PREAH VIHEAR: TENSION, DIALOGUE, AND EMBASSY

C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 03 BANGKOK 002207

SIPDIS

PARIS PLEASE PASS TO USMISSION UNESCO

E.O. 12958: DECL: 07/18/2018
TAGS: PREL MOPS ASEC CASC UNESCO SCUL PBTS TH CB
SUBJECT: PREAH VIHEAR: TENSION, DIALOGUE, AND EMBASSY
RECOMMENDATIONS

REF: A. BANGKOK 2137 (CRIMINAL CHARGES)

B. BANGKOK 2111 (FM RESIGNS)

C. BANGKOK 1951 (NO-CONFIDENCE DEBATE)

BANGKOK 00002207 001.2 OF 003


Classified By: Deputy Chief of Mission, James F. Entwistle, reason 1.4
(b) and (d).

SUMMARY
--------------


1. (C) Tensions in the Thai-Cambodian border area remain
high, with an influx of Thai soldiers to the area close to
Preah Vihear temple. The Royal Thai Air Force is standing by
to evacuate Thais from Cambodia should bilateral relations
deteriorate dramatically before a Thai-Cambodian meeting of
top-level security officials scheduled for Monday, July 21.
Further heightening tensions on the Thai side are protestors
from the People's Alliance for Democracy (PAD),who clashed
with Sisaket province locals in an attempt to protest at the
temple site. The clash resulted in photos of bloodied
protestors and local villagers on the front page of most Thai
papers. Prime Minister Samak, in public statements,
criticized PAD for attempting to use Preah Vihear's
disposition to promote a coup d'etat. Considering the
polarized and volatile political environment in Thailand, we
recommend that the USG avoid becoming embroiled in this
emotional territorial dispute at present. Post has
distributed a warden message advising American citizens to
avoid the temple area. End Summary.

TROOP INFLUX INTO CONTESTED AREA
--------------


2. (C) An intelligence officer attached to the Internal
Security Operation Command (ISOC) office in Sisaket (near
Preah Vihear) told us on July 18 that there were more than
400 Thai soldiers in the area of the Preah Vihear temple with
the mission to enhance security of the temple and border
region. However, a contact at the Ministry of Foreign
Affairs (MFA) said the number of Thai troops was closer to
1,000. (Note: We do not have a clear understanding of
exactly where in the border area the Thai troops are
positioned, but our sources tell us they are in an area of
overlapping Thai-Cambodian claims. End note.) Thai press
quoted Suranaree Task Force Commander Major General Kanok
Nettarakawaysana as stating that he has been in the border
are for three days and is waiting for negotiations to begin
with Cambodian authorities about the disputed territory near
the temple. Air Force Chief Chalit Phukpasuk was quoted as
saying that the Royal Thai Air Force is prepared to evacuate
Thais residing in Cambodia with one hour's notice.

THAI MEDIA COVERAGE
--------------


3. (C) Reports of tension on the Thailand-Cambodia border
continue to dominate Thai newspaper headlines, with photos
depicting outbreaks of violence between People's Alliance for
Democracy (PAD) protestors and local residents. (Note: PAD
was formed as an anti-Thaksin group, and its core purpose is
blocking former Prime Minister Thaksin's return to influence.
End Note.) The press reported heavily on the July 17
appearance of PAD protestors who were confronted by around
200 locals during a march to gain access to the temple.
According to reports, over 100 carloads of PAD protestors,
stretching for two kilometers, attempted to reach the temple
before being confronted by local anti-PAD protestors, who
blocked the road around 8 kilometers from the temple. Our
contact at ISOC told us that there were around 2,000 PAD
protestors during the July 17 march. The violence started
when PAD demonstrators ordered their security personnel to
break through police barriers of wood and barbed wire. The
locals reacted by throwing objects at the protestors, at
which point the police intervened. Many local residents of
Sisaket rely on tourism for their livelihood, and they are
reportedly upset with the PAD because the increased tension
has hurt their business interests.

MFA: SITUATION UNDER CONTROL
--------------


BANGKOK 00002207 002.2 OF 003



4. (C) Deputy Director General of the East Asian Department
at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MFA) Pisanu Suvanajata
told us on July 18 that PAD had not only protested at the
entrance to temple site on Preah Vihear mountain, but also at
the Cambodian Consulate in Sa Kaeo Province. A leading
member of the PAD movement who led supporters to Preah Vihear
on July 17 told us that PAD has since left the area, but the
situation remained very tense. He claimed that PAD did not
plan to return to the vicinity of Preah Vihear. He added
that the remaining protestors belong to the Dharmayatra
(Dharma March) movement, led by media and social activist
Saman Si-ngam. This group, formed in May 2008 and heretofore
unknown, consists of civilians from Bangkok and Sisaket
Province who marched toward Preah Vihear to meditate and
claim Thai sovereignty over the temple.


5. (C) Despite tension on the ground, the RTG has expressed
confidence that the situation is under control. Pisanu told
us that the RTG has ordered provincial authorities to control
future PAD movements and to continue to limit their access to
the area. He referred to a letter sent by Cambodian Prime
Minister Hun Sen to Thai Prime Minister Samak that requested
a withdrawal of Thai troops. (The text of this letter has
been e-mailed to EAP/MLS.) Pisanu said this letter showed
dialogue was ongoing. He noted that "as long as the two
leaders can still talk, it is under control," although he
added that Hun Sen's request was unacceptable since Thai
troops were in overlapping or disputed territory. Pisanu,
one of the six government officials alleged by PAD to have
committed a criminal offence through the handling of Preah
Vihear's inscription on the UNESCO World Heritage List,
blamed the current tension on the combination of PAD
stirring-up the issue and the presence of Cambodian troops at
the border. Prime Minister Samak publicly chastised the
three protestors who crossed into the disputed territory on
July 14, accusing them of trying to elicit a violent reaction
from border security. Samak also blamed PAD for the public
furor over the temple and said the group hoped to inspire
another coup d'etat.

UPCOMING MEETING
--------------


6. (C) Thai and Cambodian officials intend to meet on July 21
in Sa Kaeo province to discuss the situation. This will be
an emergency meeting of the General Border Committee, which
is normally chaired by Defense Ministers and normally meets
once per year. MFA contacts have told us that the Thai side
will be represented by Royal Thai Armed Forces Supreme
Commander General Boonsrang Niumpradit. The Thais expect
that the Cambodian side will be represented by either the
Cambodian Defense Minister or Supreme Commander.

ANALYSIS AND RECOMMENDATION
--------------


7. (C) In Thailand, the issue of Preah Vihear's disposition
has become extraordinarily politicized. The opposition
Democrat Party focused on Preah Vihear above all else in the
June no-confidence debate (ref C); PAD has filed a request
for charges of capital crimes against the officials involved
(ref A); and the Constitutional Court used the Thai-Cambodian
Joint Communique to open the door to the cabinet's
impeachment, prompting the Foreign Minister's resignation
(ref B). The temple's disposition hits a raw nerve with some
Thais, and some significant actors are actively manipulating
the controversy to advance their anti-Thaksin agenda.


8. (C) We recommend that the USG avoid becoming embroiled in
this emotional territorial dispute, especially during this
time of polarized and volatile Thai politics. We suggest
that we only address Preah Vihear issues on an "if asked"
basis, urging in general terms that all parties work in a
spirit of good will and cooperation to resolve their concerns
peacefully and diplomatically, and to create an atmosphere in
which the existing mechanisms (such as the upcoming General
Border Committee meeting) to resolve border issues can
function.

WARDEN MESSAGE
--------------

BANGKOK 00002207 003.2 OF 003




9. (U) With CA/OCS concurrence, post has distributed a warden
message citing tensions along the Thai-Cambodian border and
recommending that American citizens defer travel to the area
near the temple.
JOHN