JANUARY 29 UPDATE: MARTIAL LAW FORMALLY LIFTED IN

C O N F I D E N T I A L BANGKOK 000573

SIPDIS

SIPDIS

E.O. 12958: DECL: 01/26/2017
TAGS: PGOV PHUM PINS KDEM TH
SUBJECT: JANUARY 29 UPDATE: MARTIAL LAW FORMALLY LIFTED IN
MOST PROVINCES

REF: A. BANGKOK 545 (JAN 26 UPDATE)

B. BANGKOK 524 (NITYA MEETING)

C. 05 BANGKOK 7918

Classified By: DCM Alex A. Arvizu, reason: 1.4 (b) and (d).

SUMMARY
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1. (C) A royal command lifting martial law in most of
Thailand's provinces has now taken effect. The police have
released all suspects detained in connection with the
December 31 bombings. Acts of violence continue in
Thailand's southern border provinces, with a roadside bomb
exploding after the passage of the Minister of Interior's
convoy. Fires broke out in schoolhouses in two provinces,
with arson appearing probable in one of the cases;
schoolhouse burnings feed authorities' concern about
subversive "undercurrents." End Summary.

MARTIAL LAW LIFTED IN MOST PROVINCES
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2. (C) On January 26, the Royal Gazette published the
long-awaited royal command lifting martial law in a majority
of Thailand's provinces. It remains unclear whether the
formal recision in these areas will have much effect, as many
of our contacts have seemed unaware that martial law remained
in effect after the cabinet announced in December its
decision to ease restrictions. Post has previously e-mailed
maps to EAP/MLS showing where martial law would remain in
effect after the formal recision.

BOMBING SUSPECTS RELEASED
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3. (C) Media reports claim that the police have determined
they lack evidence to continue holding all those detained in
connection with the December 31 Bangkok bombings, and the 19
people -- including 14 military officers -- have been
released but remain under surveillance. Since the police
announced it had detained the 19 people, leading military
figures publicly warned Royal Thai Police (RTP) Chief Kowit
Wattana that he would be held personally responsible if the
suspects had been detained unjustly. Council for National
Security (CNS) Chairman Sonthi Boonyaratglin downplayed the
significance of the soldiers having materials that could be
used to construct bombs, saying he himself kept ammunition at
his home. At least one press report claimed the police gave
the released men 3,000 Baht (around 80 USD) as "hush money."
Meanwhile, Australian officials working with the Thai on this
case have told us privately they intend not to issue a report
on their findings, as they believe the investigation has
become overly politicized.

BOMB EXPLODES IN SOUTH DURING INTERIOR MINISTER'S VISIT
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4. (U) On January 28, a bomb planted in a roadside house in
the southern border province of Pattani exploded 15 minutes
after the passage of the motorcade of Interior Minister Aree
Wongarya, who was accompanied by visiting Qatari Islamic
Affairs Minister Faisal bin Abdullah al-Mahmoud. As with
other attacks in the far South, no one claimed responsibility
for the bombing and there was no specific evidence that Aree
or the minister were deliberately targeted. Aree and Faisal
were visiting the campus of Yala Islamic College (ref C) to
dedicate a new building financed by the government of Qatar.
Prime Minister Surayud Chulanont also visited southern
Thailand on January 27, his third visit since becoming PM.

SCHOOLHOUSES BURNED
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5. (C) Two fires broke out in schoolhouses on January 27,
causing minor damage. The cause of one fire, in Tak
province, may have been accidental. The other, in Surin
province, appeared to be deliberately set. While these
incidents do not appear highly significant to us, we note
that our Thai interlocutors frequently cite schoolhouse fires
as evidence of "undercurrents" and justification for
continuing a state of high alert. (See, for example, ref B.)
BOYCE