Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
06CHIANGMAI182
2006-10-20 08:39:00
UNCLASSIFIED//FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY
Consulate Chiang Mai
Cable title:  

TRT TIES STILL BIND

Tags:  PGOV TH 
pdf how-to read a cable
VZCZCXRO5361
PP RUEHDT RUEHHM
DE RUEHCHI #0182 2930839
ZNR UUUUU ZZH
P 200839Z OCT 06
FM AMCONSUL CHIANG MAI
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC PRIORITY 0307
INFO RUEHZS/ASSOCIATION OF SOUTHEAST ASIAN NATIONS
RUEHBK/AMEMBASSY BANGKOK PRIORITY 0579
RUEHCHI/AMCONSUL CHIANG MAI PRIORITY 0345
UNCLAS CHIANG MAI 000182 

SIPDIS

SENSITIVE

SIPDIS

E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: PGOV TH
SUBJECT: TRT TIES STILL BIND

REF: CHIANG MAI 159

UNCLAS CHIANG MAI 000182

SIPDIS

SENSITIVE

SIPDIS

E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: PGOV TH
SUBJECT: TRT TIES STILL BIND

REF: CHIANG MAI 159


1. (SBU) Summary: Northerners who derived benefits from the
Thai Rak Thai (TRT) party before the Sept. 19 coup that deposed
party leader Thaksin Shinawtra are now worried about the loss of
that patronage, ranging from government-run social programs to
assistance for weddings and funerals from party leaders. Many
would welcome a Thaksin comeback. End summary


2. (SBU) According to local Thai News columnist Boonyarit
Tulaphanphong, villagers and others who joined TRT got
membership cards, a polo or T-shirt with the party logo and an
"honorarium" of at least Baht 100 on registering. They were
also promised eligibility in the 30-baht health plan, village
funds, and poverty registration scheme, which were often
presented as TRT rather than government-run programs. Of
perhaps more importance, members could expect help of various
kinds from the party MP or leader in their constituency. For
example, for funerals the responsible party MP typically
supplied vehicles for the funeral procession, tents, drinking
water and ice and a wreath, as well as a VIP to preside over the
ceremony.


3. (SBU) Additional perks went to local leaders or party
canvassers, whose family members received preference for jobs at
local government units, where average month salary levels start
at a desirable 4,000 baht (approximately 100 dollars). Party
cadres could also count on free stalls in Sunday markets held on
public property, rights that could be sold to other venders.
For events such as Chiang Mai's highly popular Sunday Walking
Street, initiated in 2004 by Thaksin's sister Yaowapha
Wongsawat, these stalls can be lucrative.


4. (SBU) Party members fear that Thaksin's ouster will mean a
lessening of this kind of assistance. According to Boonyarit,
those living in outlying areas or "Baan Nawk" are more worried
than those in urban low-income communities, where services
continue to flow from the still-TRT-dominated municipal
government.


5. (SBU) Material benefits aside, Boonyarit believes that
many local people, including middle class teachers,
businesspeople, and government officials, remain loyal to
Thaksin and would be prepared to respond to instructions from
the party and the leader. For some, regional pride is the
binding factor: "It's good to have a northern native as the
Prime Minister".


6. (SBU) Noting that it would take four or five years to
"correct" this blind faith in the party, Boonyarit cited former
3rd army chief Gen Saprang Kalayamitra's Sept. 22 comments to
northern media representatives (reftel) about organizing a
movement to dissuade local people from their "dependency" on TRT
and to promote loyalty to the nation with the monarchy at the
center. Boonyarit interpreted Saprang's remarks as an effort to
create a political safety valve for the coup group in the event
the pro-Thaksin side regains power in the future.


7. (SBU) Comment: Thaksin's many supporters in northern
Thailand have been quieted, but hardly vaporized. A little
probing often reveals the opinion that much of what the former
Prime Minister and his party did was good. Although martial
law and a desire to avoid conflict have dampened public
discussion of the issue, many people would likely be responsive
to a Thaksin return.

CAMP