Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
07BANGKOK80
2007-01-05 09:42:00
CONFIDENTIAL
Embassy Bangkok
Cable title:
THAKSIN CALLS AMBASSADOR, DISCUSSES BOMBINGS
how-toVZCZCXRO0321 OO RUEHCHI RUEHDT RUEHHM DE RUEHBK #0080 0050942 ZNY CCCCC ZZH O 050942Z JAN 07 FM AMEMBASSY BANGKOK TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC IMMEDIATE 3796 INFO RUEHBJ/AMEMBASSY BEIJING IMMEDIATE 3446 RUEHZS/ASSOCIATION OF SOUTHEAST ASIAN NATIONS PRIORITY RUEHBY/AMEMBASSY CANBERRA PRIORITY 6508 RUEHWL/AMEMBASSY WELLINGTON PRIORITY 1619 RUEAIIA/CIA WASHINGTON DC PRIORITY RHEHNSC/NSC WASHDC PRIORITY RHHMUNA/USCINCPAC HONOLULU HI PRIORITY RUEKJCS/SECDEF WASHINGTON DC PRIORITY
C O N F I D E N T I A L BANGKOK 000080
SIPDIS
SIPDIS
E.O. 12958: DECL: 01/05/2017
TAGS: PREL PINS PGOV ASEC CVIS TH
SUBJECT: THAKSIN CALLS AMBASSADOR, DISCUSSES BOMBINGS
REF: A. BANGKOK 55 (SURAYUD BACKPEDALS)
B. 06 BANGKOK 5747 (HAT YAI BOMBINGS)
Classified By: Ambassador Ralph L. Boyce, reason: 1.4 (b) and (d).
C O N F I D E N T I A L BANGKOK 000080
SIPDIS
SIPDIS
E.O. 12958: DECL: 01/05/2017
TAGS: PREL PINS PGOV ASEC CVIS TH
SUBJECT: THAKSIN CALLS AMBASSADOR, DISCUSSES BOMBINGS
REF: A. BANGKOK 55 (SURAYUD BACKPEDALS)
B. 06 BANGKOK 5747 (HAT YAI BOMBINGS)
Classified By: Ambassador Ralph L. Boyce, reason: 1.4 (b) and (d).
1. (C) Former Prime Minister Thaksin phoned on January 5,
wishing me a happy New Year. I remarked that I had returned
to Thailand from the U.S. only two days before the December
31 bombings. Thaksin asked inquisitively whether we knew who
had carried out the attacks. I said we did not. He said he
suspected southern separatists, pointing out that the modus
operandi was similar to that in recent Hat Yai attacks (ref
B). (His recent three-page letter on this matter, published
in the local press, also cited the Hat Yai bombings and
implicated separatists.)
2. (C) I acknowledged the devices used in Bangkok resembled
those from the South but pointed out that they could be
easily copied by others. Thaksin did not dispute this but
complained that Prime Minister Surayud, despite lacking
evidence, had publicly accused him within hours of the
bombings. Surayud had subsequently walked back his comments,
I pointed out (ref A),noting that he's not stupid, to which
Thaksin quipped, "He's not smart."
3. (C) Thaksin also asked about possible restrictions on an
upcoming visa application by former Environment Minister
Yongyut Tiyapairat, who is now in China and would feel
uncomfortable returning to Thailand at the moment. I
explained that Yongyut was free to apply for a visa in China.
BOYCE
SIPDIS
SIPDIS
E.O. 12958: DECL: 01/05/2017
TAGS: PREL PINS PGOV ASEC CVIS TH
SUBJECT: THAKSIN CALLS AMBASSADOR, DISCUSSES BOMBINGS
REF: A. BANGKOK 55 (SURAYUD BACKPEDALS)
B. 06 BANGKOK 5747 (HAT YAI BOMBINGS)
Classified By: Ambassador Ralph L. Boyce, reason: 1.4 (b) and (d).
1. (C) Former Prime Minister Thaksin phoned on January 5,
wishing me a happy New Year. I remarked that I had returned
to Thailand from the U.S. only two days before the December
31 bombings. Thaksin asked inquisitively whether we knew who
had carried out the attacks. I said we did not. He said he
suspected southern separatists, pointing out that the modus
operandi was similar to that in recent Hat Yai attacks (ref
B). (His recent three-page letter on this matter, published
in the local press, also cited the Hat Yai bombings and
implicated separatists.)
2. (C) I acknowledged the devices used in Bangkok resembled
those from the South but pointed out that they could be
easily copied by others. Thaksin did not dispute this but
complained that Prime Minister Surayud, despite lacking
evidence, had publicly accused him within hours of the
bombings. Surayud had subsequently walked back his comments,
I pointed out (ref A),noting that he's not stupid, to which
Thaksin quipped, "He's not smart."
3. (C) Thaksin also asked about possible restrictions on an
upcoming visa application by former Environment Minister
Yongyut Tiyapairat, who is now in China and would feel
uncomfortable returning to Thailand at the moment. I
explained that Yongyut was free to apply for a visa in China.
BOYCE