JANUARY 26 UPDATE: MARTIAL LAW, CONSTITUTION,

C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 02 BANGKOK 000545

SIPDIS

SIPDIS

E.O. 12958: DECL: 01/26/2017
TAGS: PGOV PHUM KDEM TH
SUBJECT: JANUARY 26 UPDATE: MARTIAL LAW, CONSTITUTION,
ELECTION, AND MORE

REF: A. BANGKOK 151 (PRASONG MEETS AMBASSADOR)


B. BANGKOK 110 (CDA PRESIDENT FORESEES FAST PROGRESS)

C. BANGKOK 83 (COUP RUMORS)

Classified By: Ambassador Ralph L. Boyce, reason: 1.4 (b) and (d).

SUMMARY
--------------


1. (C) The MFA Permsec reports that the King has signed the
decree on the partial lifting of martial law. The
Constitution Drafting Committee elected one of the figures
who helped engineer the September 19 coup d'etat as its
chairman, in a move that will likely dismay liberal elements
of civil society. Press reports noted the possibility of
elections in September, but we believe it is premature to
estimate when elections may be held. A prominent General who
sits on the Council for National Security has become Chairman
of the Board of Directors of a second state enterprise, in
what may represent efforts to ease his reported
dissatisfaction with the current leadership. The Council for
National Security Chairman seems to be taking a harder line
than Prime Minister Surayud on the possible return to
Thailand of deposed Prime Minister Thaksin. End Summary.

MARTIAL LAW
--------------


2. (C) MFA Permsec called the Ambassador today to report
that the King had signed the decree with the partial lifting
of martial law. The decree then has to be transmitted back
to the government, and be published in the official gazette
to take effect. The Permsec anticipated this would happen
within the next few days.

COUP PLOTTER TO CHAIR CONSTITUTION DRAFTING COMMITTEE
-------------- --------------


3. (C) The 35-member Constitution Drafting Committee (CDC) on
January 25 voted 18-17 to elect Prasong Soonsiri, former
Foreign Minister and former NSC Secretary General, as its
chairman. Prasong was one of the 10 members of the CDC
appointed by the Council for National Security (CNS),rather
than having been selected by the Constitution Drafting
Assembly (CDA). Prasong was a leading member of the group
that organized the coup (ref A). Public reaction to
Prasong's election as CDC Chair has been understandably less
than laudatory. Media reports quoted fellow CDC member
Angkana Neelaphaijit, the presumed widow of a Muslim human
rights lawyer, as saying that unnamed persons had lobbied
actively for Prasong, that procedures on the vote were
rushed, and only five of the 35 CDC members appeared
independent of the ruling clique. Some media outlets
reported that Prasong said the CDC would not necessarily use
the 1997 Constitution as the model for the next charter --
contrary to what CDA President Noranit Setabutr had said
publicly (ref B). Comment: The CNS may believe that Prasong
is smart and tough enough to keep the constitution process on
track. However, they will pay a price for having him in this
position, as it will be cited as evidence that the CNS wants
to control the constitution drafting process. End comment.

PRIME MINISTER DISCUSSES ELECTIONS
--------------


4. (C) Prime Minister Surayud met with members of the
Election Commission (EC) on January 25. According to press
reports, Surayud discussed the EC's FY 2007 budget, which
contains substantial sums for legislative elections. Given
that the EC's fiscal year ends on September 30, some
journalists have interpreted the discussion to indicate that
voting in upcoming elections might take place before
September 30. We believe it is premature to estimate the
date of the next elections.

GRUMBLING GENERAL GETS SECOND BOARD CHAIRMANSHIP
-------------- ---


5. (C) Information and Communications Technology Minister
Sitthichai Pokai-udom told the press on January 25 that
Lieutenant General Saprang Kalayanamitr, Assistant Secretary
General of the Council for National Security, would become
Chairman of the Board of Directors of the Telephone
Organization of Thailand. Saprang already chairs the Board

BANGKOK 00000545 002 OF 002


of Directors of the Airports of Thailand organization -- and
one might think that he already has his hands full, because
there have been numerous prominent media reports about
problems at Bangkok's new airport, with recent complaints
about safety concerns relating to cracks in runways. Saprang
is widely seen as advocating a tougher approach toward
elements of the previous administration (ref C).


6. (C) The CNS came under criticism in November for
appointing approximately one dozen military officers to the
boards of state enterprises. Most were appointed to the
boards of enterprises with strategic significance (relating
to communications, transportation, aviation, or ports).
Embassy contacts have told us that the appointment of
military officers to these boards did not mark a departure
from traditional practices. (Each of Thailand's 59
state-owned enterprises has its own law specifying how the
boards are to be appointed; most commonly, the relevant
minister nominates the board, with the cabinet approving the
nomination. Board members do not receive salaries; they
receive allowances of up to 10,000 Baht -- under 300 USD --
per month, but members of certain boards may receive other,
more significant bonuses or fringe benefits.)

DISCUSSION OF THAKSIN'S POSSIBLE RETURN TO THAILAND
-------------- --------------


7. (C) CNS Chairman General Sonthi Boonyaratglin said
publicly on January 25 that deposed Prime Minister Thaksin
might face trouble if he were to return to Thailand in the
near future. Sonthi speculated that Thaksin might not want
to return home even after the next elections. Sonthi's
statements contrast with those of Prime Minister Surayud.
Whereas at various junctures following the coup Surayud had
suggested that Thaksin should not return before elections, he
moderated that line on January 19, when he said that Thaksin
could return to Thailand sooner than that, although Thaksin
should first discuss with the administration whether he would
engage in political activities.
BOYCE