Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
08BANGKOK2269
2008-07-25 09:19:00
CONFIDENTIAL
Embassy Bangkok
Cable title:  

FALUN GONG IN THAILAND

Tags:  PHUM PREF PREL PGOV TH CH KIRF 
pdf how-to read a cable
VZCZCXRO6021
OO RUEHCHI RUEHCN RUEHDT RUEHHM
DE RUEHBK #2269/01 2070919
ZNY CCCCC ZZH
O 250919Z JUL 08
FM AMEMBASSY BANGKOK
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC IMMEDIATE 3818
INFO RUEHZS/ASSOCIATION OF SOUTHEAST ASIAN NATIONS PRIORITY
RUEHBJ/AMEMBASSY BEIJING PRIORITY 6201
RUEHBY/AMEMBASSY CANBERRA PRIORITY 8919
RUEHUL/AMEMBASSY SEOUL PRIORITY 4800
RUEHKO/AMEMBASSY TOKYO PRIORITY 0941
RUEHWL/AMEMBASSY WELLINGTON PRIORITY 2344
RUEHGV/USMISSION GENEVA PRIORITY 2043
RUEKJCS/SECDEF WASHINGTON DC PRIORITY
RHHMUNA/CDR USPACOM HONOLULU HI PRIORITY
RHEFDIA/DIA WASHDC PRIORITY
RHEHNSC/NSC WASHDC PRIORITY
RUEAIIA/CIA WASHINGTON DC PRIORITY
C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 04 BANGKOK 002269 

SIPDIS

GENEVA FOR RMA

E.O. 12958: DECL: 07/24/2018
TAGS: PHUM PREF PREL PGOV TH CH KIRF
SUBJECT: FALUN GONG IN THAILAND

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

SUMMARY
-------

C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 04 BANGKOK 002269

SIPDIS

GENEVA FOR RMA

E.O. 12958: DECL: 07/24/2018
TAGS: PHUM PREF PREL PGOV TH CH KIRF
SUBJECT: FALUN GONG IN THAILAND

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

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


1. (C) Falun Gong (FLG) practitioners in Bangkok are a small
mix of mainland Chinese seeking refugee status and
resettlement to third countries, alongside a smattering of
high-society Thais. Thai immigration authorities are
strictly applying immigration law in cases involving FLG
practitioners, which is possibly related to strengthening
Thailand-China relations. A Chinese diplomat told us the RTG
sometimes dumps undocumented Chinese FLG practitioners across
neighboring countries' borders, although FLG practitioners
and UNHCR officials with whom we spoke with did not indicate
this practice takes place. FLG practitioners told us the
authorities carry out sometimes intrusive surveillance of
their public exercises, and visit their homes; the
authorities have at times warned FLG practitioners against
political activism. This activism, rather than practice of
the FLG faith per se, appears to be the basis for RTG concern
about the FLG community. UNHCR accepts the majority of most
FLG adherents' claims to refugee status, assuming China will
persecute even low-level FLG activists. End Summary.

FALUN GONG'S ROOTS IN BANGKOK
--------------


2. (C) Phaitun Surivawongphaisan and Apassaree
Chaochotechuang are native-born Thai citizens and the leaders
of the Bangkok branch of Falun Gong (FLG). Apassaree, a
member of the elite Royal Bangkok Sports Club, told PolOff
that she joined FLG in 1996 after a Thai friend raved about
the health benefits. She began to study FLG ideology to
treat her migraines and told us she experienced instant
relief as a result of the meditation exercises. Phaitun, a
dentist who travels the world for FLG conferences, joined FLG
in 1998 to ease health problems. He told us that it took
only one month of FLG study for his health to improve.


3. (C) When Bangkok FLG practitioners first assembled, the
group was composed of around 100 Thai members. They
practiced in the CP Tower's cafeteria, a building named after

a giant agricultural company belonging to the Sino-Thai
Chearavanont family. A high-level manager of the CP company
was a fellow practitioner and offered use of the space free
of charge. He also invited FLG founder Li Hongzhi to Bangkok
in 1996 to meet the group. According to Apassaree, it was Li
Hongzhi's only visit to Bangkok before the "persecution"
against FLG started in China in 1998. Apassaree told us that
the CP Tower stopped hosting FLG meetings in 1998 due to the
Chearavanont family's investments in China, and because the
manager did not believe in the ideology of FLG, although he
enjoyed the exercises. FLG practitioners moved to another
building with donated office space until the 1998 Asian
economic downturn caused the owner to evict them. At that
time, Li Hongzhi advised the group to relocate to Bangkok's
Lumpini Park where they continue to meet daily between 6:00 -
8:00 a.m.


4. (C) Today, 100 FLG refugees from mainland China outnumber
the remaining 20 Thai members, who tend to be wealthy
housewives and a few businessmen, such as the owner of a
cargo shipping company. Apassaree told us that the number of
Thai FLG members dropped in the late 1990s in conjunction
with China's persecution of FLG. She said Thai practitioners
worried about being targeted by the RTG and that Sino-Thais
and overseas Chinese felt particular pressure from the
Chinese Communist Party (CCP) not to affiliate with groups
considered anti-CCP, such as FLG. Recalling the climate
around July 1999, Apassaree said that the PRC Embassy
routinely called Sino-Thais and overseas Chinese who had
investments connected to China, warning them not to associate
with FLG. Phaitun said that many Thai politicians have
invested in China, and they view these interests as more
important than human rights.


5. (C) The draw of FLG to Thailand may be linked to its

BANGKOK 00002269 002 OF 004


overland access to China, although the UNHCR presence is also
a factor. Some mainland Chinese FLG refugees told us that
they escaped to Thailand due to its proximity to China. One
mainland Chinese FLG practitioner said the U.S. Embassy in
Beijing advised FLG members to escape to Thailand in order to
seek UNHCR protection. (Comment: We do not know the basis
for this claim but pass it along because there may be
consequences associated with this surely-unfounded rumor.
End Comment.) Yao Wen, a senior member of the PRC Embassy's
political section, told us FLG's presence in Thailand could
be attributed to religious factors. He said that FLG
practitioners choose Thailand because of the group's close
association with Buddhism. According to Yao, attempts by FLG
to link itself with Buddhism angered some Thais, who find it
offensive to their form of Buddhism. He added that an NGO
(NFI) was involved in bringing FLG practitioners from China
to Thailand.


NEWFOUND FREEDOM LEADS TO PRC EMBASSY
--------------


6. (C) In addition to exercising in Lumpini Park, some FLG
members, primarily those from mainland China, distribute
pamphlets and other material around tourist sites in Bangkok
and the PRC Embassy. One practitioner said her group wanted
to educate the many Chinese tourists in Bangkok, as well as
Thais, about the persecution of FLG in China, including organ
harvesting. "Most of us know people who were killed,
tortured to death," she said and then told PolOff she saw two
FLG women tortured until they were paralyzed during her
imprisonment in a Guangzhou women's labor camp (Chatou Nuzi
Laojiaosu, Guangzhou).


7. (C) FLG Bangkok members also meditate every Friday for two
hours in front of the PRC embassy. According to Apassaree,
"the problem starts when the refugees join us." She said
that the police simply take those with valid Thai visas to
the police station and register them. However, those with
only UN cards showing their refugee status are arrested and
sent to the Immigration Detention Center (IDC). On March 13
and 14, 2008 a total of six mainland Chinese FLG members were
arrested while distributing FLG leaflets near the Chinese
Embassy and the Grand Palace. On February 8, 2008, 13
Chinese FLG members were arrested while meditating opposite
the PRC Embassy. At present, 19 FLG members remain in
Bangkok's IDC.


8. (C) PRC diplomat Yao Wen told us he recognizes some of the
FLG practitioners who regularly sit opposite his embassy. He
said that he was not concerned about FLG members becoming
violent, saying they know well that the RTG authorities would
not tolerate such behavior. He told us that the Thai police
are "very kind" towards the Chinese Embassy and will remove
the protestors, sometimes arresting them and, if they did not
have legal status, pushing them across the border into Burma
or Laos -- although Yao Wen noted that many of those treated
thusly made their way back to Thailand a few weeks later.
FLG members, especially the protesters, were well known to
Thai intelligence services, who watched them carefully, Yao
said. When asked whether FLG members were repatriated to
China, Yao indicated they were not. He said many of them did
not have any documents, and their practice was often to
refuse to speak to government authorities, so it was
impossible to determine their nationality, and consequently
the Thais simply pushed them across the border of a
neighboring country. Senior Regional Protection Officer at
UNHCR Maria Corinna Miguel-Quicho told PolOff separately that
the PRC is not responsive in claiming PRC people as nationals
-- "they'll never do it," she said.


9. (C) Chen Hua, a 36 year old female refugee who has been
in Thailand for two years, was in the first group to meditate
outside of the PRC Embassy. In October 2005, the group sat
in the lotus position for two hours, until members of the
Special Branch Police (SBP) threatened them with arrest.
"Every arrest happens when there is something important for
China, such as the Olympics," she said, noting that the SBP
has interviewed the landlords of most FLG refugees.

BANGKOK 00002269 003 OF 004



RTG ACTS ON PRC EMBASSY CONCERNS
--------------


10. (C) Thai FLG founders Phaitun and Apassaree both told us
the Thai police photographed them and their homes when
Thailand hosted the APEC Summit in October 2003. Phaitun
said that "they told me they wanted to recognize me and make
sure that we don't make Thailand lose face." According to
Apassaree, the Thai police also take intrusive photos of each
FLG member's face when they meditate opposite the PRC Embassy
on public property. FLG refugees told us that Thai security
guards from a nearby office high-rise close to the PRC
Embassy sometimes appear instead of the police to take their
photos. (Note: Two Lumpini Park security guards sat on a
bench next to the group of FLG mainland Chinese refugees
while the refugees discussed their experiences with us. End
Note.)


11. (C) Thai Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MFA) Attache and
China specialist Tajasarn Hanhiran told us that the RTG does
not consider FLG's presence in Bangkok to be a major problem
or threat to bilateral relations with China. MFA Third
Secretary Suwannee Niamyai who also specializes on mainland
China, told us that "China understands us -- that Thailand
will do anything not to break down relations." Attention
paid by both the PRC Embassy and the RTG to the FLG presence
in Bangkok around the arrival of the Olympic torch earlier
this year is noteworthy. Phaitun told us a friend of his who
works in the Government House told him that the Chinese
Ambassador warned officials at Government House about a
possible FLG bomb during the torch relay in Bangkok.


12. (C) Phaitun noted that he was called three times by
different SBP officers who asked him if FLG intended to join
forces with the Free Tibet crowd at the torch relay.
Apassaree added that the SBP called her and expressed their
concern that Thailand "not lose face" during the torch's run
through Bangkok. UNHCR Protection Officer Seda Kuzucu was
also on high-alert prior to the torch relay. She said that
she reminded the FLG "to calm down or we'd have to see them
in IDC," where access to detainees is limited to one hour per
day. Phaitun told us that the FLG group never went to the
torch relay and that Bangkok FLG members tried to contact
Thai media and Chinese-language newspapers in Bangkok in
order to clarify FLG's stance on the Olympics. Apassaree
noted the papers always refused FLG press releases, not
wanting to be seen as anti-China or to lose advertising from
mainland China. MFA official Tajasarn told us that "FLG
themselves are not a problem in Thailand, but they protest
against the Chinese government, and we accepted international
principles not to allow other groups to use Thailand as a
place to protest and worsen our relations with a third party."

WARY OF PRC, UNHCR GRANTS REFUGEE STATUS
--------------


13. (C) UNHCR in Bangkok has 77 active FLG refugee cases
consisting of 111 people, and 36 asylum-seeker cases
consisting of 50 people. UNHCR Senior Regional Protection
Officer Maria Corinna Miguel-Quicho told us that UNHCR has
not seen a recent increase in FLG cases in Thailand and
suspected that most FLG members from mainland China traveled
directly to North American and Europe to seek asylum. She
told us that most of the cases seen in Bangkok were relatives
of people already resettled in third countries and she viewed
them as "low-key" FLG practitioners. She questioned the
extent of their involvement with FLG in China, noting that
once they come to Bangkok they go straight to the PRC
Embassy, because engaging in FLG exercises there is the most
effective way to gain refugee status. She explained that
most FLG practitioners in Bangkok are 'sur place refugees,'
meaning they had no well-founded fear of persecution when
they left China, and this well-founded fear only materialized
after they arrived in Thailand and took on a more active role
in protesting PRC polices. UNHCR Protection Officer Seda
Kuzucu noted that if a FLG applicant is rejected after their
first UNHCR interview "they'll join the group in Lumpini Park
and sit in front of the PRC embassy."

BANGKOK 00002269 004 OF 004




14. (C) UNHCR considered FLG cases to be among the more
difficult cases to review because of a lack of information on
China's treatment of low-level FLG practitioners.
Miguel-Quicho also spoke of the difficulty of verifying FLG
applicants' stories due to UNHCR's inability to access
sources in China. She was particularly skeptical of FLG
applicants who arrived in Bangkok on commercial flights with
PRC passports and i.d. cards, which Chinese nationals who
were imprisoned or pursued by the police should not have been
able to obtain easily. Nevertheless, throughout the region,
most FLG practitioners are being recognized as refugees due
to a lack of resources in China to verify their accounts and
due to China's poor human rights record.


15. (C) UNHCR recognizes 90% of FLG cases, and UNHCR staff
had not heard of any FLG being returned to mainland China or
other border countries, contrary to Yao's statement.
Miguel-Quicho told us that UNHCR seeks to err on the side of
caution, given the realistic possibility that FLG
practitioners, who she acknowledged are monitored by the PRC
Embassy in Thailand, would face persecution if returned to
China. Tangentially, Kuzucu noted that the rare rejection of
a FLG practitioner's request generally would prompt an active
international lobbying effort on that person's behalf. She
did not consider the RTG to be particularly harsh towards FLG
refugees. However, both Miguel-Quicho and Kuzucu pointed to
a distinct pattern of refugee arrests by the Thai authorities
over the past two years when arrests spiked in December, July
and right before the Thai New Year in April. They speculated
that this reflected concerns over security during peak
tourism seasons for Thailand, but they did not know if that
pattern of arrests indicated an internal policy.


COMMENT
--------------


16. (C) FLG's presence in Bangkok is relatively small, but
the community's political activism makes it a
disproportionate concern for the PRC Embassy and RTG
officials seeking to protect and promote the Thai-Chinese
relationship. We are concerned by the PRC diplomat's
allegation that the RTG shunts undocumented FLG practitioners
across Thailand's borders, but we noted that neither the FLG
adherents nor the UNHCR officials to whom we spoke confirmed
that this practice takes place. Although the FLG community
has not received formal recognition by the RTG's Religious
Affairs Department, FLG members appear free to practice their
faith, and do so openly. Our assessment is that the RTG
surveillance, which at times may rise to the level of
harassment, is based principally on FLG practitioners'
political activities (anti-PRC protests),rather than their
religious beliefs, and in most cases foreign FLG
practitioners who lack the legal right to be present in
Thailand are treated properly under Thai law.

JOHN