Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
08BANGKOK1917
2008-06-20 12:23:00
CONFIDENTIAL
Embassy Bangkok
Cable title:
ANTI-GOVERNMENT DEMONSTRATORS BLOCK GOVERNMENT
how-toVZCZCXRO4233 OO RUEHCHI RUEHDT RUEHHM RUEHNH DE RUEHBK #1917 1721223 ZNY CCCCC ZZH O 201223Z JUN 08 FM AMEMBASSY BANGKOK TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC IMMEDIATE 3479 INFO RUCNASE/ASEAN MEMBER COLLECTIVE RUEHBJ/AMEMBASSY BEIJING 6081 RUEHUL/AMEMBASSY SEOUL 4713 RUEHKO/AMEMBASSY TOKYO 0842 RHEHNSC/NSC WASHDC RHHMUNA/HQ USPACOM HONOLULU HI RHHMUNA/CDR USPACOM HONOLULU HI RUEAIIA/CIA WASHINGTON DC
C O N F I D E N T I A L BANGKOK 001917
SIPDIS
NSC FOR PHU
E.O. 12958: DECL: 06/19/2018
TAGS: PGOV PHUM KDEM TH
SUBJECT: ANTI-GOVERNMENT DEMONSTRATORS BLOCK GOVERNMENT
HOUSE
Classified By: Political Counselor Susan M. Sutton, reason 1.4 (b) and
(d).
C O N F I D E N T I A L BANGKOK 001917
SIPDIS
NSC FOR PHU
E.O. 12958: DECL: 06/19/2018
TAGS: PGOV PHUM KDEM TH
SUBJECT: ANTI-GOVERNMENT DEMONSTRATORS BLOCK GOVERNMENT
HOUSE
Classified By: Political Counselor Susan M. Sutton, reason 1.4 (b) and
(d).
1. (SBU) In accordance with their announced intentions,
anti-government protesters from the People's Alliance for
Democracy (PAD),reportedly totaling several thousand,
assembled in Bangkok at mid-day June 20 and moved along
various routes to converge on Government House. Protesters
forced their way through police barricades; there were
reports of some confrontations between police and
demonstrators, but police overall appeared to exercise a
great deal of restraint. Televised footage of the
demonstrations showed crowds moving down the street toward
Government House unhindered. There were press reports that
four police may have suffered injuries when police lines
tried to block protesters early in their march. The
authorities anticipate the crowd may swell to tens of
thousands by the night of June 20. The protesters have said
they will remain at Government House until the government
steps down. During the afternoon, Samak met with senior
police and military officials, including the Army Commander,
amid speculation Samak wanted support to declare a state of
emergency. There has been no public announcement of the
results of that meeting; during the past week, the military
leadership has several times affirmed that it sees no
appropriate role for the military in the current crisis.
2. (C) We have asked a range of interlocutors across the
political spectrum how this stand-off is likely to turn out,
but no one is confident in predicting the future. Contacts
suggest that the government's smartest move is to allow the
demonstrators to sit at Government House (in the daily
driving rainstorms) and permit the no-confidence debate in
the Parliament - both moves that could take the wind out of
the PAD's sails at minimal cost to the government. An MP in
the ruling People's Power Party(PPP) told us today that his
party's rank and file have no objection to the debate; only
PM Samak is opposed to it.
3.(C) Comment: Despite the government's earlier bluster about
thwarting the march, they have so far chosen the wiser
course, showing considerable restraint. Rumors continue to
swirl that PM Samak will be forced to stand down, but the PM
has given no sign he is preparing to give in to pressure from
the streets. The potential still exists for serious clashes
between the authorities and the demonstrators, or between the
PAD and counter-demonstrators, particularly tonight and
during upcoming weekend. We will continue to monitor the
situation.
JOHN
SIPDIS
NSC FOR PHU
E.O. 12958: DECL: 06/19/2018
TAGS: PGOV PHUM KDEM TH
SUBJECT: ANTI-GOVERNMENT DEMONSTRATORS BLOCK GOVERNMENT
HOUSE
Classified By: Political Counselor Susan M. Sutton, reason 1.4 (b) and
(d).
1. (SBU) In accordance with their announced intentions,
anti-government protesters from the People's Alliance for
Democracy (PAD),reportedly totaling several thousand,
assembled in Bangkok at mid-day June 20 and moved along
various routes to converge on Government House. Protesters
forced their way through police barricades; there were
reports of some confrontations between police and
demonstrators, but police overall appeared to exercise a
great deal of restraint. Televised footage of the
demonstrations showed crowds moving down the street toward
Government House unhindered. There were press reports that
four police may have suffered injuries when police lines
tried to block protesters early in their march. The
authorities anticipate the crowd may swell to tens of
thousands by the night of June 20. The protesters have said
they will remain at Government House until the government
steps down. During the afternoon, Samak met with senior
police and military officials, including the Army Commander,
amid speculation Samak wanted support to declare a state of
emergency. There has been no public announcement of the
results of that meeting; during the past week, the military
leadership has several times affirmed that it sees no
appropriate role for the military in the current crisis.
2. (C) We have asked a range of interlocutors across the
political spectrum how this stand-off is likely to turn out,
but no one is confident in predicting the future. Contacts
suggest that the government's smartest move is to allow the
demonstrators to sit at Government House (in the daily
driving rainstorms) and permit the no-confidence debate in
the Parliament - both moves that could take the wind out of
the PAD's sails at minimal cost to the government. An MP in
the ruling People's Power Party(PPP) told us today that his
party's rank and file have no objection to the debate; only
PM Samak is opposed to it.
3.(C) Comment: Despite the government's earlier bluster about
thwarting the march, they have so far chosen the wiser
course, showing considerable restraint. Rumors continue to
swirl that PM Samak will be forced to stand down, but the PM
has given no sign he is preparing to give in to pressure from
the streets. The potential still exists for serious clashes
between the authorities and the demonstrators, or between the
PAD and counter-demonstrators, particularly tonight and
during upcoming weekend. We will continue to monitor the
situation.
JOHN