Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
06TOKYO1834
2006-04-06 03:53:00
UNCLASSIFIED
Embassy Tokyo
Cable title:
MEDIA REACTION THAI POLITICS - TOKYO
how-toVZCZCXRO3842 PP RUEHFK DE RUEHKO #1834 0960353 ZNR UUUUU ZZH P 060353Z APR 06 FM AMEMBASSY TOKYO TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC PRIORITY 0579 RUEKJCS/SECDEF WASHDC PRIORITY RUCPDOC/USDOC WASHDC PRIORITY RUEATRS/DEPT OF TREASURY WASHINGTON DC PRIORITY RUYNAAC/COMNAVFORJAPAN YOKOSUKA JA PRIORITY RHHMUNA/HQ USPACOM HONOLULU HI PRIORITY RHHMHBA/COMPACFLT PEARL HARBOR HI//N541// PRIORITY RHMFIUU/HQ PACAF HICKAM AFB HI//CC/PA// PRIORITY RUHBANB/OKINAWA FLD OFC US FORCES JAPAN CP BUTLER JA PRIORITY RHMFIUU/COMUSJAPAN YOKOTA AB JA PRIORITY INFO RUEHFK/AMCONSUL FUKUOKA 5534 RUEHOK/AMCONSUL OSAKA KOBE 8691 RUEHBJ/AMEMBASSY BEIJING 1541 RUEHMO/AMEMBASSY MOSCOW 0956 RUEHUL/AMEMBASSY SEOUL 7720 RUCNDT/USMISSION USUN NEW YORK 9657 RHEHAAA/NSC WASHDC
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.
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
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