Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
07BANGKOK1034
2007-02-21 10:15:00
CONFIDENTIAL
Embassy Bangkok
Cable title:  

THAI RAK THAI LEADER DEFIES RESTRICTIONS ON PARTY

Tags:  PGOV PHUM KDEM TH 
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FM AMEMBASSY BANGKOK
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INFO RUEHZS/ASSOCIATION OF SOUTHEAST ASIAN NATIONS PRIORITY
RUEHBY/AMEMBASSY CANBERRA PRIORITY 6669
RUEHWL/AMEMBASSY WELLINGTON PRIORITY 1671
RHEFDIA/DIA WASHDC PRIORITY
RHEHNSC/NSC WASHDC PRIORITY
RUEAIIA/CIA WASHINGTON DC PRIORITY
RUEKJCS/SECDEF WASHINGTON DC PRIORITY
RHHMUNA/USCINCPAC HONOLULU HI PRIORITY
C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 02 BANGKOK 001034 

SIPDIS

SIPDIS

E.O. 12958: DECL: 02/21/2017
TAGS: PGOV PHUM KDEM TH
SUBJECT: THAI RAK THAI LEADER DEFIES RESTRICTIONS ON PARTY
ACTIVITIES

REF: A. BANGKOK 964 (SOMKID APPOINTMENT)


B. BANGKOK 573 (MARTIAL LAW RECISION)

Classified By: Ambassador Ralph L. Boyce, reason: 1.4 (b) and (d).

SUMMARY
-------

C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 02 BANGKOK 001034

SIPDIS

SIPDIS

E.O. 12958: DECL: 02/21/2017
TAGS: PGOV PHUM KDEM TH
SUBJECT: THAI RAK THAI LEADER DEFIES RESTRICTIONS ON PARTY
ACTIVITIES

REF: A. BANGKOK 964 (SOMKID APPOINTMENT)


B. BANGKOK 573 (MARTIAL LAW RECISION)

Classified By: Ambassador Ralph L. Boyce, reason: 1.4 (b) and (d).

SUMMARY
--------------


1. (C) Thai Rak Thai (TRT) Party Leader Chaturon Chaiseng
defied the government's ban on political party activities by
holding public gatherings in Thailand's Northeast February
18-19. It is unclear whether he will face sanctions as a
result. His activities come as Council for National Security
(CNS) officials defend the ban and say it will remain in
effect, perhaps for months, although the CNS will consider
allowing exceptions. Despite restrictions, political party
officials frequently engage in public activities and express
their views. We would be disappointed if the ban remains in
effect throughout the constitution drafting process. We have
pressed for the full restoration of civil liberties, but we
note that party leaders are not seeking international support
in their efforts to urge the recision of restrictions on
party activities. End Summary.

BAN ON POLITICAL ACTIVITY REMAINS IN EFFECT
--------------


2. (SBU) Soon after the coup, senior military figures imposed
martial law nationwide; banned political gatherings of more
than five persons; and forbade political parties from holding
meetings or conducting any political activities. On November
9, the legislature voted to rescind the ban on political
gatherings. On November 28, the cabinet decided to lift
martial law in a majority of Thailand's provinces, although
it took two months for this decision to take effect (ref B).
The ban on political party meetings and activities remains in
effect, however.


3. (SBU) Political party leaders have grown increasingly
vocal, calling for the Council for National Security (CNS) to
lift the ban on their parties' activities. Thai Rak Thai
(TRT) Party Leader Chaturon Chaiseng was among the first to
press on this matter, but in recent weeks top officials from
all major parties -- and many small ones -- have also lobbied
publicly for a loosening of restrictions. Democrat Party
(DP) Leader Abhisit Vejjajiva, who now routinely calls for

rescinding the ban, has said publicly that security concerns
do not warrant these restrictions, and parties need to be
able to solicit voters' views of the new constitution.
Officials of newer and smaller parties have stressed their
need to hold meetings and raise awareness of their parties in
advance of the election anticipated toward the end of this
year. In a February 14 meeting with top Election Commission
officials, party leaders prevailed upon Election Commission
Chairman Apichart Sukhaggganond to recommend to the cabinet
that the restrictions be lifted.


4. (C) Our political party contacts have told us privately
that they would prefer the ban's recision, but they remain
able to perform necessary functions through discreet meetings
and phone calls. When we remarked that the restrictions seem
to favor the Democrat Party, since less established parties
will find it difficult to establish name recognition, one of
Abhisit's deputies assured us that the DP Leader nevertheless
was genuinely eager to see the ban lifted so that he and his
colleagues can resume the full range of political activities.


5. (SBU) CNS Chairman Sonthi Boonyaratglin responded to the
increasing pressure from the parties by repeatedly stating in
mid-February that the ban would remain in place, but he
signaled flexibility. In a typical statement, Sonthi told
the press on February 14, "We have to maintain (the ban) to
help us put things in order.... If (parties) want to do any
political activities, they can tell us about that. Never
have we prohibited them from doing so. So far, some parties
have asked us for permission to hold meetings, and we've
allowed all of them to do so. So I suggest that political
parties tell us if they want to do any activities so that we
will not have misunderstanding." A CNS spokesman recently
told the press that the restrictions would remain in place at
least until the promulgation of the next constitution
(expected in August or September).

CHATURON CAMPAIGNS

BANGKOK 00001034 002 OF 002


--------------


6. (SBU) Thai Rak Thai Party Leader Chaturon Chaiseng
violated the aforementioned restrictions by holding political
meetings in Kalasin province and Khon Kaen province February
18-19. (Note: Khon Kaen remains under martial law; martial
law in Kalasin was lifted in January. End Note.) According
to press reports, approximately 300 people came to one of
Chaturon's events in Kalasin, where he addressed his audience
through a loudspeaker. Chaturon reportedly told the public
that TRT would continue to advocate populist policies. A CNS
spokesman said the CNS would investigate Chaturon's
activities and determine whether he violated the law.
Chaturon defiantly stated that he would continue to conduct
these sorts of political visits.


7. (SBU) Chaturon's gatherings represent just the latest
example of party officials pushing the limits of the
government's restrictions. In November, Chart Thai officials
celebrated the party's 32nd anniversary with religious
ceremonies and the formal opening of a coffee shop at Chart
Thai headquarters; Party Leader Banharn Silapa-Archa welcomed
back some former Chart Thai members who had previously joined
TRT. In January and February, various high-profile former
TRT politicians announced the formation of new political
groupings, such as Somsak's "Matchima" and Suwat
Liptapanlop's "Reconciliation Alliance" (ref A). These are
widely understood as the bases for future political parties,
once the CNS permits party registration.


8. (SBU) Top politicians hold small meetings and participate
frequently in various seminars and forums, expressing
political views. Most recently:

- On February 13, the Democrat, Chart Thai, and Mahachon
Party Leaders held a press conference at a restaurant where
they had met for lunch, expressing views on proposed
constitutional provisions;

- On February 15, several party leaders participated in an
Election Commission seminar on the constitutional referendum
process and expressed political views;

- On February 20, Chaturon, the Democrat Party Leader, and
Chart Thai's Deputy Leader further publicly explained their
views on constitutional issues when participating in a
Thammasat University alumni association forum.

On each of the above occasions, the print media provided
coverage and noted party officials' calls for the recision of
the ban on party activities.

COMMENT
--------------


9. (C) Thailand's interim administration has made its fair
share of economic and political blunders, and public
enthusiasm for the coup has faded, leaving Thailand's current
leaders vulnerable to criticism. In retaining the ban on
political party activities, the CNS may hope to retain a
reasonable degree of control over political discourse, and in
particular to prevent any resurgence or rebirth of deposed
Prime Minister Thaksin's Thai Rak Thai Party.


10. (C) It would be deeply disappointing if the ban remains
in place until the constitutional referendum, as parties have
a legitimate role to play in shaping and representing public
opinion on political issues. No one knows this better than
the party leaders themselves, who are pressing publicly for
the ban's repeal. We have pressed for the full restoration
of civil liberties but note that party leaders are not
seeking international support in their efforts.
BOYCE