DEMOCRACY ALIVE AND WELL IN THAILAND,S NORTHEAST

C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 02 BANGKOK 002642 SIPDIS SIPDIS DEPT FOR EAP/MLS E.O. 12958: DECL: 05/11/2017 TAGS: PGOV PREL KDEM TH SUBJECT: DEMOCRACY ALIVE AND WELL IN THAILAND,S NORTHEAST REF: BANGKOK 2565 (REFERNDUM PREPARATION IN THE NORTHEAST) BANGKOK 00002642 001.2 OF 002 Classified By: Political Counselor Susan M. Sutton, reason: 1.4 (b,d). SUMMARY -------------- ¶1. (C) Local elections in Thailand,s provinces continue apace even though the promulgation of a new constitution has delayed parliamentary elections on a national level. In influential Ubon Ratchatani -- Thailand,s fourth populous province and the host of a recent visit by Prime Minister Surayud Chulanont -- the province,s Election Commission has administered 9 elections for 49 local assemblies since January alone. However, while appointed governors answerable to Bangkok wield most local authority, elected local politicians hold sway over the hearts and minds of rural people. Recent calls by coup leaders to appoint, rather than elect, village headman underscore their desire to exert greater control over local leaders, many of whom influence the vote of rural constituencies on issues of consequence -- including the fate of the constitutional referendum planned for later this year. End Summary. DEMOCRACY NOT QUITE DEAD -------------- ¶2. (C) Poloffs recently traveled to Ubon Ratchatani, one of Thailand,s largest and most influential provinces, to gauge local political sentiment ahead of a planned referendum on the draft constitution. (Note: See reftel for provincial efforts to prepare for the referendum. End Note.) On May 3 officials from the Ubon Ratchatani Provincial Election Commission (PEC) enumerated their accomplishments over the recent year, including overseeing 9 local elections for 49 provincial, district and municipal assemblies since January. The PEC Chairman also described his agency,s comprehensive preparations for the upcoming September referendum and -- should it pass -- parliamentary elections planned for late ¶2007. As local employees of Thailand,s independent National Election Commission the provincial officials appeared dedicated, professional, and busy -- the commission is planning 10 additional local elections through the end of the year. ¶3. (U) In Thailand,s provinces powerful appointed civil servants share power with elected assemblies that exercise limited legislative oversight. The Interior Ministry appoints governors and district officers who maintain public order and provide basic services on a provincial and local level respectively. Residents elect between 24 to 48 people to serve four-year terms on a provincial assembly that has the authority to advise the governor. Although their activity is subject to oversight by the Interior Ministry,s Department of Local Administration, these assemblies retain influence by setting provincial budgetary priorities. Larger municipalities elect council members who oversee local city administration and are structured similar to provincial assemblies. ¶4. (U) On a rural level, every 5 years villages elect headmen to serve as record keepers and liaisons with district officials. Headmen from neighboring villages in turn elect a district headman who through his semi-official status is entitled to wear an official uniform, receive a monthly stipend, and is confirmed in office by the governor. LOCAL POLITICS MATTER -------------- ¶5. (SBU) Although they lack substantive administrative authority local leaders are widely influential. By building complex patronage networks and funneling provincial resources to their supporters local leaders often amass influence and wealth that can have an impact on a national level. Many members of parliament started their political careers as village headmen or members of provincial assemblies. Prior to the September 2006 coup at least 3 of Ubon Ratchatani,s 11 parliamentary constituencies were represented by former BANGKOK 00002642 002.2 OF 002 Provincial Assembly members. ¶6. (C) As described in reftel rural people in Thailand,s northeast tend to vote based on the guidance of their local leaders. Endorsement by these leaders is often the critical factor in influencing elections for national office. Even for issues with national implications such as the planned constitutional referendum, the support of village headmen, at least in Ubon Ratchatani, appears to be crucial. As one village headman told us on May 3, "people vote as ordered, good or not, that's the way it is". ¶7. (C) Local elections are on paper non-partisan although in reality provincial leaders form the backbone of national political organizations. In Ubon Ratchatani, 64% of the population supported candidates from deposed PM Thaksin's Thai Rak Thai party in the 2005 parliamentary elections, and the support of local leaders was influential. Local contacts identified these village leaders as some of the more stalwart supporters of the deposed PM. In April, Council for National Security Chairman Sonthi Boonyaratgalin publicly supported constitutional provisions that would replace elected village headmen with appointed officials who would serve until retirement, ensuring that these leaders would no longer be elected by local constituencies but rather selected by the Ministry of Interior. The move may indicate coup leaders would like to reduce the influence of political parties on a local level. There is, however, no plan to change the status of the elected local assemblies, which allocate budgets and which have become arenas for political party competition. COMMENT -------------- ¶8. (C) While on a national level democracy appears to be stalled, provincial politics and local intrigue are thriving. According to discussions with local leaders, the ability of elected provincial politicians to influence public opinion has remained unchanged since the coup. Perhaps as a result, some coup leaders appear eager to curb the influence of local politicians that may be hostile to their agenda by reducing the ability of rural constituencies to elect their leaders. Like the other proposed legislative and constitutional changes currently under consideration, it remains to be seen whether this proposal will be adopted. End comment. BOYCE