Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
08BANGKOK2276
2008-07-28 10:19:00
CONFIDENTIAL
Embassy Bangkok
Cable title:
NEW THAI FOREIGN MINISTER APPOINTED; NEW COURT
how-toVZCZCXRO7535 OO RUEHCHI RUEHCN RUEHDT RUEHHM DE RUEHBK #2276 2101019 ZNY CCCCC ZZH O 281019Z JUL 08 FM AMEMBASSY BANGKOK TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC IMMEDIATE 3827 INFO RUEHZS/ASSOCIATION OF SOUTHEAST ASIAN NATIONS PRIORITY RUEHBY/AMEMBASSY CANBERRA PRIORITY 8923 RUEHKO/AMEMBASSY TOKYO PRIORITY 0945 RUEHBJ/AMEMBASSY BEIJING PRIORITY 6205 RUEHLO/AMEMBASSY LONDON PRIORITY 1708 RUEHCHI/AMCONSUL CHIANG MAI PRIORITY 5506 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 002276
SIPDIS
NSC FOR PHU
E.O. 12958: DECL: 07/28/2018
TAGS: PGOV PREL PINR TH
SUBJECT: NEW THAI FOREIGN MINISTER APPOINTED; NEW COURT
CASE LIKELY TO PROMPT FURTHER CABINET RESIGNATIONS
Classified By: Deputy Chief of Mission James F. Entwistle, reason: 1.4
(b) and (d).
C O N F I D E N T I A L BANGKOK 002276
SIPDIS
NSC FOR PHU
E.O. 12958: DECL: 07/28/2018
TAGS: PGOV PREL PINR TH
SUBJECT: NEW THAI FOREIGN MINISTER APPOINTED; NEW COURT
CASE LIKELY TO PROMPT FURTHER CABINET RESIGNATIONS
Classified By: Deputy Chief of Mission James F. Entwistle, reason: 1.4
(b) and (d).
1. (C) On July 27, King Bhumibol formally appointed Tej
Bunnag, former Ambassador to the United States, as Thailand's
new Foreign Minister. Prime Minister Samak Sundaravej's
selection of Tej, a career diplomat, was generally welcomed
as a non-controversial move in a political environment that
remains highly polarized. On July 28, Tej traveled to Siem
Reap, Cambodia, to engage in bilateral talks with his
Cambodian counterpart on the dispute over the disposition of
the Preah Vihear temple. As of late afternoon July 28, we
have not received information from our Thai contacts on the
developments in those talks, which were continuing with no
set time to conclude.
2. (C) Separately, the Supreme Court's Criminal Division for
Political Office Holders on July 28 accepted for
consideration a case that the Asset Examination Committee had
compiled against Thaksin Shinawatra and former members of one
of his cabinets. The allegation in this case is that Thaksin
and his cabinet engaged in dereliction of duty, embezzlement,
and other infractions when they establishing a new government
lottery program in 2003. Three current cabinet members are
charged in this matter: Deputy Prime Minister/Finance
Minister Surapong Suebwonglee (also Secretary General of the
People's Power Party),Labor Minister Uraiwan Thienthong
(wife of Pracharaj Party Leader Sanoh Thienthong),and Deputy
Transportation Minister Anurak Jureemart (Deputy Leader of
the Chart Thai Party). There is a widespread perception that
constitutional provisions (specifically, in Article 275,
incorporating by reference provisions of Article 272) require
government officials charged in cases such as this one to
suspend the performance of their duties, and it appears
likely that Prime Minister Samak will replace Surapong,
Uraiwan, and Anurak in his upcoming reshuffle.
BIO OF NEW FOREIGN MINISTER
--------------
3. (U) Tej Bunnag, born on November 25, 1943, joined the MFA
in 1969. He served one overseas tour, in Jakarta
(1976-1979),before receiving Ambassadorial rank in 1983,
when he became Ambassador Attached to the Foreign Ministry.
In 1986, he was assigned as Ambassador to the People's
Republic of China, also accredited to the Democratic People's
Republic of Korea. In 1990, he became Thailand's Permanent
Representative to the United Nations office in Geneva. From
1996 until 2000, he served as Thailand's Ambassador to France
and Permanent Representative to UNESCO. He served as
Ambassador to the United States from 2000 until 2001. From
2001 until 2004, he was Permanent Secretary at the MFA. In
2004, he became an Advisor in the Office of His Majesty the
King's Principal Private Secretary. Tej receive Bachelor's
and Master's degrees from Cambridge University, and he
received his Doctorate from Oxford. He is married to Mrs.
Phensri Bunnag. He holds more than a dozen positions in
foundations and academic institutions.
JOHN
SIPDIS
NSC FOR PHU
E.O. 12958: DECL: 07/28/2018
TAGS: PGOV PREL PINR TH
SUBJECT: NEW THAI FOREIGN MINISTER APPOINTED; NEW COURT
CASE LIKELY TO PROMPT FURTHER CABINET RESIGNATIONS
Classified By: Deputy Chief of Mission James F. Entwistle, reason: 1.4
(b) and (d).
1. (C) On July 27, King Bhumibol formally appointed Tej
Bunnag, former Ambassador to the United States, as Thailand's
new Foreign Minister. Prime Minister Samak Sundaravej's
selection of Tej, a career diplomat, was generally welcomed
as a non-controversial move in a political environment that
remains highly polarized. On July 28, Tej traveled to Siem
Reap, Cambodia, to engage in bilateral talks with his
Cambodian counterpart on the dispute over the disposition of
the Preah Vihear temple. As of late afternoon July 28, we
have not received information from our Thai contacts on the
developments in those talks, which were continuing with no
set time to conclude.
2. (C) Separately, the Supreme Court's Criminal Division for
Political Office Holders on July 28 accepted for
consideration a case that the Asset Examination Committee had
compiled against Thaksin Shinawatra and former members of one
of his cabinets. The allegation in this case is that Thaksin
and his cabinet engaged in dereliction of duty, embezzlement,
and other infractions when they establishing a new government
lottery program in 2003. Three current cabinet members are
charged in this matter: Deputy Prime Minister/Finance
Minister Surapong Suebwonglee (also Secretary General of the
People's Power Party),Labor Minister Uraiwan Thienthong
(wife of Pracharaj Party Leader Sanoh Thienthong),and Deputy
Transportation Minister Anurak Jureemart (Deputy Leader of
the Chart Thai Party). There is a widespread perception that
constitutional provisions (specifically, in Article 275,
incorporating by reference provisions of Article 272) require
government officials charged in cases such as this one to
suspend the performance of their duties, and it appears
likely that Prime Minister Samak will replace Surapong,
Uraiwan, and Anurak in his upcoming reshuffle.
BIO OF NEW FOREIGN MINISTER
--------------
3. (U) Tej Bunnag, born on November 25, 1943, joined the MFA
in 1969. He served one overseas tour, in Jakarta
(1976-1979),before receiving Ambassadorial rank in 1983,
when he became Ambassador Attached to the Foreign Ministry.
In 1986, he was assigned as Ambassador to the People's
Republic of China, also accredited to the Democratic People's
Republic of Korea. In 1990, he became Thailand's Permanent
Representative to the United Nations office in Geneva. From
1996 until 2000, he served as Thailand's Ambassador to France
and Permanent Representative to UNESCO. He served as
Ambassador to the United States from 2000 until 2001. From
2001 until 2004, he was Permanent Secretary at the MFA. In
2004, he became an Advisor in the Office of His Majesty the
King's Principal Private Secretary. Tej receive Bachelor's
and Master's degrees from Cambridge University, and he
received his Doctorate from Oxford. He is married to Mrs.
Phensri Bunnag. He holds more than a dozen positions in
foundations and academic institutions.
JOHN