THAI PRO-BUDDHISM PROTEST WILTS IN THE HEAT

C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 02 BANGKOK 002364

SIPDIS

SIPDIS

PACOM FOR FPA

E.O. 12958: DECL: 04/26/2017
TAGS: PGOV PHUM KDEM KIRF TH
SUBJECT: THAI PRO-BUDDHISM PROTEST WILTS IN THE HEAT

REF: BANGKOK 2327 (AMBASSADOR,S MEETING WITH PRASONG)

Classified By: Political Officer Guy Margalith, reason: 1.4 (d).

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


1. (SBU) Approximately 2,000 monks and laypersons demanding
the constitutional designation of Buddhism as Thailand's
state religion protested peacefully on April 25 and 26 in
front of parliament. The fact that the protests did not draw
as large a crowd as expected indicates that, at least so far,
this issue has failed to excite the interest that many had
hoped -- and some had feared -- it would generate. While the
protest did not include any anti-coup messages, political
actors have attempted to seize the issue to advance their own
agenda. End Summary.

BUDDHIST GROUPS MOBILIZE
--------------


2. (U) Approximately 2,000 Buddhist clergy and laypeople
representing several mainstream Thai Buddhist organizations
gathered in front of the parliament on April 25-26 in the
largest post-coup religious protest to date. The groups have
been publicly campaigning for a constitutional provision
designating Buddhism as Thailand's state religion since
February and have threatened to continue protesting for up to
a year if necessary.


3. (U) Buddhism has not been designated as Thailand's state
religion in prior constitutions even though 95 percent of
Thais are Buddhist. Clergy-led groups launched an ultimately
unsuccessful campaign to insert language designating Buddhism
as the state religion in the 1997 constitution, and have
vowed not to accept a similar outcome during the present
debate.

RECORD HEAT CONTRIBUTES TO LOW ATTENDANCE
--------------


4. (U) While event organizers promised to turn the steps of
parliament into a temple and mobilize hundreds of thousands
of demonstrators, the actual turnout was markedly lower.
Hours after the protests began, fewer than 1,000 monks and
only 100-200 laypeople had turned out to brave the sweltering
heat. While some monks and laypeople marched to the protest
from outside the capital -- including one former senator
theatrically riding on the back of an elephant -- the protest
remained much smaller than many had anticipated. Although
many Thai appear inclined to favor making Buddhism the state
religion, there does not yet appear to be a strong, organized
movement supporting it. Record breaking heat -- the press
reported it was the hottest day in the last 47 years --
probably also kept attendance down.

STICKING TO MESSAGE
--------------


5. (U) The mood was decidedly low key as monks and nuns
calmly listened to speakers, prayed or chanted. (Note: When
demonstrating on political topics, monks generally make their
point by virtue of their presence; they would not engage in
the types of cheering or fist-waving typical of non-monks.
End Note.) Representatives of Buddhist educational
institutions, youth groups, temples, and charitable
organizations -- some closely affiliated with the monarchy --
argued that designating Buddhism as the state religion in the
constitution would improve Buddhist observance and reduce
"moral degradation" in society. Some speakers argued the
clause would help reduce corruption and dishonesty in Thai
politics.


6. (U) Absent from the rally were any anti-coup groups or
pro-democracy protesters with an anti-government message.
Also absent were incendiary messages about Islam or other
religions. We observed a woman wearing an Islamic headscarf
passing through the crowd unmolested.

SONTHI JOINS THE BANDWAGON

BANGKOK 00002364 002 OF 002


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


7. (U) While Buddhism already enjoys strong legal protections
in Thailand, the effort to enshrine its standing in the
constitution appears to have strong popular support. A large
cross-section of the population supports the measure, but
constitution drafters have thus far resisted pressure to
include the language in the draft constitution, claiming it
is both unnecessary and needlessly provocative to Thailand,s
non-Buddhist population.


8. (C) Thai leaders have moved to preempt groups campaigning
against the constitution from seizing on the issue to derail
the draft constitution. On April 25 Prime Minister Surayud
Chulanont publicly indicated concern that the demonstrations
could lead to a rejection of the draft constitution. (On
April 26, one of the protest's top organizers, retired
General Thongchai Kuasakun, urged those in attendance to vote
against the constitution in the referendum if the provision
on Buddhism is not included.) Council for National Security
(CNS) Chairman General Sonthi Boonyaratglin, a Muslim,
publicly announced on April 25 that he would not oppose the
designation of Buddhism as the official state religion in the
constitution if it would help bring "peace to the country".
As reported in reftel, Constitution Drafting Committee (CDC)
Chairman Prasong Soonsiri told the Ambassador on April 24 he
believes that former Prime Ministers Thaksin Shinawatra and
Chavalit Yongchaiyudh were playing games with this issue in
an effort to tarnish the interim government.

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


9. (C) Ever since the coup, our contacts have told us that
rewriting the constitution would reopen debate on Buddhism's
status, and they warned this could become the most
contentious issue. While it has generated debate, many do
not feel it represents the most critical area of concern,
which instead may be the functions and composition of the
branches of government. Several contacts have suggested to
us that most Buddhists feel that including the designaSNna,;QQ7}\QxQk{q;QQt that the
protests did not draw as large a crowd as expected indicates
that, at least so far, this issue has failed to excite the
interest that many had hoped -- and some had feared -- it
would generate. End Comment.
ARVIZU