AMBASSADOR PRESSES SENIOR RTA, MFA OFFICIALS ON

C O N F I D E N T I A L BANGKOK 000057 SIPDIS SIPDIS DEPT FOR EAP, EAP/MLS NSC FOR WILDER/MORROW PACOM FOR FPA HUSO E.O. 12958: DECL: 01/07/2017 TAGS: PGOV PREL PHUM KDEM TH SUBJECT: AMBASSADOR PRESSES SENIOR RTA, MFA OFFICIALS ON MARTIAL LAW AND DEMOCRACY REF: BANGKOK 00016 (THAI FOREIGN MINISTER DISCUSSES BOMBINGS) Classified By: AMBASSADOR RALPH L. BOYCE. REASON 1.4 (B,D) ¶1. (C) On the sidelines of the January 4 briefing for the diplomatic corps on the December 31 bomb attacks in Bangkok (septel),the Ambassador separately pressed both Royal Thai Army (RTA) Assistant CINC Anupong Paojinda and Ministry of Foreign Affairs Permanent Secretary Krit Garnjarna-Goonchorn on the issues of martial law and the democracy timetable. The Ambassador told GEN Anupong--who is also a member of the Council on National Security (CNS)--that the continued failure to lift martial law remained a serious problem in the eyes of the international community and that foreign governments were concerned that the recent bomb attacks in Bangkok could derail the government's promise for a swift return to democracy via free and fair elections. Anupong, who in the briefing had explained that martial law would still be lifted in Bangkok, repeated this point, saying that "there is no going back." ¶2. (C) In a separate private meeting with Permsec Krit, the Ambassador again expressed concern over martial law. Krit did not offer a substantive response. The Ambassador asked for confirmation that martial law remained in effect in Bangkok. After Krit responded in the positive, the Ambassador explained that Foreign Minister Nitya, as recently as the day before (reftel) had suggested that martial law had been lifted in Bangkok already. The Ambassador advised Krit to ensure that his Foreign Minister was up to date on the status of martial law, so as to avoid giving mixed messages. BOYCE