THAI RAK THAI LEADER DEFIES RESTRICTIONS ON PARTY

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