Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
06KUALALUMPUR1976
2006-10-19 10:13:00
CONFIDENTIAL
Embassy Kuala Lumpur
Cable title:  

SURAYUD'S VISIT TO MALAYSIA FOCUSES ON SOUTHERN

Tags:  PREL PGOV TH MY 
pdf how-to read a cable
VZCZCXRO3968
OO RUEHCHI RUEHDT RUEHHM
DE RUEHKL #1976/01 2921013
ZNY CCCCC ZZH
O 191013Z OCT 06
FM AMEMBASSY KUALA LUMPUR
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC IMMEDIATE 7818
INFO RUEHZS/ASSOCIATION OF SOUTHEAST ASIAN NATIONS IMMEDIATE
RHHMUNA/USCINCPAC HONOLULU HI IMMEDIATE
RUEKJCS/SECDEF WASHDC IMMEDIATE
C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 02 KUALA LUMPUR 001976 

SIPDIS

SIPDIS

DEPT FOR EAP

E.O. 12958: DECL: 10/19/2016
TAGS: PREL PGOV TH MY
SUBJECT: SURAYUD'S VISIT TO MALAYSIA FOCUSES ON SOUTHERN
THAI UNREST

REF: KUALA LUMPUR 1764

Classified By: POLITICAL SECTION CHIEF MARK D. CLARK, REASON 1.4 (B AND
D).

Summary
-------

C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 02 KUALA LUMPUR 001976

SIPDIS

SIPDIS

DEPT FOR EAP

E.O. 12958: DECL: 10/19/2016
TAGS: PREL PGOV TH MY
SUBJECT: SURAYUD'S VISIT TO MALAYSIA FOCUSES ON SOUTHERN
THAI UNREST

REF: KUALA LUMPUR 1764

Classified By: POLITICAL SECTION CHIEF MARK D. CLARK, REASON 1.4 (B AND
D).

Summary
--------------


1. (C) Thai interim Prime Minister Surayud's October 18
visit to Malaysia focused on unrest in Thailand's ethnic
Malay/Muslim south. Surayud pledged Thailand would
increasingly consult with Malaysia regarding efforts to end
the southern conflict, according to a Thai diplomat, but
Malaysian Prime Minister Abdullah and Surayud did not
establish any specific role for Malaysia in a future peace
process. Former Malaysian Prime Minister Mahathir continues
to meet with southern Thai Muslim figures. End Summary.

Surayud Explains New Approach to the South
--------------


2. (U) Interim Thai Prime Minister Surayud Chulanont visited
Kuala Lumpur on October 18 as part of his initial calls on
ASEAN capitals. Foreign Minister Nitya Pibulsonggram,
Defense Minister Boonrward Somtas, and Deputy Interior
Minister Banyat Jansena accompanied Surayud. The Thai PM's
nine-hour mission included a meeting with his Malaysian
counterpart Prime Minister Abdullah Badawi, a joint press
conference featuring the two leaders, and a separate
discussion with Deputy Prime Minister Najib Tun Razak.
Malaysian press generated upbeat reports focused on Surayud's
comments in support of a peaceful resolution to conflict,
drawing contrasts with the perceived heavy-handed approach of
ousted Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra. Speaking at the
press conference, Surayud said, "I told the Malaysian Prime
Minister that I will talk to the Muslim leaders in the south,
talk to kids in the schools.... My strategy in trying to
solve the problem is through peaceful means and I will try to
seek advice and sometimes comments from Malaysia, get in
touch personally and find a way through the troubled waters
in southern Thailand."

Malaysia: Ready to Help, But Only if Asked
--------------


3. (U) PM Abdullah's public comments reinforced the view
that Malaysia and Thailand had agreed to consult more closely
to resolve the situation in southern Thailand. Speaking to

reporters, Abdullah said, "We will be available to contact
each other...when our attention is needed immediately to
resolve some of the problems that may arise in southern
Thailand.... Any program to be introduced in the region that
requires our support, we will extend (such support)."
Abdullah and his deputy Najib were at pains to reiterate that
Malaysia would not impose itself into a peace process or
meddle in its neighbor's affairs. Najib, quoted in the
official state news agency Bernama, explained that, "we are
willing to play a helpful, positive role but it is entirely
up to (Thailand) to determine what kind of role. We are
quite happy to just sit back and watch the development
because it's purely the Thai's internal problem."

Mahathir Continues Meetings with Southern Figures
-------------- --------------


4. (C) In the run-up to Surayud's visit, former Prime
Minister Mahathir and his son Mukhriz publicly detailed their
role in brokering talks between the Thai military and
southern opposition leaders in late 2005 and early 2006.
They described the initiative as completed and said it would
be Thailand's decision to take any follow-up actions.
(Comment: According to a Thai diplomat, Abdullah personally
approved of this activity prior to his bitter, open feud with
Mahathir. End Comment.) Mahathir, however, has continued to
keep contact with southern Thai leaders. On October 17,
Mahathir met with the head of a Muslim school in Pattani,
reportedly to discuss the needs of the Thai Muslim community
and to firm up Mahathir's commitment to fund the building of
a mosque. Mahathir explained he was not carrying out a peace
mandate from any party.

Thailand-Malaysia Agree on Contacts, Not Peace Role
-------------- --------------


5. (C) A Thai diplomat involved in the visit told Polcouns
October 19 that Surayud's agenda in Kuala Lumpur focused
exclusively on the conflict in southern Thailand. Surayud
had informed Abdullah that Thailand would step up its

KUALA LUMP 00001976 002 OF 002


consultations with Malaysia, and actively seek Malaysian
advice on ways to end the southern insurgency. Surayud,
however, did not describe this as leading to a specific
Malaysian role in a peace process, and the Malaysians did not
press for one. The diplomat did not know what had transpired
in the four-eyes meeting between the two leaders. The
diplomat offered that former Malaysian Prime Minister
Mahathir's activities with southern Thai leaders (below) had
"nothing to do with the Malaysian Government." In this and
previous conversations, the Thai diplomat downplayed the
importance of Mahathir's actions and questioned whether his
southern Thai interlocutors were relevant to ending the
violence. Informed Malaysian Foreign Ministry officials were
not available to us for comment on Surayud's visit.

Malaysia to Continue Cautious Approach
--------------


6. (C) Institute of Strategic and International Studies
(ISIS, a government-linked think tank) Chairman Jawhar bin
Hassan told Polcouns October 18 that Malaysia would continue
to be very cautious in terms of the unrest in southern
Thailand. Despite strong ethnic and religious bonds between
the southern Thai and Malaysia's dominant Malay/Muslim
majority, the GOM would do nothing to challenge Thailand's
sovereignty or to incite further unrest. If forced to choose
between relations with Bangkok and those with restive
southern Muslim leaders, Malaysia would choose Bangkok "hands
down." He noted that Thai leaders should avoid casting blame
on Malaysia for violence within Thailand's borders, as this
was a sure-fire way to infuriate Kuala Lumpur. Jawhar
commented that Mahathir's political opposition to Abdullah
would not necessarily result in the GOM blocking a Mahathir
effort to broker peace across the border. Jawhar believed
that there was strong consensus among Malaysian leaders,
including Abdullah and Mahathir, regarding ways to stop the
conflict in southern Thailand, so there was little risk
Mahathir would carry such an effort in a way contrary to GOM
policy. Jawhar endorsed coordinated economic development
strategies along the Malaysia-Thai border as one measure to
encourage peace. He advised, however, against Thailand
bringing over Malaysian religious teachers with the intention
of spreading moderate Islam among the southern Thai because
most of Malaysia's current religious instructors were
"intolerant" and "fundamentalist" in their outlook.

Comment
--------------


7. (C) Malaysia has welcomed the Thai Government's post-coup
focus on dialogue and peaceful means to resolve on-going
violence affecting Malaysia's cousins across the border.
Many Malaysians blamed Thaksin for the escalation of violence
in southern Thailand and privately or openly cheered his
ouster (reftel). Surayud's October 18 visit reinforced
Malaysians' hope that Bangkok has adopted a fresh, more
conciliatory approach. This may or may not translate into
any important mediating role for Malaysia. Our sense from
contacts here is that the Thai have a healthy skepticism
about Malaysia's ability to serve as a useful, honest broker
and the GOM itself is not chomping at the bit to get too
heavily involved.
LAFLEUR