Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
07BANGKOK82
2007-01-05 09:51:00
UNCLASSIFIED//FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY
Embassy Bangkok
Cable title:
LEGISLATOR OFFERS TO HELP SPREAD USG VIEWS
how-toVZCZCXRO0332 PP RUEHCHI RUEHDT RUEHHM RUEHNH DE RUEHBK #0082 0050951 ZNR UUUUU ZZH P 050951Z JAN 07 FM AMEMBASSY BANGKOK TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC PRIORITY 3798 INFO RUCNASE/ASEAN MEMBER COLLECTIVE PRIORITY RUEHBJ/AMEMBASSY BEIJING PRIORITY 3447 RUEHKO/AMEMBASSY TOKYO PRIORITY 8689 RUEHCHI/AMCONSUL CHIANG MAI PRIORITY 2894 RHEHNSC/NSC WASHDC PRIORITY RUCPDOC/DEPT OF COMMERCE WASHINGTON DC PRIORITY RUEATRS/DEPT OF TREASURY WASHINGTON DC PRIORITY
UNCLAS BANGKOK 000082
SIPDIS
SENSITIVE
SIPDIS
DEPARTMENT FOR P, EAP, EB
NSC FOR MORROW
TREASURY FOR OASIA
COMMERCE FOR EAP/MAC/OKSA
E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: PREL PGOV ECON TH
SUBJECT: LEGISLATOR OFFERS TO HELP SPREAD USG VIEWS
UNCLAS BANGKOK 000082
SIPDIS
SENSITIVE
SIPDIS
DEPARTMENT FOR P, EAP, EB
NSC FOR MORROW
TREASURY FOR OASIA
COMMERCE FOR EAP/MAC/OKSA
E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: PREL PGOV ECON TH
SUBJECT: LEGISLATOR OFFERS TO HELP SPREAD USG VIEWS
1. (SBU) On January 5, Dr. Vachara Phanchet, a member of the
National Legislative Assembly (NLA) and Secretary of its
Committee on Foreign Affairs, called on the Ambassador
seeking cooperation between his committee and the Embassy on
issues including trade and restoring Thailand's reputation in
the wake of the September coup.The Ambassador welcomed the
opportunity to keep channels of communication open but
bluntly advised that the current government must closely
adhere to its schedule for restoring democracy and
immediately lift martial law as it has repeatedly pledged to
do. Vachara acknowledged that the regime has sometimes failed
to "meet words with actions" but added that Privy Council
President Prem Tinsulanonda "wants to see everything go as
planned." Vachara did not make any attempt to defend martial
law.
2. (SBU) Vachara said that Prem believes that additional
economic ministers need to be named. This would mean that
Deputy Prime Minister and Finance Minister Pridiyathorn
Devakula would likely lose his position as Finance chief.
Vachara complained that Pridiyathorn visited the NLA after
the crash in the stock market following the December 18
application of strict capital controls "unrepentant for his
mistake." When we expressed our concern about proposed
amendments to the Foreign Business Act, Vachara claimed that
the NLA "will stop them just as we stopped the attempt to
continue the national lottery."
3. (SBU) Comment: Vachara is a wealthy (chairman of the
Sittipol Group, joint venture partner in Thailand with
Mitsubishi Motors),young (he pointed out that he is the
"fourth youngest" NLA member) former Vice Minister of Public
Health during the Thaksin regime. He was anxious to let us
know that he speaks regularly with Prem and PM Surayudh (whom
he says he is seeing tonight) and is open to USG views
including the necessity of lifting marital law and holding
elections as soon as possible. He invited embassy officers to
meet with his committee whenever we have any issues we think
the NLA should consider. While he is probably not as
important as he thinks he is, we will avail ourselves of his
offer to help disseminate our views.
BOYCE
SIPDIS
SENSITIVE
SIPDIS
DEPARTMENT FOR P, EAP, EB
NSC FOR MORROW
TREASURY FOR OASIA
COMMERCE FOR EAP/MAC/OKSA
E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: PREL PGOV ECON TH
SUBJECT: LEGISLATOR OFFERS TO HELP SPREAD USG VIEWS
1. (SBU) On January 5, Dr. Vachara Phanchet, a member of the
National Legislative Assembly (NLA) and Secretary of its
Committee on Foreign Affairs, called on the Ambassador
seeking cooperation between his committee and the Embassy on
issues including trade and restoring Thailand's reputation in
the wake of the September coup.The Ambassador welcomed the
opportunity to keep channels of communication open but
bluntly advised that the current government must closely
adhere to its schedule for restoring democracy and
immediately lift martial law as it has repeatedly pledged to
do. Vachara acknowledged that the regime has sometimes failed
to "meet words with actions" but added that Privy Council
President Prem Tinsulanonda "wants to see everything go as
planned." Vachara did not make any attempt to defend martial
law.
2. (SBU) Vachara said that Prem believes that additional
economic ministers need to be named. This would mean that
Deputy Prime Minister and Finance Minister Pridiyathorn
Devakula would likely lose his position as Finance chief.
Vachara complained that Pridiyathorn visited the NLA after
the crash in the stock market following the December 18
application of strict capital controls "unrepentant for his
mistake." When we expressed our concern about proposed
amendments to the Foreign Business Act, Vachara claimed that
the NLA "will stop them just as we stopped the attempt to
continue the national lottery."
3. (SBU) Comment: Vachara is a wealthy (chairman of the
Sittipol Group, joint venture partner in Thailand with
Mitsubishi Motors),young (he pointed out that he is the
"fourth youngest" NLA member) former Vice Minister of Public
Health during the Thaksin regime. He was anxious to let us
know that he speaks regularly with Prem and PM Surayudh (whom
he says he is seeing tonight) and is open to USG views
including the necessity of lifting marital law and holding
elections as soon as possible. He invited embassy officers to
meet with his committee whenever we have any issues we think
the NLA should consider. While he is probably not as
important as he thinks he is, we will avail ourselves of his
offer to help disseminate our views.
BOYCE