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 BANGKOK 00002875 002 OF 003 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. BANGKOK 00002875 003 OF 003 ¶13. (C) A/S Hill did not have the opportunity to clear this cable. BOYCE