Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
08BANGKOK2111
2008-07-10 08:11:00
CONFIDENTIAL
Embassy Bangkok
Cable title:
THAILAND'S FOREIGN MINISTER RESIGNS AFTER TEMPLE
how-toVZCZCXRO3515 OO RUEHCHI RUEHCN RUEHDT RUEHHM DE RUEHBK #2111 1920811 ZNY CCCCC ZZH O 100811Z JUL 08 FM AMEMBASSY BANGKOK TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC IMMEDIATE 3657 INFO RUEHZS/ASSOCIATION OF SOUTHEAST ASIAN NATIONS PRIORITY RUEHBY/AMEMBASSY CANBERRA PRIORITY 8892 RUEHKO/AMEMBASSY TOKYO PRIORITY 0917 RUEHBJ/AMEMBASSY BEIJING PRIORITY 6161 RUEHLO/AMEMBASSY LONDON PRIORITY 1695 RUEHCHI/AMCONSUL CHIANG MAI PRIORITY 5448 RUEAIIA/CIA WASHINGTON DC PRIORITY RHEHNSC/NSC WASHDC PRIORITY RHHMUNA/CDR USPACOM HONOLULU HI PRIORITY RHEFDIA/DIA WASHDC PRIORITY RHHMUNA/USCINCPAC HONOLULU HI PRIORITY RUEKJCS/SECDEF WASHINGTON DC PRIORITY
C O N F I D E N T I A L BANGKOK 002111
SIPDIS
NSC FOR PHU
E.O. 12958: DECL: 07/10/2018
TAGS: PGOV PREL KDEM KJUS TH
SUBJECT: THAILAND'S FOREIGN MINISTER RESIGNS AFTER TEMPLE
CONTROVERSY
REF: A. BANGKOK 2091 (CLOUDED FUTURE)
B. BANGKOK 1978 (APPROACH TOWARD DEMONSTRATORS)
Classified By: Acting DCM Anne Casper, reason: 1.4 (b) and (d).
C O N F I D E N T I A L BANGKOK 002111
SIPDIS
NSC FOR PHU
E.O. 12958: DECL: 07/10/2018
TAGS: PGOV PREL KDEM KJUS TH
SUBJECT: THAILAND'S FOREIGN MINISTER RESIGNS AFTER TEMPLE
CONTROVERSY
REF: A. BANGKOK 2091 (CLOUDED FUTURE)
B. BANGKOK 1978 (APPROACH TOWARD DEMONSTRATORS)
Classified By: Acting DCM Anne Casper, reason: 1.4 (b) and (d).
1. (U) Within hours of returning to Thailand from Canada,
Foreign Minister Noppadon Pattama held a press conference at
the MFA on July 10. He briefly reviewed the Samak
administration's efforts to improve Thailand's international
relations, then specifically addressed the controversy
surrounding the Thai-Cambodian Joint Communique on the
inscription of Preah Vihear temple on the UNESCO World
Heritage List. Noppadon insisted that various RTG agencies
had determined that he had not acted improperly in signing
the Joint Communique, and that his actions had not damaged
Thai interests. Nevertheless, the Constitutional Court had
ruled that the signing of the Communique was unconstitutional
(ref A),and Noppadon said that, to promote reconciliation
and place the nation's interests above his own, he was
resigning from office, effective July 14.
2. (U) Separately, the Constitutional Court ruled on July 9
that Public Health Minister Chaiya Sasomsab had violated laws
on financial disclosure, because he did not disclose within
30 days of his inauguration the significant stake his wife
held in a private company. The Court's ruling retroactively
terminated Chaiya's status as Public Health Minister.
3. (C) Comment: The recent Constitutional Court rulings have
rattled the Samak administration. It is unclear whether
Prime Minister Samak might try to stabilize the situation by
carrying out a broad reshuffle, or whether he will simply
plug the existing holes in his cabinet and forge ahead. It
is also unclear whether his opponents will be temporarily
placated by Noppadon's resignation, or, like sharks smelling
blood, will intensify their attacks. We would stress that,
at present, the administration is trying to cope with
adversity stemming from court decisions and from the
parliamentary opposition, rather than from street protests,
which have quieted down somewhat since their late June peak
(ref B).
JOHN
SIPDIS
NSC FOR PHU
E.O. 12958: DECL: 07/10/2018
TAGS: PGOV PREL KDEM KJUS TH
SUBJECT: THAILAND'S FOREIGN MINISTER RESIGNS AFTER TEMPLE
CONTROVERSY
REF: A. BANGKOK 2091 (CLOUDED FUTURE)
B. BANGKOK 1978 (APPROACH TOWARD DEMONSTRATORS)
Classified By: Acting DCM Anne Casper, reason: 1.4 (b) and (d).
1. (U) Within hours of returning to Thailand from Canada,
Foreign Minister Noppadon Pattama held a press conference at
the MFA on July 10. He briefly reviewed the Samak
administration's efforts to improve Thailand's international
relations, then specifically addressed the controversy
surrounding the Thai-Cambodian Joint Communique on the
inscription of Preah Vihear temple on the UNESCO World
Heritage List. Noppadon insisted that various RTG agencies
had determined that he had not acted improperly in signing
the Joint Communique, and that his actions had not damaged
Thai interests. Nevertheless, the Constitutional Court had
ruled that the signing of the Communique was unconstitutional
(ref A),and Noppadon said that, to promote reconciliation
and place the nation's interests above his own, he was
resigning from office, effective July 14.
2. (U) Separately, the Constitutional Court ruled on July 9
that Public Health Minister Chaiya Sasomsab had violated laws
on financial disclosure, because he did not disclose within
30 days of his inauguration the significant stake his wife
held in a private company. The Court's ruling retroactively
terminated Chaiya's status as Public Health Minister.
3. (C) Comment: The recent Constitutional Court rulings have
rattled the Samak administration. It is unclear whether
Prime Minister Samak might try to stabilize the situation by
carrying out a broad reshuffle, or whether he will simply
plug the existing holes in his cabinet and forge ahead. It
is also unclear whether his opponents will be temporarily
placated by Noppadon's resignation, or, like sharks smelling
blood, will intensify their attacks. We would stress that,
at present, the administration is trying to cope with
adversity stemming from court decisions and from the
parliamentary opposition, rather than from street protests,
which have quieted down somewhat since their late June peak
(ref B).
JOHN