THAKSIN TERRITORY IS NO PLACE FOR A PROTEST

C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 02 CHIANG MAI 000144 SIPDIS SIPDIS E.O. 12958: DECL: 9/1/2016 TAGS: PGOV TH SUBJECT: THAKSIN TERRITORY IS NO PLACE FOR A PROTEST REF: A. A) CHIANG MAI 41 (NORTHERN THAIS TURN OUT FOR THAKSIN) ¶B. B) CHIANG MAI 60 (ATTACK ON DEMOCRAT PARTY RALLY IN CHIANG MAI ESCALATES VIOLENCE) CHIANG MAI 00000144 001.2 OF 002 CLASSIFIED BY: BEA CAMP, CONSUL GENERAL, CHIANG MAI, STATE. REASON: 1.4 (d) ¶1. (C ) Summary: A tiny group of protestors at Prime Minister Thaksin's arrival in Chiang Mai on August 14 provoked major anger and retaliation from local pro-Thaksin political figures, who countered the embarrassment of even modest opposition in the Prime Minister's home town with posters threatening local activists. This disproportionate response echoed an attack on a Democrat party rally in Chiang Mai last March (ref b ) and demonstrated both local political muscle and an effort to "please the boss" by Thaksin's political supporters in Chiang Mai. End summary ¶2. (C ) Reportedly angered by an unexpected group of some 15 protestors who showed up at the Chiang Mai airport before the Prime Minister's arrival on August 14, local politicians and Thai Rak Thai (TRT) members mobilized a rally on August 16 where they distributed thousands of small posters threatening eight local activists. The protest at the airport also upset key provincial officials, especially Governor Suwat Tantipat and and Police Chief Maj.Gen.Jirut Phrommobol, who reportedly took heat from Thaksin's sister, former MP Yaowapha Wongsawat, for failing to forestall this embarrassment. LICENSE TO SHUN -------------- ¶3. (SBU) Printed on 13 x 16 paper with mug shots of the eight targeted individuals arrayed at the bottom, the mini-posters from the rally were also distributed in the market and in outlying districts. The text urged Chiang Mai citizens to "drive out those with bad intentions who are dangerous to Chiang Mai people", accused the eight of "daring to criticize policies that support the poor" and stated that no one should "talk to, welcome, contact or trade with" them. ¶4. (SBU) The group of eight "dangerous" individuals reported the threatening posters to the police and requested an investigation of the person behind the threats. No results have been reported to date. ¶5. (C) Although all eight individuals pictured on the posters have been critical of Thaksin's policies, only two have been directly involved in the anti-Thaksin activities of the Bangkok-based People's Alliance for Democracy (PAD): Suriyan Thongnu-iad of the Federation of Northern Farmers and Bannaros Buaklee, a reporter with Manager newspaper. The common characteristic of the others appears to be their opposition to large development projects associated with Thaksin, including the Chiang Mai Night Safari and proposals for an elephant park, a cable car to Doi Suthep, and a concrete flood wall along the river. ¶6. (C ) The targeted group includes folk singer Suntharee Wechanon, a well-known Thaksin opponent who has been the target of previous intimidation tactics, including a grenade thrown at her Chiang Mai restaurant last March. Others are Chiang Mai University Professor of Agriculture Dr. Chalermpol Samphet, Dr. Uthaiwan Kanjanakamon who is director of a community radio station, Chaiyapahn Prapasawas of the Community Rights Institute, Nikom Putta of the Wildlife Protection Foundation of Thailand and Subsawadi Sanitwong, a retired academic. CONFIDENCE IN POWER -------------- ¶7. (C ) Dr. Duantemduang Na Chiengmai, an unsuccessful candidate on the Democrat Party ticket in the February 2005 election, laid blame for the posters on a TRT faction dominated by the politically and financially well-connected Buranapakorn family. She described the TRT faction as unafraid to threaten or use violence, "very confident in their power" to control the police. In the case of the August 16 rally and leaflets, she said that the TRT group wanted to demonstrate their sway and please the boss. Both actions were intended to assure Thaksin that he still has the support of Chiang Mai locals. ¶8. (C ) Duantemdueng predicted that the threatening leaflets would signal local people to keep their distance from groups opposed to TRT or Thaksin; she added that her efforts to get votes in the coming election would be tougher as a result. ¶9. (C ) Uthaiwan, an NGO activist, dentist and former Fulbrighter who was targeted on the poster, agreed that the distribution was an effort by local TRT politicians to offset the anti-Thaksin activity at the airport and reports of the protest that received prominent play in the media. He too singled out as leaders of this effort the Buranapakorn family, CHIANG MAI 00000144 002.2 OF 002 primarily five brothers who hold elected positions as Mayor of Chiang Mai, a senator, a town mayor, a member of the Chiang Mai Municipal Council and a member of the now-dissolved parliament. WELCOME TO CHIANG MAI -------------- ¶10. (C ) This same group, particularly MP Pakorn Buranapakorn, was widely believed to be behind the attack on the Democrat rally in March. One political activist told the Consulate that that attack was sparked by a comment from Thaksin suggesting the Democrats be given "a good welcome" in Chiang Mai. In the aftermath of public shock over the incident, Governor Suwat and Police Maj. Gen. Jirut were reportedly reprimanded by a high-ranking government official for the violence, according to a source at Government House in Bangkok (ref b). A month earlier, in February, Pakorn was also widely identified as the source behind anonymous banners strung around Chiang Mai proclaiming that "Northern people support Thaksin to be PM forever" and "PM Thaksin is good and honest" (ref a) ¶11. (C ) Comment: Despite - or perhaps because of -- Thaksin's solid hold on Chiang Mai votes, the Prime Minister's inner circle was furious over the protest at the airport and resulting media reports. With this enemies list, this group sought to please the boss, intimidate opponents, and demonstrate their own political muscle in this TRT stronghold. Considering that most of the eight "dangerous" activists are likely unknown to Thaksin, the pols also took advantage of national turmoil to settle some local scores. A further troubling aspect of this affair is the willingness of Thaksin's local henchmen to carry out what they perceive to be his bidding, opening the door to tactics that can be disavowed by Bangkok if things get out of hand. CAMP