Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
06CHIANGMAI19
2006-01-20 09:05:00
UNCLASSIFIED
Consulate Chiang Mai
Cable title:  

NIGHT SAFARI QUESTIONS TRAIL THAKSIN

Tags:  SENV PGOV PREL OEXC KPAO TH KE 
pdf how-to read a cable
This record is a partial extract of the original cable. The full text of the original cable is not available.
UNCLAS CHIANG MAI 000019 

SIPDIS

FOR ECA/PE/V/M (AMOYLAN AND SROBINSON),INFO ECA/PE/V/R/F (JVANDERWOUDE AND EAP/PD (VSIDABRAS AND JDAVIES)

E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: SENV PGOV PREL OEXC KPAO TH KE
SUBJECT: NIGHT SAFARI QUESTIONS TRAIL THAKSIN

REF: A) BANGKOK 7768 (05) B) BANGKOK 7581 (05) C) CHIANG MAI 233 (05)

UNCLAS CHIANG MAI 000019

SIPDIS

FOR ECA/PE/V/M (AMOYLAN AND SROBINSON),INFO ECA/PE/V/R/F (JVANDERWOUDE AND EAP/PD (VSIDABRAS AND JDAVIES)

E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: SENV PGOV PREL OEXC KPAO TH KE
SUBJECT: NIGHT SAFARI QUESTIONS TRAIL THAKSIN

REF: A) BANGKOK 7768 (05) B) BANGKOK 7581 (05) C) CHIANG MAI 233 (05)


1. In the midst of continuing controversy here over the
centrally conceived Chiang Mai Night Safari and the proposed "Chiang Mai World" development, Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra also faced media questioning about the project during his November trip to Kenya. The query came from a Kenyan journalist who had recently traveled to the US on an International Visitor (IV) program in print journalism; during the trip she became acquainted with Thai journalist Acharawadee Buaklee, who is investigating Chiang Mai tourism development for a future book on environmental issues.


2. Chiang Mai-born Thaksin has made it clear he supports big
development projects in his home province despite vocal protests by environmental and cultural protection groups over the not-yet-opened Night Safari and still-to-be-revealed plans for additional tourism development under the umbrella name of
"Chiang Mai World" (ref c). The Prime Minister is adding fuel
to this fire by scheduling a "mobile cabinet meeting" at the Night Safari February 6.


3. On hearing that Thaksin would be negotiating to import Kenyan wildlife (ref b) for the Night Safari while on an official trip to Africa in November, Chiang Mai journalist Acharawadee Buaklee contacted a friend from her September 15-October 6, 2005 IV trip (ref a),Kenyan journalist Pamela Sittoni Makotsi. When Acharawadee asked her colleague to report back to her on this issue, Makotsi took the opportunity to ask the visiting Thai Prime Minister why he was buying Kenyan animals, startling Thaksin to find that the controversy had followed him over 4,000 miles.


4. With the Night Safari and related tourism development in Chiang Mai continuing to draw opposition for a lack of transparency, importation of exotic animals, water consumption and related environmental concerns, Acharawadee told the Consul General that she is putting her investigative journalism skills
to work on the subject. In coordination with the Environmental
Reporters Club she plans to produce a book about "Chiang Mai World" , which encompasses the Night Safari, an elephant park, the Rajapreuk Horticultural Expo, a cable car and as yet unspecified other tourist attractions.

CAMP