Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
07BANGKOK3058
2007-06-04 10:01:00
CONFIDENTIAL
Embassy Bangkok
Cable title:
AMNESTY FOR THAI RAK THAI? TRIAL BALLOON POPS
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C O N F I D E N T I A L BANGKOK 003058
SIPDIS
SIPDIS
E.O. 12958: DECL: 06/04/2017
TAGS: PGOV PHUM KDEM KJUS ASEC TH
SUBJECT: AMNESTY FOR THAI RAK THAI? TRIAL BALLOON POPS
REF: A. BANGKOK 2994 (TRT DISSOLVED)
B. BANGKOK 2993 (DEMOCRAT PARTY CLEARED)
C. BANGKOK 2956 (UPCOMING RULINGS)
Classified By: Ambassador Ralph L. Boyce, reason 1.4 (b) and (d).
C O N F I D E N T I A L BANGKOK 003058
SIPDIS
SIPDIS
E.O. 12958: DECL: 06/04/2017
TAGS: PGOV PHUM KDEM KJUS ASEC TH
SUBJECT: AMNESTY FOR THAI RAK THAI? TRIAL BALLOON POPS
REF: A. BANGKOK 2994 (TRT DISSOLVED)
B. BANGKOK 2993 (DEMOCRAT PARTY CLEARED)
C. BANGKOK 2956 (UPCOMING RULINGS)
Classified By: Ambassador Ralph L. Boyce, reason 1.4 (b) and (d).
1. (U) In public remarks on the evening of June 1, Council
for National Security (CNS) Chairman General Sonthi
Boonyaratglin expressed support for the idea of an amnesty
for some Thai Rak Thai (TRT) party executives who lost their
political rights as a result of the May 30 Constitutional
Tribunal ruling (ref A). Sonthi said the executive branch
and the National Legislative Assembly (NLA) could work out
the details of such an amnesty, to promote national
reconciliation and spare TRT executive board members not
involved in improprieties.
2. (U) The following day, Prime Minister Surayud Chulanont
showed a reluctance to pursue this idea, saying he would need
first to study the Tribunal's ruling. Soon thereafter, amid
a wave of criticism of the amnesty concept, Sonthi
backpedaled, claiming the proposal emanated from the NLA
rather than the CNS.
3. (C) Comment: Having 111 of the most influential
politicians in the country embittered and aggrieved, and
feeling that they have nothing to lose, is not an outcome
likely to contribute to political stability. GEN Sonthi's
trial balloon may indicate that the government/CNS are
considering ways to address this problem. Although the
political ban on the TRT members is the logical result of the
CNS's policies, it does not appear that the CNS is entirely
comfortable with the possible repercussions of the Tribunal's
decision. Amnesty is a potential solution, but would also be
very controversial. Only one thing is clear: although the
Tribunal's ruling was said to be final, the legal status of
TRT figures remains in play.
BOYCE
SIPDIS
SIPDIS
E.O. 12958: DECL: 06/04/2017
TAGS: PGOV PHUM KDEM KJUS ASEC TH
SUBJECT: AMNESTY FOR THAI RAK THAI? TRIAL BALLOON POPS
REF: A. BANGKOK 2994 (TRT DISSOLVED)
B. BANGKOK 2993 (DEMOCRAT PARTY CLEARED)
C. BANGKOK 2956 (UPCOMING RULINGS)
Classified By: Ambassador Ralph L. Boyce, reason 1.4 (b) and (d).
1. (U) In public remarks on the evening of June 1, Council
for National Security (CNS) Chairman General Sonthi
Boonyaratglin expressed support for the idea of an amnesty
for some Thai Rak Thai (TRT) party executives who lost their
political rights as a result of the May 30 Constitutional
Tribunal ruling (ref A). Sonthi said the executive branch
and the National Legislative Assembly (NLA) could work out
the details of such an amnesty, to promote national
reconciliation and spare TRT executive board members not
involved in improprieties.
2. (U) The following day, Prime Minister Surayud Chulanont
showed a reluctance to pursue this idea, saying he would need
first to study the Tribunal's ruling. Soon thereafter, amid
a wave of criticism of the amnesty concept, Sonthi
backpedaled, claiming the proposal emanated from the NLA
rather than the CNS.
3. (C) Comment: Having 111 of the most influential
politicians in the country embittered and aggrieved, and
feeling that they have nothing to lose, is not an outcome
likely to contribute to political stability. GEN Sonthi's
trial balloon may indicate that the government/CNS are
considering ways to address this problem. Although the
political ban on the TRT members is the logical result of the
CNS's policies, it does not appear that the CNS is entirely
comfortable with the possible repercussions of the Tribunal's
decision. Amnesty is a potential solution, but would also be
very controversial. Only one thing is clear: although the
Tribunal's ruling was said to be final, the legal status of
TRT figures remains in play.
BOYCE