Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
08BANGKOK2302
2008-07-30 09:59:00
CONFIDENTIAL
Embassy Bangkok
Cable title:
MOTHERLAND PARTY LEADER ANNOUNCES WITHDRAWAL FROM
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C O N F I D E N T I A L BANGKOK 002302
SIPDIS
NSC FOR PHU
E.O. 12958: DECL: 07/30/2018
TAGS: PGOV PINR KDEM TH
SUBJECT: MOTHERLAND PARTY LEADER ANNOUNCES WITHDRAWAL FROM
GOVERNING COALITION
REF: BANGKOK 2243 (PREDICTION OF UNITY GOVERNMENT)
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 002302
SIPDIS
NSC FOR PHU
E.O. 12958: DECL: 07/30/2018
TAGS: PGOV PINR KDEM TH
SUBJECT: MOTHERLAND PARTY LEADER ANNOUNCES WITHDRAWAL FROM
GOVERNING COALITION
REF: BANGKOK 2243 (PREDICTION OF UNITY GOVERNMENT)
Classified By: Deputy Chief of Mission James F. Entwistle, reason: 1.4
(b) and (d).
1. (C) Summary: Deputy Prime Minister Suwit Khunkitti
publicly announced on July 29 the withdrawal of his
Motherland Party from the governing coalition. He appears to
have acted without the full authority of the party, however.
A reliable contact told us Suwit was bitter about his
imminent loss of his cabinet seat in the upcoming reshuffle.
Even if the Motherland Party defects in toto, Prime Minister
Samak Sundaravej's People's Power Party (PPP) has sufficient
allies to command majority support in the House. A Democrat
Party official told us his party was not in talks about
including Democrats in the reshuffled cabinet; the Democrats
would only join a "government of national unity" if
instructed to do so by the King. End Summary.
2. (U) Motherland Party Leader and Deputy Prime Minister
Suwit Khunkitti held a press conference on July 29 to
announce that his party was withdrawing from the governing
coalition. Suwit cited the government's declared desire to
amend the constitution and the recent controversy over the
Preah Vihear temple as reasons for this move.
3. (C) We discussed Suwit's statement on July 30 with
Ekkaphap Polsue, a former Thai Rak Thai legislator informally
associated with the Motherland Party. Ekkaphap told us the
Motherland Party's executive board had made no formal
decision to withdraw from the governing coalition, and,
although Suwit claimed to have spoken on behalf of the party,
he appeared to lack the capacity to do so. Ekkaphap claimed
Suwit's statement stemmed from his disappointment after
learning that he would lose his cabinet seat in the upcoming
reshuffle.
4. (C) We spoke on July 30 with staff members from the
offices of the four Motherland Party cabinet members. Staff
members claimed that Deputy Interior Minister Sitthichai
Kowsurat (on an official trip abroad) and Information and
Communication Technology Minister Man Patthanothai (presiding
over a ceremonial event outside of the Ministry) were still
performing their official duties. Neither Suwit nor Deputy
Finance Minister Ranongrak Suwannachawee reported to their
offices on the morning of July 30, but it was unclear whether
they had formally submitted their resignations.
5. (C) Isra Sunthornvut, Secretary to Democrat Party Leader
Abhisit Vejjajiva, told us in a July 30 conversation that the
Democrat Party had not engaged in discussions with the
People's Power Party (PPP) about the possible inclusion of
Democrats in a Samak-led cabinet. Isra told us there were
currently no plans for the Democrats to join a "government of
national unity" (hypothesized in reftel),and it was
difficult for him to imagine the formation of such a cabinet.
Isra assured us that politicians would not come to such an
arrangment by themselves, although, if instructed to do so by
the palace, they would obey.
6. (C) Comment: We do not take at face value Suwit's claim
that he and fellow party members are breaking from the
government over policy differences; we believe the upcoming
cabinet shuffle's impact on personal interests offers a more
likely explanation. The Motherland Party holds 24 seats in
the 480-seat parliament, and, even if it were to defect in
toto, this move by itself would not significantly impede
PPP's ability to form a government.
JOHN
SIPDIS
NSC FOR PHU
E.O. 12958: DECL: 07/30/2018
TAGS: PGOV PINR KDEM TH
SUBJECT: MOTHERLAND PARTY LEADER ANNOUNCES WITHDRAWAL FROM
GOVERNING COALITION
REF: BANGKOK 2243 (PREDICTION OF UNITY GOVERNMENT)
Classified By: Deputy Chief of Mission James F. Entwistle, reason: 1.4
(b) and (d).
1. (C) Summary: Deputy Prime Minister Suwit Khunkitti
publicly announced on July 29 the withdrawal of his
Motherland Party from the governing coalition. He appears to
have acted without the full authority of the party, however.
A reliable contact told us Suwit was bitter about his
imminent loss of his cabinet seat in the upcoming reshuffle.
Even if the Motherland Party defects in toto, Prime Minister
Samak Sundaravej's People's Power Party (PPP) has sufficient
allies to command majority support in the House. A Democrat
Party official told us his party was not in talks about
including Democrats in the reshuffled cabinet; the Democrats
would only join a "government of national unity" if
instructed to do so by the King. End Summary.
2. (U) Motherland Party Leader and Deputy Prime Minister
Suwit Khunkitti held a press conference on July 29 to
announce that his party was withdrawing from the governing
coalition. Suwit cited the government's declared desire to
amend the constitution and the recent controversy over the
Preah Vihear temple as reasons for this move.
3. (C) We discussed Suwit's statement on July 30 with
Ekkaphap Polsue, a former Thai Rak Thai legislator informally
associated with the Motherland Party. Ekkaphap told us the
Motherland Party's executive board had made no formal
decision to withdraw from the governing coalition, and,
although Suwit claimed to have spoken on behalf of the party,
he appeared to lack the capacity to do so. Ekkaphap claimed
Suwit's statement stemmed from his disappointment after
learning that he would lose his cabinet seat in the upcoming
reshuffle.
4. (C) We spoke on July 30 with staff members from the
offices of the four Motherland Party cabinet members. Staff
members claimed that Deputy Interior Minister Sitthichai
Kowsurat (on an official trip abroad) and Information and
Communication Technology Minister Man Patthanothai (presiding
over a ceremonial event outside of the Ministry) were still
performing their official duties. Neither Suwit nor Deputy
Finance Minister Ranongrak Suwannachawee reported to their
offices on the morning of July 30, but it was unclear whether
they had formally submitted their resignations.
5. (C) Isra Sunthornvut, Secretary to Democrat Party Leader
Abhisit Vejjajiva, told us in a July 30 conversation that the
Democrat Party had not engaged in discussions with the
People's Power Party (PPP) about the possible inclusion of
Democrats in a Samak-led cabinet. Isra told us there were
currently no plans for the Democrats to join a "government of
national unity" (hypothesized in reftel),and it was
difficult for him to imagine the formation of such a cabinet.
Isra assured us that politicians would not come to such an
arrangment by themselves, although, if instructed to do so by
the palace, they would obey.
6. (C) Comment: We do not take at face value Suwit's claim
that he and fellow party members are breaking from the
government over policy differences; we believe the upcoming
cabinet shuffle's impact on personal interests offers a more
likely explanation. The Motherland Party holds 24 seats in
the 480-seat parliament, and, even if it were to defect in
toto, this move by itself would not significantly impede
PPP's ability to form a government.
JOHN