Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
07BANGKOK3380
2007-06-18 09:40:00
CONFIDENTIAL
Embassy Bangkok
Cable title:
THAIS UNENTHUSIASTIC ON ZIMBABWE TRAVEL
how-toVZCZCXYZ0000 OO RUEHWEB DE RUEHBK #3380 1690940 ZNY CCCCC ZZH O 180940Z JUN 07 FM AMEMBASSY BANGKOK TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC IMMEDIATE 7708 INFO RUEHBY/AMEMBASSY CANBERRA PRIORITY 7301 RUEHSB/AMEMBASSY HARARE PRIORITY 0025 RUEHKL/AMEMBASSY KUALA LUMPUR PRIORITY 6255 RUEHLO/AMEMBASSY LONDON PRIORITY 1356 RUEHOT/AMEMBASSY OTTAWA PRIORITY 7466 RUEHGP/AMEMBASSY SINGAPORE PRIORITY 3764 RUEHWL/AMEMBASSY WELLINGTON PRIORITY 1776
C O N F I D E N T I A L BANGKOK 003380
SIPDIS
SIPDIS
DEPT FOR AF/S - STEVE HILL
E.O. 12958: DECL: 06/18/2017
TAGS: PGOV PHUM PREL ZI TH
SUBJECT: THAIS UNENTHUSIASTIC ON ZIMBABWE TRAVEL
RESTRICTIONS
REF: STATE 75160
Classified By: Political Counselor Susan M. Sutton for reason 1.4 (b,d)
C O N F I D E N T I A L BANGKOK 003380
SIPDIS
SIPDIS
DEPT FOR AF/S - STEVE HILL
E.O. 12958: DECL: 06/18/2017
TAGS: PGOV PHUM PREL ZI TH
SUBJECT: THAIS UNENTHUSIASTIC ON ZIMBABWE TRAVEL
RESTRICTIONS
REF: STATE 75160
Classified By: Political Counselor Susan M. Sutton for reason 1.4 (b,d)
1. (C) On June 18 Poloff and representatives from the
Australian, UK, Canadian, and New Zealand Embassies delivered
reftel demarche to the Thai MFA and urged the RTG to
implement travel restrictions against some Zimbabwean
officials. At a meeting attended by Ministry of Foreign
Affairs South Asian, Middle East and African Deputy
Director-General Panyarak Poolthup and Africa Division
Director Tomwit Jarnson, Poolthup indicated he will submit
the proposal to senior MFA officials for consideration but
added that the RTG opposes sanctions against any single
country. When pressed by the Australian representative that
the RTG supports sanctions against Iran, Director Jarnson
later clarified that the RTG only supports sanctions
authorized under a United Nations umbrella.
2. (C) An ultimately-positive reply is unlikely, however,
especially in light of comments by Jarnson during the meeting
that the problem in Zimbabwe is an "internal matter" and that
applying sanctions would "open Pandora's box" since "there
are other African countries with similar problems". Jarnson
openly questioned the efficacy of sanctions and the
involvement of non-African countries in pressuring the
Zimbabwean government.
3. (C) In an informal conversation with the Canadian Embassy
representative prior to the meeting, Jarnson expressed
disappointment over the negative response of the
international community to Thailand's September 2006 coup.
We suspect that some of Jarnson's opposition to any kind of
sanctions against Zimbabwe may reflect his concern that
Thailand could become the target for similar international
sanctions.
BOYCE
SIPDIS
SIPDIS
DEPT FOR AF/S - STEVE HILL
E.O. 12958: DECL: 06/18/2017
TAGS: PGOV PHUM PREL ZI TH
SUBJECT: THAIS UNENTHUSIASTIC ON ZIMBABWE TRAVEL
RESTRICTIONS
REF: STATE 75160
Classified By: Political Counselor Susan M. Sutton for reason 1.4 (b,d)
1. (C) On June 18 Poloff and representatives from the
Australian, UK, Canadian, and New Zealand Embassies delivered
reftel demarche to the Thai MFA and urged the RTG to
implement travel restrictions against some Zimbabwean
officials. At a meeting attended by Ministry of Foreign
Affairs South Asian, Middle East and African Deputy
Director-General Panyarak Poolthup and Africa Division
Director Tomwit Jarnson, Poolthup indicated he will submit
the proposal to senior MFA officials for consideration but
added that the RTG opposes sanctions against any single
country. When pressed by the Australian representative that
the RTG supports sanctions against Iran, Director Jarnson
later clarified that the RTG only supports sanctions
authorized under a United Nations umbrella.
2. (C) An ultimately-positive reply is unlikely, however,
especially in light of comments by Jarnson during the meeting
that the problem in Zimbabwe is an "internal matter" and that
applying sanctions would "open Pandora's box" since "there
are other African countries with similar problems". Jarnson
openly questioned the efficacy of sanctions and the
involvement of non-African countries in pressuring the
Zimbabwean government.
3. (C) In an informal conversation with the Canadian Embassy
representative prior to the meeting, Jarnson expressed
disappointment over the negative response of the
international community to Thailand's September 2006 coup.
We suspect that some of Jarnson's opposition to any kind of
sanctions against Zimbabwe may reflect his concern that
Thailand could become the target for similar international
sanctions.
BOYCE