A/S HILL'S MEETING WITH PRIME MINISTER SURAYUD

C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 03 BANGKOK 002855

SIPDIS

SIPDIS

DEPT FOR EAP, EAP/MLS
NSC FOR MORROW

E.O. 12958: DECL: 05/22/2017
TAGS: PREL PGOV KDEM TH
SUBJECT: A/S HILL'S MEETING WITH PRIME MINISTER SURAYUD


Classified By: Ambassador Ralph L. Boyce. Reason 1.4 (b,d)


1. (C) Summary. In a meeting with Prime Minister Surayud
Chulanont on May 22, EAP Assistant Secretary (A/S)
Christopher Hill welcomed advances to date in Thailand's
return to democracy and underscored the importance of
continued progress ahead of the September U.S-ASEAN summit in
Singapore. PM Surayud affirmed his commitment to the
timetable and said that he is exploring ways to accelerate
the effort. The Prime Minister expressed optimism on the Thai
economy and said that violence in the Malay-Muslim South has
decreased. Surayud hopes that nascent dialogue between the
government and insurgents will produce results by August.
The PM detailed improved regional cooperation between
Thailand, Laos, Cambodia and Vietnam, but bemoaned Burmese
intransigence. Surayud also expressed concern over the
recent signing of a nuclear cooperation effort between Burma
and Russia. A/S Hill thanked the Prime Minister for Thai
cooperation on Cobra Gold and refugees. End Summary.


2. (U) Participants:

U.S.
--------------
Assistant Secretary Christopher Hill
Ambassador Ralph L. Boyce
EAP Special Assistant Tom Gibbons
PolOff David Greenberg
PolOff Trent Wilson (notetaker)

Thai
--------------
Prime Minister Surayud Chulanont
Foreign Minister Nitya Pibulsonggram
Secretary General to the Prime Minister Pongthep Tesprateep

SIPDIS
MFA Deputy Director General Apirath Vienravi
Other unidentified staff members

DEMOCRACY TIMELINE
--------------


3. (C) Referencing his prior meeting with FM Nitya (septel),
A/S Hill welcomed the news that RTG efforts to promulgate a
new constitution and hold elections in December are on track.
PM Surayud affirmed his commitment to this timetamble.
Surayud explained that he is looking for ways to accelerate
this process by starting preparations for the election--such
as drafting election laws--earlier than scheduled. PM
Surayud confirmed that the draft constitution should be
completed in July and put to public referendum in early
September. The Prime Minister said that the constitution
drafters will probably drop some of the more controversial
points in the draft charter, allowing for easier passage.
Tabulating the vote should take about a week, in the PM's
opinion. A/S Hill underscored the positive timing of the
referendum, coming only days before senior leaders gather in
Singapore for a U.S.-ASEAN Summit meeting. A/S Hill
explained that senior U.S. policymakers continue to be very
interested in Thailand's progress in returning to democracy,
and that a completed referendum will provide a positive
marker for the Singapore meetings. PM Surayud expressed hope
that he might meet with President Bush in Singapore.


4. (C) Surayud maintained that Thailand has come a long way
since the coup. He expressed appreciation for U.S.
understanding of the Thai political situation. In Surayud's
assessment, his government is trying to solve an internal
political problem by establishing a "more practical way of
doing things." Surayud said that he is trying to establish a
better political foundation in order to get "a decent
government for this country." As part of his efforts, the PM
is also pushing a new bill in the legislature, similar to the
U.S. Homeland Security Act. In reference to an issue that
has put him at odds with the uniformed military of late,
Surayud said that he wants to move the government away from a
reliance on martial law to deal with internal security
issues. "Martial law is strictly for times of war."
According to Surayud, this new law would not be as strict as
the Malaysian or Singaporean Internal Security Acts, and he

BANGKOK 00002855 002 OF 003


hopes to move it through the legislature in June. A/S Hill
urged the Prime Minister to approach this issue in a careful
manner.

ECONOMY
--------------


5. (C) Surayud was optimistic about Thailand's economic
growth. The PM said that he expects third and fourth quarter
growth to increase, putting year-end growth at 4.2-4.5
percent--on track with last year's figures. Surayud
acknowledged that the uncertain political climate had briefly
impacted the domestic stock market and that it was his duty
to improve public confidence in his government's stability.
People in the countryside are looking forward to the next
election, according to Surayud, suggesting that progess
towards the election will improve market confidence.

SOUTH
--------------


6. (C) A/S Hill asked for an update on the South. The Prime
Minister claimed that the degree of violence in Thailand's
three southern provinces has decreased, and that southern
insurgents have limited their operations to certain
districts. Surayud explained that his government was trying
to persuade the insurgents to engage in dialogue with the RTG
officials and he hopes to see results from this effort before
August. When asked about Thai-Malaysian cooperation on the
South, the PM affirmed that they are working "hand-in-hand."
According to Surayud, Malaysian Prime Minister Abdullah has
told him that southern violence is not just a Thai, but also
a Malaysian problem.

COBRA GOLD
--------------


7. (C) A/S Hill pointed to the recently completed Cobra Gold
exercise as evidence of the strong U.S.-Thai bilateral
partnership. Surayud agreed that Cobra Gold had been a
success.

REGIONAL COOPERATION
--------------


8. (C) Drawing from his conversation with FM Nitya, A/S Hill
asked about Thailand's cooperation with neighboring
countries. PM Surayud explained that RTG cooperation with
Cambodia, Laos and Vietnam was on the upswing, with several
new road and bridge projects underway. According to Surayud,
Thailand's neighbors have historically kept to themselves,
but are now increasingly energized in their interactions with
the RTG, leading to new platforms for cooperation. A/S Hill
welcomed this changing dynamic, but expressed some concern
over Vientiane's unenthusiastic response to increasing
engagement. Surayud agreed, saying that the Lao "tend to be
reserved" and warning that, if the GOL does not "catch this
train" they may lose out. The Prime Minister also agreed
with A/S Hill's observation that Hanoi appears much more
energized when engaging foreign partners. Surayud explained
that Vietnamese officials have also encouraged Laos and
Cambodia to improve their cooperation with the RTG.

BURMA
--------------


9. (C) Following a brief discussion of the North Korean
nuclear issue, Surayud expressed concern over the recent
announcement of nuclear cooperation between Russia and Burma.
A/S Hill asked the Prime Minister if he had any proposals on
this subject, pointing to the incalcitrant nature of the
Burmese junta, and Rangoon's disregard for international
opinion. A/S Hill went on to illustrate how other countries
of the region are modernizing and improving governance, while
Burma is moving backward.

REFUGEES
--------------


BANGKOK 00002855 003 OF 003



10. (C) A/S Hill thanked Surayud for his government's efforts
to assist North Korean refugees. Surayud bemoaned the large
number of refugees from multiple countries in Thailand. The
PM explained that nearly one million ethnic minorities from
Burma are working illegally in Thailand and RTG efforts to
establish a "guest worker" program have met with silence from
Burmese officials. Surayud said that the RTG has tried to
get the Burmese government to acknowledge the citizenship of
ethnic minorities living Thailand, in order to legalize them
as guest workers, but the Burmese refuse to cooperate.


11. (U) A/S Hill did not have an opportunity to clear this
cable.
BOYCE