VIOLENCE AT ANTI-PREM DEMONSTRATION IN BANGKOK

C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 02 BANGKOK 004003 SIPDIS SIPDIS E.O. 12958: DECL: 07/23/2017 TAGS: PGOV PHUM PREL KDEM ASEC TH SUBJECT: VIOLENCE AT ANTI-PREM DEMONSTRATION IN BANGKOK REF: BANGKOK 3278 Classified By: Charge d'Affaires a.i. James F. Entwistle, reason: 1.4 ( b) and (d). ¶1. (C) SUMMARY: Clashes broke out late Sunday between police and several thousand anti-coup demonstrators at the Bangkok home of Privy Council President Prem. Although the confrontation lasted several hours, there were few injuries. Neither side appeared intent on inflicting serious harm. Police have announced that they will seek arrest warrants for the leaders of the demonstration. The incident is unlikely to win more support for the anti-coup protesters, whom many will view as an unruly mob threatening the home of an elder statesman who is close to the King. The police are also unlikely to benefit. We may be relieved that they did not, as far as can be determined now, use excessive force; indeed, TV footage makes it appear that they were largely on the retreat from the crowd. So far, the authorities say they do not plan to declare martial law or a state of emergency in Bangkok. END SUMMARY. ¶2. (SBU) Clashes between anti-coup demonstrators and police broke out late Sunday evening as police attempted to end a demonstration in front of the Bangkok home of Privy Council President Prem Tinsulanonda. The demonstration began mid-day Sunday, as the Democratic Alliance Against Dictatorship (DAAD) staged a small rally at Sanam Luang (the usual site of Bangkok demonstrations). During the mid-afternoon, the crowd started to march on GEN Prem's home. The DAAD includes pro-Thaksin elements led by former Thai Rak Thai members, as well as NGO groups that oppose the coup but do not advocate for Thaksin's return. They have long targeted GEN Prem for criticism, as they believe he helped organize the September coup. PROTESTERS DETERMINED -------------- ¶3. (SBU) Unlike previous demonstrations/marches, the march on Prem's house was not, apparently, announced in advance and seems to have taken the police by surprise. In previous rallies, both pro- and anti-Thaksin, demonstrators had either respected police barricades or negotiated with police to march through their checkpoints. During Sunday's demonstration, the protesters appeared determined to reach the Privy Councillor's home. News footage shows that demonstrators commandeered a garbage truck to force their way through one police barricade. Other footage shows the police trying to hold the crowd at a set of metal barricades. The police appear to have gotten orders to fall back, as they retreated and allowed the crowd through. Some of the demonstrators threw the barricades into the nearby canal. ¶4. (SBU) The demonstrators arrived at GEN Prem's walled compound, located on a broad avenue in central Bangkok, in the early evening; they said that they would continue their demonstration until Prem resigned from his Privy Council position. Prem was reportedly in his home at the time. The crowd was estimated at between 3-6,000; press reports say about 2,000 police were on the scene. Police used tear gas to try to get the crowd to disperse (although the police themselves did not have gas masks). Two policemen then tried to climb up onto the truck carrying the DAAD leaders, but were simply pushed back by protesters on the truck. The attempt to arrest the DAAD leaders appeared to have incited the crowd; video footage shows a small number of protesters, probably not more that 100, throwing water bottles, rocks and debris at fleeing police, who then turned, flourishing batons, and chased the retreating demonstrators. Much of the ensuing confrontation appeared to consist of the demonstrators throwing objects at a line of police about 10 yards away, hunkered down behind their riot shields. Demonstrators used umbrellas and, in a few cases, bamboo poles to strike at police. Police defended themselves with their shields and, in one case caught on film, a plastic chair. None of the pictures or video so far available shows either police or demonstrators beating an opponent or attempting to inflict serious injury. However, a journalist present at the scene later told us the atmosphere instilled a sense of worry for his safety while in the area; he noted some of the demonstrators were drunk. Several official BANGKOK 00004003 002 OF 002 vehicles in the area were vandalized. Close to midnight, the police used water cannon to disperse the remaining protesters, who returned to Sanam Luang and subsequently dispersed of their own accord. FEW INJURIES -------------- ¶5. (U) According to our inquiries to health officials, there were 106 injuried as a result of the clash. These included 77 police, 1 soldier, and 28 civilians. (Note: civilian injuries are likely underreported, particularly those not requiring medical attention.) Of these, seven were admitted as in-patients, and none was in serious condition. As of six a.m. on Monday, six remain in hospital, after one patient with a broken nose was discharged. One of the remaining patients had a heart attack, and one had a head injury the doctors wanted to monitor. Six demonstrators were reported under arrest. NO PLANS YET FOR MARTIAL LAW -------------- ¶6. (SBU) Army commander and junta chief GEN Sonthi Boonyaratglin told the press late Sunday that there were, at that time, no plans to declare martial law or a state of emergency in Bangkok. Police announced that they would seek arrest warrants for the eight DAAD leaders. (Reftel lists seven DAAD leaders; they have been joined by Charan Ditthaphichai of the National Human Rights Commission, according to police accounts.) Authorities will reportedly meet today to discuss further security measures they may take. COMMENT -------------- ¶7. (C) This incident will not do anyone any good. The DAAD may have hoped to provoke a declaration of martial law or the use of excessive force that would be reported by the many journalists present at the scene. So far, this has not been the result. In the news reports, the protesters come across as thuggish and out of control. The police didn't fare much better. We may be relieved that they did not, based on what we have seen so far, use excessive force in response to the crowd. However, TV viewers may be dismayed to see their performance, which seemed to involve a great deal of retreating, running away, and huddling behind their shields. While GEN Prem is a controversial figure to some, he is a former prime minister, an elder statesman and, to many, a representative of the King. The images of an angry, uncontrolled crowd throwing things at police protecting his home will not win support for the DAAD. ¶8. (C) The authorities have to decide how to the handle the arrested demonstrators and DAAD leaders. If they are too lax with the group, they will face criticism for letting thugs threaten a respected old man. If they deny bail or treat them more harshly than Thai law normally permits, they will face criticism from human rights circles. The authorities also will likely continue to deliberate whether to declare a state of emergency or martial law in Bangkok. GEN Sonthi's statements so far, saying this is not necessary, are welcome; we will look for opportunities to underscore that this would be a mistake. ENTWISTLE