Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
07BANGKOK939
2007-02-15 11:16:00
CONFIDENTIAL
Embassy Bangkok
Cable title:
AMBASSADOR MEETS WITH ELECTION COMMISSION CHAIRMAN
VZCZCXRO1216 OO RUEHCHI RUEHDT RUEHHM DE RUEHBK #0939 0461116 ZNY CCCCC ZZH O 151116Z FEB 07 ZDK ZUI RUEHCB #9386 FM AMEMBASSY BANGKOK TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC IMMEDIATE 4837 INFO RUEHZS/ASSOCIATION OF SOUTHEAST ASIAN NATIONS PRIORITY RUEHBY/AMEMBASSY CANBERRA PRIORITY 6659 RUEHWL/AMEMBASSY WELLINGTON PRIORITY 1664 RHEFDIA/DIA WASHDC PRIORITY RHEHNSC/NSC WASHDC PRIORITY RUEAIIA/CIA WASHINGTON DC PRIORITY RUEKJCS/SECDEF WASHINGTON DC PRIORITY RHHMUNA/USCINCPAC HONOLULU HI PRIORITY
C O N F I D E N T I A L BANGKOK 000939
SIPDIS
SIPDIS
E.O. 12958: DECL: 02/16/2017
TAGS: PREL PGOV KDEM OIIP KPAO TH
SUBJECT: AMBASSADOR MEETS WITH ELECTION COMMISSION CHAIRMAN
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 000939
SIPDIS
SIPDIS
E.O. 12958: DECL: 02/16/2017
TAGS: PREL PGOV KDEM OIIP KPAO TH
SUBJECT: AMBASSADOR MEETS WITH ELECTION COMMISSION CHAIRMAN
Classified By: Ambassador Ralph L. Boyce, reason: 1.4 (b) and (d).
1. (C) Summary: The Election Commission of Thailand (ECT)
Chairman expressed concern to the Ambassador about voter
education in the run-up to the referendum on Thailand's next
constitution. In a courtesy call on the Ambassador after
attending an Embassy-organized digital video conference with
an American expert on referenda, the Chairman discussed
efforts to explain the relevant issues to the public. The
ECT appears concerned about a possible boycott or disruption
of the referendum. The ECT also appears unlikely to begin
planning (even on a contingency basis) for the legislative
election prior to the constitution's promulgation and the
passage of enabling legislation. The Ambassador offered to
assist the ECT in any way possible. End Summary.
2. (C) Apichart Sukhagganond, the Chairman of the Election
Commission of Thailand (ECT),told the Ambassador that he
worried it would be difficult to ensure the Thai population
was well informed in the run-up to the eventual
constitutional referendum. Both he and ECT Secretary General
Suthiphon Thaveechaiyagarn stressed they would have to
explain to the electorate the consequences of "yes" or "no"
votes when the draft constitution is complete and submitted
to the public for approval. (Note: The interim constitution
provides that, if the population does not approve the
constitution in the referendum, the Council for National
Security (CNS) and the administration shall have 30 days to
revise a previous Thai constitution of their choosing and
present it to the King for promulgation. End Note.)
3. (C) The Ambassador expressed concern that political
figures opposed to the coup might try to generate opposition
to the draft constitution, whatever its provisions, simply to
register their displeasure with the current government. The
government should make a concerted effort to explain the
issues publicly. Suthiphon noted that the ECT already had
some CNS publications on the political situation, but these
would not be distributed to the grassroots level. The
Ambassador observed that television, rather than written
materials, provided the most effective medium for reaching
the broad population. Apichart mentioned he had watched a
live television interview with Prime Minister Surayud
Chulanont on the evening of February 13, and he felt Surayud
explained his policies capably.
4. (C) The Ambassador welcomed the participation of ECT
officials (including Apichart and Suthiphon) in a
just-concluded Embassy-hosted video conference between the
ECT and a California-based academic with expertise on
referenda. The Ambassador said he would be pleased to assist
the ECT in any other way possible. Apichart thanked the
Ambassador for receiving him for this discussion. Suthiphon
noted the Swiss Ambassador would participate in an ECT
seminar on February 15; leading political party figures would
also participate. In the afternoon of February 14, the ECT
would meet with representatives of 44 Thai political parties.
5. (C) The video conference focused principally on technical
issues, but ECT officials asked how they might deal with the
possible impact of low voter turnout; from the context of the
discussion, it appeared they worried sympathizers of deposed
Prime Minister Thaksin might organize a boycott. They also
asked their academic interlocutor about how best to impose
criminal penalties on persons disrupting a referendum.
(Comment: These questions indicate what strikes us as a
reasonable concern that the referendum might not proceed
smoothly. End Comment.)
6. (C) In a brief conversation after the call on the
Ambassador, we asked the ECT officials whether they could
begin planning for national legislative elections on a
contingency basis once the provisions of the draft
constitution become clear. They replied that they would have
to hold off on all planning until after the referendum, and
after the parliament passes enabling legislation (a revised
Election Law and Election Commission Law). However, they
assured us that they were currently organizing local
elections throughout Thailand, and they felt confident they
could proceed quickly with the national legislative elections
once the legal framework was in place.
BOYCE
SIPDIS
SIPDIS
E.O. 12958: DECL: 02/16/2017
TAGS: PREL PGOV KDEM OIIP KPAO TH
SUBJECT: AMBASSADOR MEETS WITH ELECTION COMMISSION CHAIRMAN
Classified By: Ambassador Ralph L. Boyce, reason: 1.4 (b) and (d).
1. (C) Summary: The Election Commission of Thailand (ECT)
Chairman expressed concern to the Ambassador about voter
education in the run-up to the referendum on Thailand's next
constitution. In a courtesy call on the Ambassador after
attending an Embassy-organized digital video conference with
an American expert on referenda, the Chairman discussed
efforts to explain the relevant issues to the public. The
ECT appears concerned about a possible boycott or disruption
of the referendum. The ECT also appears unlikely to begin
planning (even on a contingency basis) for the legislative
election prior to the constitution's promulgation and the
passage of enabling legislation. The Ambassador offered to
assist the ECT in any way possible. End Summary.
2. (C) Apichart Sukhagganond, the Chairman of the Election
Commission of Thailand (ECT),told the Ambassador that he
worried it would be difficult to ensure the Thai population
was well informed in the run-up to the eventual
constitutional referendum. Both he and ECT Secretary General
Suthiphon Thaveechaiyagarn stressed they would have to
explain to the electorate the consequences of "yes" or "no"
votes when the draft constitution is complete and submitted
to the public for approval. (Note: The interim constitution
provides that, if the population does not approve the
constitution in the referendum, the Council for National
Security (CNS) and the administration shall have 30 days to
revise a previous Thai constitution of their choosing and
present it to the King for promulgation. End Note.)
3. (C) The Ambassador expressed concern that political
figures opposed to the coup might try to generate opposition
to the draft constitution, whatever its provisions, simply to
register their displeasure with the current government. The
government should make a concerted effort to explain the
issues publicly. Suthiphon noted that the ECT already had
some CNS publications on the political situation, but these
would not be distributed to the grassroots level. The
Ambassador observed that television, rather than written
materials, provided the most effective medium for reaching
the broad population. Apichart mentioned he had watched a
live television interview with Prime Minister Surayud
Chulanont on the evening of February 13, and he felt Surayud
explained his policies capably.
4. (C) The Ambassador welcomed the participation of ECT
officials (including Apichart and Suthiphon) in a
just-concluded Embassy-hosted video conference between the
ECT and a California-based academic with expertise on
referenda. The Ambassador said he would be pleased to assist
the ECT in any other way possible. Apichart thanked the
Ambassador for receiving him for this discussion. Suthiphon
noted the Swiss Ambassador would participate in an ECT
seminar on February 15; leading political party figures would
also participate. In the afternoon of February 14, the ECT
would meet with representatives of 44 Thai political parties.
5. (C) The video conference focused principally on technical
issues, but ECT officials asked how they might deal with the
possible impact of low voter turnout; from the context of the
discussion, it appeared they worried sympathizers of deposed
Prime Minister Thaksin might organize a boycott. They also
asked their academic interlocutor about how best to impose
criminal penalties on persons disrupting a referendum.
(Comment: These questions indicate what strikes us as a
reasonable concern that the referendum might not proceed
smoothly. End Comment.)
6. (C) In a brief conversation after the call on the
Ambassador, we asked the ECT officials whether they could
begin planning for national legislative elections on a
contingency basis once the provisions of the draft
constitution become clear. They replied that they would have
to hold off on all planning until after the referendum, and
after the parliament passes enabling legislation (a revised
Election Law and Election Commission Law). However, they
assured us that they were currently organizing local
elections throughout Thailand, and they felt confident they
could proceed quickly with the national legislative elections
once the legal framework was in place.
BOYCE