Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
07BANGKOK3402
2007-06-19 10:42:00
CONFIDENTIAL
Embassy Bangkok
Cable title:
DOUBLE SECRET LEGISLATION: THAI SECURITY ACT
how-toVZCZCXRO9256 OO RUEHCHI RUEHDT RUEHHM DE RUEHBK #3402 1701042 ZNY CCCCC ZZH O 191042Z JUN 07 FM AMEMBASSY BANGKOK TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC IMMEDIATE 7727 INFO RUEHZS/ASSOCIATION OF SOUTHEAST ASIAN NATIONS RUEHBJ/AMEMBASSY BEIJING 4409 RUEHBY/AMEMBASSY CANBERRA 7305 RUEHUL/AMEMBASSY SEOUL 3267 RUEHKO/AMEMBASSY TOKYO 9420 RUEKJCS/SECDEF WASHINGTON DC RHEFDIA/DIA WASHDC RHHMUNA/CDR USPACOM HONOLULU HI RUEAIIA/CIA WASHINGTON DC RHEHNSC/NSC WASHDC
C O N F I D E N T I A L BANGKOK 003402
SIPDIS
SIPDIS
DEPT FOR EAP, EAP/MLS
NSC FOR WILDER
E.O. 12958: DECL: 06/19/2017
TAGS: PGOV PREL KDEM TH
SUBJECT: DOUBLE SECRET LEGISLATION: THAI SECURITY ACT
PENDING?
REF: A. (BANGKOK 02855) A/S HILL'S MEETING WITH PRIME
MINISTER SURAYUD
B. (BANGKOK 01754) THAILAND'S NEW SECURITY
STRUCTURE: BETTER LIVING THROUGH ISOC
Classified By: Ambassador Ralph L. Boyce. Reason 1.4 (b,d)
C O N F I D E N T I A L BANGKOK 003402
SIPDIS
SIPDIS
DEPT FOR EAP, EAP/MLS
NSC FOR WILDER
E.O. 12958: DECL: 06/19/2017
TAGS: PGOV PREL KDEM TH
SUBJECT: DOUBLE SECRET LEGISLATION: THAI SECURITY ACT
PENDING?
REF: A. (BANGKOK 02855) A/S HILL'S MEETING WITH PRIME
MINISTER SURAYUD
B. (BANGKOK 01754) THAILAND'S NEW SECURITY
STRUCTURE: BETTER LIVING THROUGH ISOC
Classified By: Ambassador Ralph L. Boyce. Reason 1.4 (b,d)
1. (C) As of close of business on June 19, RTG officials
were expected to announce that a draft Internal Security Act
had been presented to the cabinet for debate. Speculation
over the proposed bill has ebbed and flowed for months.
Local press reported on June 17 that PM Surayud had
instructed the National Security Council--which had drafted
the bill--to present the act at the cabinet meeting this
week. An MFA contact told us on June 19 that his
organization was expecting the announcement of the draft law,
and had been charged with "explaining it" to the foreign
community--even though MFA has not even seen a copy of it yet.
2. (C) Indeed, although we have heard for some time about the
drafting of a new security law--PM Surayud mentioned it to
Assistant Secretary Hill in a May 22 meeting (ref A),and a
military contact raised the issue in March (ref B)--the
specifics of this act remain unclear. While most observers
expect that the new law will formally establish the form and
functions of the Internal Security Operations Command (ISOC),
most of our contacts have denied any specific knowledge of
the draft legislation. Members of the National Legislative
Assembly contacted last week said that they had not been
shown the document.
3. (C) Such secrecy has inspired worried speculation that the
bill will codify enhanced military power. One human rights
contact, who claimed to have been briefed on the bill by an
Army source, warned on June 19 that the security act will
make ISOC "more powerful than the government," with wide
powers of arrest and detention, similar to those provided
under the Emergency Decree active in the insurgency-plagued
South.
4. (C) A senior Royal Thai Police (RTP) general previewed the
draft legislation with the DCM late June 18. The RTP general
related that it was discussed in detail with Council on
National Security (CNS) leaders that morning. He assured the
DCM that the law "would not be like martial law or an
emergency decree"; rather, it was designed to ensure that
leaders of demonstrations "would have to take responsibility,
under the law, for actions taken by demonstrators." The DCM
urged that the police and CNS proceed cautiously, as it
seemed to us that the authorities were able to maintain
security without the need to enact additional legislation.
5. (C) COMMENT: While acknowledging the danger of commenting
on a draft law that no one has seen, it is important to point
out that the draft bill will still have to pass the
legislature--which, while anemic is no rubber
stamp-body--before becoming law. Even if the initial draft
envisions expanded powers for the military, or its proxy,
ISOC, this opening negotiating gambit is likely to be
challenged by the press and public opinion.
BOYCE
SIPDIS
SIPDIS
DEPT FOR EAP, EAP/MLS
NSC FOR WILDER
E.O. 12958: DECL: 06/19/2017
TAGS: PGOV PREL KDEM TH
SUBJECT: DOUBLE SECRET LEGISLATION: THAI SECURITY ACT
PENDING?
REF: A. (BANGKOK 02855) A/S HILL'S MEETING WITH PRIME
MINISTER SURAYUD
B. (BANGKOK 01754) THAILAND'S NEW SECURITY
STRUCTURE: BETTER LIVING THROUGH ISOC
Classified By: Ambassador Ralph L. Boyce. Reason 1.4 (b,d)
1. (C) As of close of business on June 19, RTG officials
were expected to announce that a draft Internal Security Act
had been presented to the cabinet for debate. Speculation
over the proposed bill has ebbed and flowed for months.
Local press reported on June 17 that PM Surayud had
instructed the National Security Council--which had drafted
the bill--to present the act at the cabinet meeting this
week. An MFA contact told us on June 19 that his
organization was expecting the announcement of the draft law,
and had been charged with "explaining it" to the foreign
community--even though MFA has not even seen a copy of it yet.
2. (C) Indeed, although we have heard for some time about the
drafting of a new security law--PM Surayud mentioned it to
Assistant Secretary Hill in a May 22 meeting (ref A),and a
military contact raised the issue in March (ref B)--the
specifics of this act remain unclear. While most observers
expect that the new law will formally establish the form and
functions of the Internal Security Operations Command (ISOC),
most of our contacts have denied any specific knowledge of
the draft legislation. Members of the National Legislative
Assembly contacted last week said that they had not been
shown the document.
3. (C) Such secrecy has inspired worried speculation that the
bill will codify enhanced military power. One human rights
contact, who claimed to have been briefed on the bill by an
Army source, warned on June 19 that the security act will
make ISOC "more powerful than the government," with wide
powers of arrest and detention, similar to those provided
under the Emergency Decree active in the insurgency-plagued
South.
4. (C) A senior Royal Thai Police (RTP) general previewed the
draft legislation with the DCM late June 18. The RTP general
related that it was discussed in detail with Council on
National Security (CNS) leaders that morning. He assured the
DCM that the law "would not be like martial law or an
emergency decree"; rather, it was designed to ensure that
leaders of demonstrations "would have to take responsibility,
under the law, for actions taken by demonstrators." The DCM
urged that the police and CNS proceed cautiously, as it
seemed to us that the authorities were able to maintain
security without the need to enact additional legislation.
5. (C) COMMENT: While acknowledging the danger of commenting
on a draft law that no one has seen, it is important to point
out that the draft bill will still have to pass the
legislature--which, while anemic is no rubber
stamp-body--before becoming law. Even if the initial draft
envisions expanded powers for the military, or its proxy,
ISOC, this opening negotiating gambit is likely to be
challenged by the press and public opinion.
BOYCE