Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
07BANGKOK1586
2007-03-16 07:09:00
CONFIDENTIAL
Embassy Bangkok
Cable title:
IF THAI POLITICIANS WERE EXPIRED FOODS...
how-toVZCZCXRO7185 OO RUEHCHI RUEHDT RUEHHM DE RUEHBK #1586 0750709 ZNY CCCCC ZZH O 160709Z MAR 07 FM AMEMBASSY BANGKOK TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC IMMEDIATE 5617 INFO RUEHZS/ASSOCIATION OF SOUTHEAST ASIAN NATIONS RUEHBJ/AMEMBASSY BEIJING 3905 RUEHBY/AMEMBASSY CANBERRA 6887 RUEHUL/AMEMBASSY SEOUL 2860 RHEHNSC/NSC WASHDC RHEFDIA/DIA WASHDC RHHMUNA/HQ USPACOM HONOLULU HI RHHMUNA/CDR USPACOM HONOLULU HI RHFJSCC/COMMARFORPAC RUCPDOC/DEPT OF COMMERCE WASHINGTON DC RUEATRS/DEPT OF TREASURY WASHINGTON DC RUEAIIA/CIA WASHINGTON DC
C O N F I D E N T I A L BANGKOK 001586
SIPDIS
SIPDIS
PACOM FOR FPA HUSO
NSC FOR MORROW
E.O. 12958: DECL: 03/15/2016
TAGS: PGOV PREL PHUM KDEM TH
SUBJECT: IF THAI POLITICIANS WERE EXPIRED FOODS...
REF: BANGKOK617
Classified By: Political Counselor Susan M. Sutton, reason 1.4 (b) and
(d).
C O N F I D E N T I A L BANGKOK 001586
SIPDIS
SIPDIS
PACOM FOR FPA HUSO
NSC FOR MORROW
E.O. 12958: DECL: 03/15/2016
TAGS: PGOV PREL PHUM KDEM TH
SUBJECT: IF THAI POLITICIANS WERE EXPIRED FOODS...
REF: BANGKOK617
Classified By: Political Counselor Susan M. Sutton, reason 1.4 (b) and
(d).
1. (C) SUMMARY. In a candid meeting, civil activist Rosana
Tositurakul likened Thai politicians to "products with a
short shelf life" when exposed to the culture of corruption.
She urged the international community to focus on
counter-corruption and transparency measures in Thailand
instead of pressing for a quick election that would only
"force the Thai people to choose from a basket of expired
products." Rosana believed that the draft constitution would
not pass the referendum if articles calling for a non-elected
prime minister were included, and did not expect the
"undercurrents" -- i.e. supporters of -- former PM Thaksin to
cause major problems if the contents of the new charter are
"accepted by the people." End summary.
IT'S ANTI-CORRUPTION, STUPID!
--------------
2. (C) Rosana Tositurakul, one of Citigroup's "Politics
Shapers -- Ten Thais to Watch" this year and one of the
Embassy's proposed "Five Most Influential Women of Thailand,"
(reftel) compared Thai politicians to manufactured goods that
"spoil easily" under the political environment. But unlike
factories, Rosana claimed that the Thai people have "no way
to manage quality control" for these "expired" politicians
and Thailand lacks the mechanisms to "return" these
politicians if they are corrupt.
3. (C) Rosana urged the international community to stop
pressing Thailand to hold elections as soon as possible and
instead concentrate on ensuring a better quality of
governance by introducing anti-corruption and government
transparency measures in the new constitution that would
serve to enforce "quality control" on politicians. Rosana
explained that holding a quick election without dealing with
Thailand's corruption problem would be like "forcing the Thai
people to choose from a basket of spoiled foods that would
make them sick if ingested."
CONTENT MATTERS
--------------
5. (C) Rosana stated that the approval of the new
constitution hinges upon its content, with the most important
issue being whether the prime minister will be elected or
appointed. Rosana believed that the new charter would not
pass the referendum if it stipulated for an appointed prime
minister.
6. (C) Rosana also believed that former PM Thaksin's
Thai-Rak-Thai (TRT) Party will conduct anti-constitution
"undercurrent activities" against the new charter "regardless
of its contents" in Thailand's north and northeast, but "did
not expect the 'undertow' to be strong enough" to be
disruptive to the referendum as long as the new
constitution's contents are "accepted by the people."
BOYCE
SIPDIS
SIPDIS
PACOM FOR FPA HUSO
NSC FOR MORROW
E.O. 12958: DECL: 03/15/2016
TAGS: PGOV PREL PHUM KDEM TH
SUBJECT: IF THAI POLITICIANS WERE EXPIRED FOODS...
REF: BANGKOK617
Classified By: Political Counselor Susan M. Sutton, reason 1.4 (b) and
(d).
1. (C) SUMMARY. In a candid meeting, civil activist Rosana
Tositurakul likened Thai politicians to "products with a
short shelf life" when exposed to the culture of corruption.
She urged the international community to focus on
counter-corruption and transparency measures in Thailand
instead of pressing for a quick election that would only
"force the Thai people to choose from a basket of expired
products." Rosana believed that the draft constitution would
not pass the referendum if articles calling for a non-elected
prime minister were included, and did not expect the
"undercurrents" -- i.e. supporters of -- former PM Thaksin to
cause major problems if the contents of the new charter are
"accepted by the people." End summary.
IT'S ANTI-CORRUPTION, STUPID!
--------------
2. (C) Rosana Tositurakul, one of Citigroup's "Politics
Shapers -- Ten Thais to Watch" this year and one of the
Embassy's proposed "Five Most Influential Women of Thailand,"
(reftel) compared Thai politicians to manufactured goods that
"spoil easily" under the political environment. But unlike
factories, Rosana claimed that the Thai people have "no way
to manage quality control" for these "expired" politicians
and Thailand lacks the mechanisms to "return" these
politicians if they are corrupt.
3. (C) Rosana urged the international community to stop
pressing Thailand to hold elections as soon as possible and
instead concentrate on ensuring a better quality of
governance by introducing anti-corruption and government
transparency measures in the new constitution that would
serve to enforce "quality control" on politicians. Rosana
explained that holding a quick election without dealing with
Thailand's corruption problem would be like "forcing the Thai
people to choose from a basket of spoiled foods that would
make them sick if ingested."
CONTENT MATTERS
--------------
5. (C) Rosana stated that the approval of the new
constitution hinges upon its content, with the most important
issue being whether the prime minister will be elected or
appointed. Rosana believed that the new charter would not
pass the referendum if it stipulated for an appointed prime
minister.
6. (C) Rosana also believed that former PM Thaksin's
Thai-Rak-Thai (TRT) Party will conduct anti-constitution
"undercurrent activities" against the new charter "regardless
of its contents" in Thailand's north and northeast, but "did
not expect the 'undertow' to be strong enough" to be
disruptive to the referendum as long as the new
constitution's contents are "accepted by the people."
BOYCE