Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
07CHIANGMAI9
2007-01-17 03:35:00
UNCLASSIFIED//FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY
Consulate Chiang Mai
Cable title:
CHIANG RAI RATED "SUSPECT PROVINCE"
how-toVZCZCXRO9440 PP RUEHDT RUEHHM DE RUEHCHI #0009 0170335 ZNR UUUUU ZZH P 170335Z JAN 07 FM AMCONSUL CHIANG MAI TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC PRIORITY 0371 INFO RUEHZS/ASSOCIATION OF SOUTHEAST ASIAN NATIONS RUEHBK/AMEMBASSY BANGKOK PRIORITY 0634 RUEHCHI/AMCONSUL CHIANG MAI PRIORITY 0411 RHHJJPI/PACOM IDHS HONOLULU HI
UNCLAS CHIANG MAI 000009
SIPDIS
SENSITIVE
SIPDIS
E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: PGOV PINR TH
SUBJECT: CHIANG RAI RATED "SUSPECT PROVINCE"
UNCLAS CHIANG MAI 000009
SIPDIS
SENSITIVE
SIPDIS
E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: PGOV PINR TH
SUBJECT: CHIANG RAI RATED "SUSPECT PROVINCE"
1. (U) Summary: Chiang Rai's Thai Rak Thai connections make it
the "second most suspect province" in the country, according to
the provincial police chief, who claimed that vigilance has
prevented the school fires and bombs that have plagued other
parts of the country. Meanwhile, leaflets that appear to have
originated in Chiang Rai and distributed in the northern region
attack the Council for National Security (CNS) for serving
Muslim interests. End summary
2. (SBU) During a meeting with the Consul General in Chiang Rai
Jan. 11, Provincial Police Commander Pol. Maj. Gen. Sutep
Dechrugsa vigorously defended the coup, citing the corruptive
effects of big money on democratic systems such as elections.
Patting his back pocket he described how unnamed politicians
used "capitalism" to buy elections, adding that "even the US,
the best democratic system in the world, has problems; how can
Thailand deal with this?"
3. (SBU) Sutep said many coup supporters in Bangkok view Chiang
Rai, Thailand's northernmost province, and Buriram in the
northeast as the top two "suspect provinces" where opposition to
the CNS has the strongest hold. Chiang Rai apparently won its
place in the top ranks thanks to Yongyut Tiyapairat, who
represented the district in parliament and served as one of
former Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra's key lieutenants.
Coup supporters claim that Yongyut, as Minister of Natural
Resources and Environment, was instrumental in countering PAD
demonstrations by organizing forestry workers, allegedly
undocumented migrant workers, to attack protest gatherings in
Bangkok. Yongyut was detained for ten days following the Sept.
19 coup and his actions have been closely monitored since.
4. (SBU) Sutep credited police vigilance for sparing Chiang Rai
from school burnings or bombs, actions that have elsewhere been
seen as anti-coup protests or provocations. Calling an aide to
set up a monitor, he showed visitors closed circuit TV coverage
from nine spots in the city. The system cost hundreds of
thousands of baht he conceded, adding that this is what is
needed to stop bombings. (Although he implied that Chiang Rai
was uniquely favored with the budget for this system, Chiang Mai
has a similar set-up, installed as a traffic control measure
about two years ago.)
5. (U) A TRT contact in Chiang Rai told the Consulate Jan. 16
that a series of anti-CNS leaflets have been sent to local
police stations in the province claiming that the Sept. 19 coup
was meant to serve Muslim interests. The leaflets and a CD,
issued by the "Buddhists" and "Buddhist Monks", note that the
CNS chairman and Interior Minister are Muslims and allege that
the upcoming Constitution will be based on an Islamic model.
According to "Manager On-Line" news service, the leaflets were
first distributed Jan. 4 at a gathering in honor of revered Thai
monk Khruba Boonchum at a temple in Burma opposite Thailand's
Chiang Saen/Mae Sai district. The leaflets have since been
reported in Chiang Mai and Phitsanulok as well as in Chiang Rai.
6. (U) Bio note: Pol. Maj. Gen. Sutep Dechrugsa graduated in
law from Chulalongkorn University in 1977 and earned an MPA from
NIDA in the early 1980's. Since joining the Royal Thai Police
in 1978 he has been posted in the Upper North, including
Lampang, Tak, Lamphun, Chiang Mai and Mae Hong Son. In Chiang
Mai he served many years as chief of the Phuping Police Station,
Investigation Chief for Provincial Police Region 5 Headquarters,
and Deputy Provincial Police chief. He was promoted to Maj.
Gen. in late 2005, becoming police chief of Mae Hong Son before
being transferred to Chiang Rai the following year. Sutep is
seen as a fast-rising star in Police Region 5, thanks both to
his investigative skills and his close ties with the Crown
Prince. Office of Narcotic Control Board contacts speak highly
of him, especially his integrity and crime-busting efficiency.
Sutep's wife, Kasama Dechrugsa, teaches in the Law Faculty at
Chiang Mai's Payap University.
CAMP
SIPDIS
SENSITIVE
SIPDIS
E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: PGOV PINR TH
SUBJECT: CHIANG RAI RATED "SUSPECT PROVINCE"
1. (U) Summary: Chiang Rai's Thai Rak Thai connections make it
the "second most suspect province" in the country, according to
the provincial police chief, who claimed that vigilance has
prevented the school fires and bombs that have plagued other
parts of the country. Meanwhile, leaflets that appear to have
originated in Chiang Rai and distributed in the northern region
attack the Council for National Security (CNS) for serving
Muslim interests. End summary
2. (SBU) During a meeting with the Consul General in Chiang Rai
Jan. 11, Provincial Police Commander Pol. Maj. Gen. Sutep
Dechrugsa vigorously defended the coup, citing the corruptive
effects of big money on democratic systems such as elections.
Patting his back pocket he described how unnamed politicians
used "capitalism" to buy elections, adding that "even the US,
the best democratic system in the world, has problems; how can
Thailand deal with this?"
3. (SBU) Sutep said many coup supporters in Bangkok view Chiang
Rai, Thailand's northernmost province, and Buriram in the
northeast as the top two "suspect provinces" where opposition to
the CNS has the strongest hold. Chiang Rai apparently won its
place in the top ranks thanks to Yongyut Tiyapairat, who
represented the district in parliament and served as one of
former Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra's key lieutenants.
Coup supporters claim that Yongyut, as Minister of Natural
Resources and Environment, was instrumental in countering PAD
demonstrations by organizing forestry workers, allegedly
undocumented migrant workers, to attack protest gatherings in
Bangkok. Yongyut was detained for ten days following the Sept.
19 coup and his actions have been closely monitored since.
4. (SBU) Sutep credited police vigilance for sparing Chiang Rai
from school burnings or bombs, actions that have elsewhere been
seen as anti-coup protests or provocations. Calling an aide to
set up a monitor, he showed visitors closed circuit TV coverage
from nine spots in the city. The system cost hundreds of
thousands of baht he conceded, adding that this is what is
needed to stop bombings. (Although he implied that Chiang Rai
was uniquely favored with the budget for this system, Chiang Mai
has a similar set-up, installed as a traffic control measure
about two years ago.)
5. (U) A TRT contact in Chiang Rai told the Consulate Jan. 16
that a series of anti-CNS leaflets have been sent to local
police stations in the province claiming that the Sept. 19 coup
was meant to serve Muslim interests. The leaflets and a CD,
issued by the "Buddhists" and "Buddhist Monks", note that the
CNS chairman and Interior Minister are Muslims and allege that
the upcoming Constitution will be based on an Islamic model.
According to "Manager On-Line" news service, the leaflets were
first distributed Jan. 4 at a gathering in honor of revered Thai
monk Khruba Boonchum at a temple in Burma opposite Thailand's
Chiang Saen/Mae Sai district. The leaflets have since been
reported in Chiang Mai and Phitsanulok as well as in Chiang Rai.
6. (U) Bio note: Pol. Maj. Gen. Sutep Dechrugsa graduated in
law from Chulalongkorn University in 1977 and earned an MPA from
NIDA in the early 1980's. Since joining the Royal Thai Police
in 1978 he has been posted in the Upper North, including
Lampang, Tak, Lamphun, Chiang Mai and Mae Hong Son. In Chiang
Mai he served many years as chief of the Phuping Police Station,
Investigation Chief for Provincial Police Region 5 Headquarters,
and Deputy Provincial Police chief. He was promoted to Maj.
Gen. in late 2005, becoming police chief of Mae Hong Son before
being transferred to Chiang Rai the following year. Sutep is
seen as a fast-rising star in Police Region 5, thanks both to
his investigative skills and his close ties with the Crown
Prince. Office of Narcotic Control Board contacts speak highly
of him, especially his integrity and crime-busting efficiency.
Sutep's wife, Kasama Dechrugsa, teaches in the Law Faculty at
Chiang Mai's Payap University.
CAMP