Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
06TOKYO5427
2006-09-21 03:57:00
UNCLASSIFIED
Embassy Tokyo
Cable title:
MEDIA REACTION Q THAI MILITARY COUP - TOKYO
how-toVZCZCXRO5353 PP RUEHFK DE RUEHKO #5427 2640357 ZNR UUUUU ZZH P 210357Z SEP 06 FM AMEMBASSY TOKYO TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC PRIORITY 6582 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 8132 RUEHOK/AMCONSUL OSAKA KOBE 1487 RUEHBJ/AMEMBASSY BEIJING 4249 RUEHMO/AMEMBASSY MOSCOW 1252 RUEHUL/AMEMBASSY SEOUL 0373 RUCNDT/USMISSION USUN NEW YORK 2004 RHEHAAA/NSC WASHDC
UNCLAS TOKYO 005427
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 Q THAI MILITARY COUP - TOKYO
LEAD STORIES: Most Thursday morning papers gave top play
to Wednesday's election of Chief Cabinet Secretary Abe as
LDP president. The national Diet is set to elect Abe, the
youngest LDP leader in history, to be Japan's new prime
minister next Tuesday.
UNCLAS TOKYO 005427
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 Q THAI MILITARY COUP - TOKYO
LEAD STORIES: Most Thursday morning papers gave top play
to Wednesday's election of Chief Cabinet Secretary Abe as
LDP president. The national Diet is set to elect Abe, the
youngest LDP leader in history, to be Japan's new prime
minister next Tuesday.
1. "Coup Exposes Fragility of Thai Democracy" An
editorial in the top-circulation, moderate Yomiuri
commented (9/21): "...The impact of the Thai military
coup has been felt both at home and abroad. The nation's
credibility has been seriously damaged. The top military
commanders who seized power created a 'Council of
Administrative Reform' and declared that the military
would keep the situation under control and return power
to the Thai people as soon as possible. The council
should do its utmost to keep these promises.
2. "This year has seen a continuing political crisis in
Thailand over the question of whether PM Thaksin should
resign due to questionable stock dealings by his
family.... Following the collapse of his government,
rumor is rife that Thaksin will seek refuge in a foreign
country.... The military coup revealed the fragility of
Thailand's democracy and will likely have a negative
impact on Indonesia and other countries in the region
that are trying to get democracy to take root."
3. "A Deplorable Setback for Thai Democracy" The liberal
Asahi editorialized (9/21): "...While there was a coup in
Thailand in 1991, the Thai people staged massive rallies
for democratization and toppled the military regime the
following year. Since then, a constitution has been
created, and power has changed hands via the ballot box
several times. Many people worked hard to
institutionalize democracy. This coup has, in one blow,
shattered their achievements, representing a deplorable
setback to Thai democracy.
4. "It is difficult to predict how the influential Thai
royal family will react, or what Thaksin and the
opposition party will do next.... Although the coup is
unpardonable, the military's criticism of the Thaksin
government for splitting the nation is not wide of the
mark.... Both the ruling and opposition parties need to
lay the groundwork for politics that will preclude the
military's involvement."
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 Q THAI MILITARY COUP - TOKYO
LEAD STORIES: Most Thursday morning papers gave top play
to Wednesday's election of Chief Cabinet Secretary Abe as
LDP president. The national Diet is set to elect Abe, the
youngest LDP leader in history, to be Japan's new prime
minister next Tuesday.
1. "Coup Exposes Fragility of Thai Democracy" An
editorial in the top-circulation, moderate Yomiuri
commented (9/21): "...The impact of the Thai military
coup has been felt both at home and abroad. The nation's
credibility has been seriously damaged. The top military
commanders who seized power created a 'Council of
Administrative Reform' and declared that the military
would keep the situation under control and return power
to the Thai people as soon as possible. The council
should do its utmost to keep these promises.
2. "This year has seen a continuing political crisis in
Thailand over the question of whether PM Thaksin should
resign due to questionable stock dealings by his
family.... Following the collapse of his government,
rumor is rife that Thaksin will seek refuge in a foreign
country.... The military coup revealed the fragility of
Thailand's democracy and will likely have a negative
impact on Indonesia and other countries in the region
that are trying to get democracy to take root."
3. "A Deplorable Setback for Thai Democracy" The liberal
Asahi editorialized (9/21): "...While there was a coup in
Thailand in 1991, the Thai people staged massive rallies
for democratization and toppled the military regime the
following year. Since then, a constitution has been
created, and power has changed hands via the ballot box
several times. Many people worked hard to
institutionalize democracy. This coup has, in one blow,
shattered their achievements, representing a deplorable
setback to Thai democracy.
4. "It is difficult to predict how the influential Thai
royal family will react, or what Thaksin and the
opposition party will do next.... Although the coup is
unpardonable, the military's criticism of the Thaksin
government for splitting the nation is not wide of the
mark.... Both the ruling and opposition parties need to
lay the groundwork for politics that will preclude the
military's involvement."
SCHIEFFER