A/S HILL'S MEETING WITH FOREIGN MINISTER NITYA

C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 03 BANGKOK 002875

SIPDIS

SIPDIS

E.O. 12958: DECL: 05/22/2017
TAGS: PGOV PREL MARR PHUM KDEM TH
SUBJECT: A/S HILL'S MEETING WITH FOREIGN MINISTER NITYA

REF: A. BANGKOK 2855


B. BANGKOK 2854

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

1 (C) Summary: In a May 22 meeting with Thai Foreign
Minister Nitya Pibulsonggran, EAP Assistant Secretary (A/S)
Hill urged the Royal Thai Government to stick to its timeline
to hold elections and return to democratic governance by the
end of this year. Nitya said the interim administration was
committed to holding a referendum on the draft constitution
in September and elections in December. Nitya asked for
understanding for the challenges faced by the government
following the political paralysis under former Prime Minister
Thaksin. Nitya said the RTG remained committed to a
conciliatory approach to the South but would continue to
impose martial law there and in other border areas because of
security concerns. The Foreign Minister highlighted Thai
regional cooperation with Vietnam, Laos, and Cambodia but did
not offer any new insights regarding Burma. End Summary


2. (U) Participants

U.S.
Assistant Secretary Christopher Hill
Ambassador Ralph L. Boyce
Political Officer Colin Crosby (notetaker)

Thai
Foreign Minister Nitya Pibulsonggran
MFA Deputy Permanent Secretary Pradap Pibulsonggram
Manaspas Xuto, Advisor to the Foreign Minister
Aprirath Vienravi, Deputy Director General American Affairs

NITYA: WE WILL STICK TO ELECTION TIMELINE


3. (C) In a May 22 lunch meeting at the Ministry of Foreign
Affairs, Foreign Minister Nitya Pibulsonggran assured EAP A/S
Hill that Thailand would hold elections in 2007 as promised.
The timeline announced by Prime Minister Surayud to return to
democracy was settled and general elections will be held on
December 16 or 23. "We are moving resolutely ahead" on the
process to finish the constitution and return to
parliamentary democracy and the September 2 constitutional
referendum was "set in stone," he said. A/S Hill underscored
the importance of the RTG adhering to the timeline to hold
elections by the end of the 2007. He noted that while the
U.S. greatly valued its historical alliance and friendship
with Thailand, further delay would be looked at negatively.
"We have kept our word so far and we will hold elections in
December," Nitya responded. A/S Hill highlighted the fact
that the referendum would take place shortly before the
U.S.-ASEAN Summit in Singapore and would present an
opportunity for the RTG to demonstrate progress.

NITYA DEFENDS INTERIM GOVERNMENT'S ACTIONS


4. (C) Nitya defended the current government and complained
that it was being unfairly criticized by the international
community, pleading "don't demonize us." He said that many
Thais did not understand why they were so harshly criticized
and that some saw the reaction by the U.S. and others as a
"betrayal" of an old friend. "The reaction was shocking to
us," he claimed. A/S Hill replied that the RTG should not
have been surprised by our concern given that this was a
serious step back from democracy. Nitya described the coup
as a "popular uprising" against an corrupt regime. "Everyone
forgets how bad Thaksin was and how the country was paralyzed
for the ten months before the coup," he said. He said
corruption under Thaksin was occurring "on an incredible
magnitude" and that the former PM had systematically
undermined independent institutions and the press.


5. (C) A/S Hill said that regardless of the reasons behind
the coup, the fact that the RTG had used the military to
overthrow the civilian government was very difficult to
justify and the images of tanks on the streets were
impossible to erase. Nitya said the bloodless coup was a
uniquely Thai event. "Our tanks even stop at red lights," he
quipped. Nitya was hopeful the new constitution would
establish effective independent institutions as a check on
future Prime Ministers and would allow for political
differences to be resolved without military intervention.
"We are trying to create a fuller, more participatory

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democracy," he said. Nitya said the coup was unavoidable and
claimed "history will judge us well." A/S Hill said in the
meantime we would judge the government based on their
adherence to the election timetable. Hill made clear that a
second coup would be "disastrous" for Thailand. Nitya
assured A/S Hill that there would not be a second coup.

UNCERTAIN FATE FOR POLITICAL PARTIES


6. (C) The Ambassador observed that on May 30 the
Constitutional Tribunal would decide the fate of former Prime
Minister Thaksin's Thai Rak Thai and the opposition Democrat
parties. The most likely outcome seemed to be that TRT will
be dissolved but that members of both parties' executive
committees will not be banned from holding political office
in the future. Nitya said he agreed, however, the outcome
remained uncertain because of the independent role of the
tribunal. He and Prime Minister Surayud had recently
discussed the issue and agreed that they did not know what to
expect. He noted that both he and the PM would be out of the
country when the decision would be announced.

MARTIAL LAW TO STAY IN PLACE IN BORDER AREAS


7. (C) A/S Hill asked when full civil liberties would be
restored throughout the country. Nitya explained that
martial law had been in existence for years prior to the coup
in several different border areas in Thailand because of
security concerns. Nitya said the government has not been
given enough credit for how quickly martial law was lifted in
most of the country, especially in Bangkok, following the
coup. (Note: Significantly more territory, including areas
far from international borders, remain under martial law than
had been the case pre-coup. End Note)

GOVERNMENT WILL STICK WITH CONCILIATORY APPROACH TO SOUTH


8. (C) Nitya said the Prime Minister had made it clear that
the government would stick to a conciliatory approach towards
the South despite pressure from some quarters for a
crackdown. Nitya said that recent comments by an advisor to
PM Surayud that there were Muslims from neighboring countries
involved in the South were not supported by the facts and the
RTG was in the process of backing away from those statements.


WILLING TO HELP WITH NORTH KOREA


9. (C) Thailand remains interested in helping the Six-Party
Talks process and is willing to engage if asked, especially
in the context of the ASEAN Regional Forum (ARF). Nitya said
the RTG, together with other ASEAN nations, could provide
humanitarian assistance on the Korean Peninsula. A/S Hill
acknowledged the offer but did not indicate the USG would
look to ASEAN for this type of assistance.

FOCUSED ON REGIONAL COOPERATION


10. (C) Nitya said Thailand was focusing on cooperation
with neighboring countries and was working closely with
Vietnam on several large infrastructure projects aimed at
developing Cambodia and Laos. He highlighted a multi-billion
dollar road project that would bring new links between the
countries and China.

BURMA


11. (C) Nitya demurred from offering any new position on
Burma, calling it "a difficult issue that is not going to
change." He reminded A/S Hill of the Thailand's long border
with Burma and asked for understanding for the Thais
necessity to engage with their neighbor. Nitya said that the
recent UN Security Council debate -- which resulted in a
Chinese veto of a resolution critical of the Burmese regime
-- only encouraged the Burmese junta because they feel like
they don't have to rely on ASEAN for protection from
international condemnation.

TAC


12. (C) Nitya strongly encouraged the USG to sign the ASEAN
Treaty of Amity and Cooperation (TAC),noting it would be
seen as an enormously helpful move by countries in the
region.

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13. (C) A/S Hill did not have the opportunity to clear this
cable.
BOYCE