Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
06CHIANGMAI157
2006-09-20 11:22:00
CONFIDENTIAL
Consulate Chiang Mai
Cable title:  

SUPPORT FOR THASKIN MUTED IN CHIANG MAI FOLLOWING COUP

Tags:  PGOV PINS ASEC TH 
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VZCZCXRO4230
PP RUEHDT RUEHHM
DE RUEHCHI #0157/01 2631122
ZNY CCCCC ZZH
P 201122Z SEP 06
FM AMCONSUL CHIANG MAI
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC PRIORITY 0276
INFO RUEHZS/ASSOCIATION OF SOUTHEAST ASIAN NATIONS
RUEHBK/AMEMBASSY BANGKOK PRIORITY 0550
RUEHCHI/AMCONSUL CHIANG MAI PRIORITY 0314
C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 02 CHIANG MAI 000157 

SIPDIS

SIPDIS

E.O. 12958: DECL: 9/20/2016
TAGS: PGOV PINS ASEC TH
SUBJECT: SUPPORT FOR THASKIN MUTED IN CHIANG MAI FOLLOWING COUP

REF: A) BANGKOK SEPTELS B) CHIANG MAI 120 (THIRD ARMY COMMANDER CHALLENGES THAKSIN'S NORTHERN POWER BASE

CHIANG MAI 00000157 001.2 OF 002


CLASSIFIED BY: Beatrice Camp , Consul General, Consulate Chiang
Mai, State.
REASON: 1.4 (d)

C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 02 CHIANG MAI 000157

SIPDIS

SIPDIS

E.O. 12958: DECL: 9/20/2016
TAGS: PGOV PINS ASEC TH
SUBJECT: SUPPORT FOR THASKIN MUTED IN CHIANG MAI FOLLOWING COUP

REF: A) BANGKOK SEPTELS B) CHIANG MAI 120 (THIRD ARMY COMMANDER CHALLENGES THAKSIN'S NORTHERN POWER BASE

CHIANG MAI 00000157 001.2 OF 002


CLASSIFIED BY: Beatrice Camp , Consul General, Consulate Chiang
Mai, State.
REASON: 1.4 (d)


1. (C) SUMMARY: Although well known as a Thai Rak Thai (TRT)
stronghold and home town of ousted Prime Minister Thaksin
Shinawatra, Chiang Mai showed no signs of unrest following the
late-Tuesday military takeover of the government in Bangkok by a
group calling itself the Council for Democratic Reform under the
Constitutional Monarchy (see Embassy Bangkok reporting). Support
for Thaksin has not been in evidence, as powerful political
allies and relatives in his northern Thailand home base
scattered or kept a low profile, while the majority that
supported him in previous elections now seems largely
sympathetic, or at least tolerant, toward the military takeover.
Meanwhile, armored vehicles stationed near the Consulate General
appear to be positioned to control access to municipal offices
located across the street rather than to protect the safety of
the consulate, as was reported by some media and Third Army
sources. END SUMMARY.


2. (U) Despite the declaration of martial law by the
military-run Council for Democratic Reform under the
Constitutional Monarchy, Chiang Mai residents awoke to calm this
morning. Troops, tanks, and armored personnel carriers (APCs)
were stationed at some intersections and government buildings -
including municipal offices across from the consulate - but for
the most part business carried on as usual. While government
offices, banks, and most schools closed in accordance with the
announcement of a national holiday, most shops remained open
with the notable exception of some Shinawatra family-owned
businesses in Thaksin's home town of San Kamphaeng, just east of
Chiang Mai. Military units were also placed near Thaksin's Green
Valley estate in the Chiang Mai suburb of Mae Rim, located north
of the central city. There were no reported gatherings or
incidents, for or against, at any area Shinawatra businesses or
homes.


3. (C) Not unexpectedly, Third Army Commander Lt. Gen.

Saprang Kalayanamitr, was reportedly in Bangkok as a committed
participant in the coup. Long at odds with Thaksin, Saprang,
the top military official in the north, drew significant
attention in recent months due to his vocal and very public
opposition to the prime minister. (ref b)


4. (C) Many Thaksin loyalists in politically powerful
positions remain unaccounted for, have left the city, or are
avoiding any visible moves at this time. While a weary-looking
Chiang Mai Gov. Suwat Tantipat and Mayor Boonlert Buranupakorn
complied with orders to present themselves to 33rd Military
Circle Commander Supa-Aksorn at the Kawila army base in Chiang
Mai, MP Pakorn Buranupakorn and Thaksin's brother MP Payap
Shinawatra are said to have left the city. Thaksin's wife
Khunying Pojaman Shinawatra reportedly left Thailand for
Singapore moments before the coup along with Thaksin's sister,
Yaowapa Wongsawat, who herself was an MP from Chiang Mai and
influential TRT leader.


5. (C) A little after 5 a.m. today, four M113 APCs with at
least 40 soldiers arrived in the area of the consulate. Two APCs
took up positions on the road separating the consulate and the
Chiang Mai municipal offices, just a few feet from the north
gate entrance to the consulate. Two other APCs moved into
position around the corner between the municipal office building
and the Ping River. Soldiers were relaxed and did not interfere
with traffic in and out of the consulate or the daily outdoor
produce market that operates in the narrow alleys near the
municipal headquarters. A Third Army source told the consulate
that the units were deployed to protect the safety of the
consulate, an explanation later repeated on some media
broadcasts. (COMMENT: We believe the units were instead sent to
control access to the municipal offices, controlled by Thaksin
ally Mayor Boonlert. No similar "protection" was in place near
the Chinese or Japanese consulates in other areas of the city
and some of the APCs had moved to block the gates of the
municipal office parking lot by mid morning. END COMMENT). Calls
to the municipal office went unanswered Wednesday.


6. (C) Chiang Mai and other northern areas have always been
dependable sources of moral support and votes for Thaksin and
his Thai Rak Thai party. Most northerners continued to back
their hometown boy throughout the recent political crisis and
annulment of the April elections. Moreover, the few anti-Thaksin
northerners - mostly academics and other elites - were unable to
or prevented from organizing effective grassroots displays of
opposition. Yet on the day following the coup, Chiang Mai
residents showed no signs of opposing the military takeover or
resenting the military forces occupying busy intersections and
other strategic locations. Indeed, many people passing through
the market near the consulate offered refreshments and snacks to
the soldiers stationed there.

CHIANG MAI 00000157 002.2 OF 002




7. (C) COMMENT: The speed and effective coordination of
Tuesday night's coup appear to have prevented any organized
pro-Thaksin movement in and around Chiang Mai from getting off
the ground. Although he was deeply popular here in his home
base, Thaksin's political strength relied on a top-down
organization of politicians, TRT organizers, and other
quasi-political heavyweights. Despite overwhelming support from
farmers, middle class workers, and other rural populations in
elections, almost no NGOs or civic groups not tied into the TRT
political structure exist in Northern Thailand that could
represent or mobilize these potential supporters. With
influential Thaksin loyalists dispersed or scattered and martial
law supposedly banning groups of five or more from gathering in
public areas, it seems unlikely that there will be any
significant displays of civic opposition to the coup. And while
they supported Thaksin with their votes, northern Thais - like
many Thais - may view Thaksin's forced removal from politics as
an acceptable path out of the recent tensions if it leads to a
return of calm and stability, something that even Thaksin's most
loyal supporters here would admit did not seem likely with him
staying in power. END COMMENT.
CAMP