions traditionally assigned to both houses
of the National Assembly. It remains unclear whether the NLA
will actively seek to pass new legislation, or whether most
initiatives will be suspended for the duration of the interim
administration. However, the NLA will have to establish the

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legal framework for the next election, within the parameters
established by the next constitution. The interim
constitution allows only the cabinet -- not NLA members -- to
introduce legislation related to financial matters, including
taxation and the allocation of state funds. The interim
constitution provides that NLA members may interpellate
cabinet ministers, but ministers may refuse to answer
questions if they believe it would be inappropriate to
discuss matters pertaining to national security or vital
national interests. The interim constitution prohibits the
NLA from passing a no-confidence vote pertaining to members
of the cabinet.

COMMENT
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6. (C) Meechai's selection as NLA President runs the risk of
alienating the NGO/civil society groups who initially
accepted the coup, but which are growing more concerned about
the way the CNS is handling the transition back to democratic
government. Meechai's main rival in the race, Prasong
Soonsiri, was also closely associated with the CNS. No
matter who became NLA President, it was clear all along that
a genuine system of checks and balances will have to await
the outcome of the next constitution and elections. End
Comment.

BIO NOTES
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7. (SBU) Meechai Ruchupan, born in February 1938, studied law
at Thammasat University in Bangkok and also received a
Master's degree from Southern Methodist University. After
years of working as a government legal advisor, he became a
member of parliament in the mid-1970s. He served as Minister
Attached to the Prime Minister's Office in several cabinets
formed by Prime Minister Prem Tinsulanonda in the 1980s. He
also held cabinet positions under Prime Ministers Chatichai
Choonhavan and Anand Panyarachun, and he served two terms as
Senate Speaker. His wife holds the royal title of "Khunying."

BOYCE