Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
07CHIANGMAI21
2007-02-02 10:03:00
UNCLASSIFIED//FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY
Consulate Chiang Mai
Cable title:  

NORTHERN HEARTS STILL BELONG TO THAKSIN

Tags:  PGOV TH 
pdf how-to read a cable
VZCZCXRO6104
PP RUEHDT RUEHHM
DE RUEHCHI #0021 0331003
ZNR UUUUU ZZH
P 021003Z FEB 07
FM AMCONSUL CHIANG MAI
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC PRIORITY 0383
INFO RUEHBK/AMEMBASSY BANGKOK PRIORITY 0647
RUEHZS/ASSOCIATION OF SOUTHEAST ASIAN NATIONS
RUEHCHI/AMCONSUL CHIANG MAI PRIORITY 0424
UNCLAS CHIANG MAI 000021 

SIPDIS

SENSITIVE

SIPDIS

E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: PGOV TH
SUBJECT: NORTHERN HEARTS STILL BELONG TO THAKSIN

REF: A. A) CHIANG MAI 20 (ANTI-CNS LEAFLETS STIR IN MUSLIM ISSUES)


B. B) CHIANG MAI 07 (CHIANG RAI RATED "SUSPECT PROVINCE")

UNCLAS CHIANG MAI 000021

SIPDIS

SENSITIVE

SIPDIS

E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: PGOV TH
SUBJECT: NORTHERN HEARTS STILL BELONG TO THAKSIN

REF: A. A) CHIANG MAI 20 (ANTI-CNS LEAFLETS STIR IN MUSLIM ISSUES)


B. B) CHIANG MAI 07 (CHIANG RAI RATED "SUSPECT PROVINCE")


1. (U) Summary. In the four-plus months since the Sept. 19
coup, the Council for National Security (CNS) and interim
government have not won many hearts and minds in northern
Thailand. Thai Rak Thai (TRT) party loyalists made their
feelings known at the well-attended, media-rich funeral in
Chiang Rai Jan. 16 for a school teacher who died from beatings
in southern Thailand violence. Anti-CNS materials that crop up
now and then keep the current power holders on edge. End
summary


2. (SBU) Two contacts who attended the Jan. 16 funeral of
teacher Juling Pongkanmool in a rural village of Amphoe Doi
Luang, Chiang Rai province, reported spontaneous cheers for
acting Thai Rak Thai leader Chaturon Chaisaeng as he proceeded
to the funeral site. Other dignitaries, including Prime
Minister Gen Surayud Chulanont, failed to draw similar applause
from the crowd of 10,000-plus that came to honor the Chiang Rai
native who dedicated herself to teaching children in the
troubled south.


3. (SBU) Although the incident did not appear in media coverage
of the funeral, which was presided over by the Crown Prince and
Crown Princess, it reportedly upset provincial officials who
were responsible for taking care of their superiors. TRT
members who attended the ceremony interpreted the cheers as
evidence that TRT policies, particularly village funds and the
CEO Governor budget, still appeal to rural voters. Former TRT
Chiang Rai MP Samart Kaewmechai predicted another landslide
victory for the party or its successor in the next general
election.


4. (SBU) Ironically, the very person cited as responsible for
earning Chiang Rai its "suspect" label (ref b),is also seen as
the reason for the absence of arson attacks that in other
provinces have been construed as acts of defiance to the CNS.
Former National Resources and Environment Minister Yongyut
Tiyapairat, one of ousted Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra's
close political confidants, has reportedly honored a promise to
the CNS to keep a low profile. In return, Yongyut has not been
charged or investigated by the CNS-installed Assets Examination
Committee, unlike his TRT colleague from Buriram, Newin
Chidchop.


5. (U) In another incident involving anti-CNS materials (ref a),
local police in Chiang Mai's Saraphi district blocked the
distribution of copies of a Jan. 2 letter that Thaksin wrote to
his supporters. Local police notified military officials of
the incident but made no arrests on condition that the actions
stop. One TRT representative who was handing out the letter
along with blankets in remote villages was reportedly summoned
for questioning by military authorities.

CAMP