THAI ROUND-UP JUNE 11: DEMOS AND DOLLARS

C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 02 BANGKOK 003210

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E.O. 12958: DECL: 06/10/2017
TAGS: PGOV PHUM PREL KDEM TH
SUBJECT: THAI ROUND-UP JUNE 11: DEMOS AND DOLLARS


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


1. (C) SUMMARY: The Assets Examination Commission announced
on June 11 that it would freeze the assets of former Prime
Minister Thaksin, based on accusations of corruption and
misconduct. Pro-Thaksin demonstrators marched Saturday on
the Army Headquarters; a prominent anti-Thaksin activist was
the target of jibes and thrown bottles from the crowd. The
PTV demo at Sanam Luang had about 25,000 people on Sunday.
Several thousand monks demonstrated to make Buddhism the
state religion. None of these demonstrations, in themselves,
appear large enough to have much impact, but the cumulative
effect will make the authorities nervous. END SUMMARY.

AEC FREEZES THAKSIN ASSETS
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2. (C) The Assets Examination Commission (AEC) late today
announced a freeze on former PM Thaksin's assets. The AEC
has the authority to freeze the assets of anyone if there are
reasonable grounds to believe that he has been involved in
corruption or misconduct, according to the Council on
National Security (CNS) decree 30. The AEC listed five
charges of misconduct/corruption, including the CTX case and
alleged fraud connected to the proceeds of the 3-digit
lottery. The order is effective immediately; Thaksin can
appeal.


3. (C) The AEC has been criticized by many of the
anti-Thaksin forces for not moving sooner to freeze the
ex-PM's assets. The decision to do so now may be partly
rooted in the concerns that Thaksin is paying the bill for
the anti-goverment protests and is suspected of funding
former TRT politicians' efforts to form pro-Thaksin proxy
parties. On the other hand, after six months of
investigation, it may have been time for the AEC to either
admit it couldn't find any evidence of corruption (and be
hooted out of town) or lay out its case, and give Thaksin a
chance to respond to it.


PTV DEMONSTRATORS MARCH AND THROW THINGS
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4. (C) The pro-Thaksin rally at Sanam Luang made the news
late Saturday when an estimated 10,000 protesters marched on
the Army Headquarters. The group demonstrated at the HQ
until after midnight, according to press reports. Prominent
anti-Thaksin activist, former Senator Kraisak Choonhaven,
went to observe the protest and had to be rescued by police.
He was identified by someone in the crowd, and suffered minor
injuries, apparently from being struck by bottles thrown at
him by protesters. The crowd subsequently dispersed, with no
other reports of injuries or arrests.


5. (C) The demonstration continued on Sunday evening.
Although PTV is still the organizer, the group seems to make
little reference to its original cause d'etre, to be allowed
to set up its cable TV station. The stage backdrop says,
"Democracy" and the speakers say, "CNS - get out" and laud
Thaksin and his Thai Rak Thai party. (We spotted a "We miss
Thaksin" bumper sticker.) The crowd was significantly larger
than the earlier PTV demos -- by our rough estimate, at least
25,000 participants. The group seemed on average younger and
less middle-class than the anti-Thaksin rallies of last year.
There was clearly a hard core of followers, who shouted and
waved "CNS- get out" banners. On the other hand, a number of
the participants sat far back in the field, removed from the
crowd, and talked among themselves with seemingly little
interest in the goings on. The contention that at least some
of the participants are paid to join the crowd may be true,
but many of the protesters appear sincere and motivated.
Although the demonstrations are not large, they are
persistent enough to make the CNS nervous, particularly if
they leave the controllable confines of Sanam Luang.

BUDDHIST MONKS PROTEST

BANGKOK 00003210 002 OF 002


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6. (C) The Constitution Drafting Assembly (CDA) was also the
site of a small protest by several thousand Buddhist monks,
calling for Buddhism to be made the state religion in the new
constitution. (Press estimates say 5,000, but traffic police
for the area say it was only about half that number.) About
ten monks are fasting near the CDA site as well. Last month,
supporters of the state religion proposal had threatened to
bring out tens of thousands of monks and lay people in
support of its demands. While any demonstration by monks gets
attention, they do not seem to be turning out large enough
numbers to intimidate the CDA.



BOYCE