MEDIA REACTION THAI POLITICS - TOKYO

UNCLAS TOKYO 001834 SIPDIS SIPDIS STATE FOR I/RF, PA/PR/FPC/W, IIP/G/EA, EAP/PD, R/MR, EAP/J, EAP/P, PM; USTR FOR PUBLIC AFFAIRS OFFICE; TREASURY FOR OASIA/IMI; SECDEF FOR OASD/PA; CP BUTLER OKINAWA FOR AREA FIELD OFFICE; PACOM HONOLULU FOR PUBLIC DIPLOMACY ADVISOR E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: OIIP KMDR KPAO JA SUBJECT: MEDIA REACTION THAI POLITICS - TOKYO LEAD STORIES: Most Thursday morning papers front-paged separate announcements by former opposition Democratic Party of Japan (DPJ) deputy leader Ichiro Ozawa and former chief Naoto Kan that they would run in the party leadership election set for Friday. The dailies observed that Ozawa appears to be leading. ¶1. "Thai Politics: Embers of Political Chaos" The top- circulation, moderate Yomiuri editorialized (4/6): "The political chaos in Thailand is beginning to subside. Prime Minister Thaksin, who had been dogged by calls to step down since the beginning of this year, finally announced that he would resign. However, there remain serious aftereffects of the political crisis that led to anti-Thaksin demonstrations by opposition parties and civic groups. It will be some time before the political situation returns to normal.... Just before he announced his resignation, Premier Thaksin met with King Bhumibol. Although the details of their meeting have not been made public, it is believed that the king called on Thaksin to step down to resolve the crisis. It is believed that the king had come to the conclusion that if the embattled premier had continued to stay on, the protests would have intensified, leading to bloodshed.... ¶2. "Attention is now focusing on whether Thailand can overcome the aftereffects of this episodes political chaos and restore political stability. In announcing his resignation on TV, Thaksin called for national reconciliation.... Speculation is rife that Thaksin will install a close aide as his successor and call the shots from behind the scenes. A general election should be held again in Thailand as soon as possible, and both ruling and opposition parties should return to the rules of parliamentary politics in order to prevent this confrontation from rekindling. In the aftermath of this political crisis, the most important thing for Thailand to do is to firm up the foundations of its political stability." SCHIEFFER