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)

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Classified By: Political Counselor Susan M. Sutton, reason: 1.4 (b,d).

SUMMARY
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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
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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
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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

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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
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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