TENSIONS ESCALATE AT THAI STREET PROTESTS

C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 03 BANGKOK 002405 SIPDIS DRL FOR BUCKLEY E.O. 12958: DECL: 08/08/2018 TAGS: PHUM PGOV PINS ASEC TH SUBJECT: TENSIONS ESCALATE AT THAI STREET PROTESTS REF: BANGKOK 02344 (FURTHER LESE MAJESTE) Classified By: Deputy Chief of Mission James F. Entwistle, reason 1.4 ( b) and (d). ¶1. (C) Summary and Comment: Increased tension at ongoing People's Alliance for Democracy (PAD) rallies across Thailand resulted in numerous clashes between PAD supporters and pro-government groups in July. Following the recent outbreak of violence at a July 24 rally in Udon Thani province, the Royal Thai Army and Air Force offered protection to assist police at the demonstration sites. Meanwhile, the press denied earlier reports of a fatality at the PAD rally in Udon Thani, although a PAD leader suggested that a PAD guard may have died. A PAD co-leader publicly threatened large demonstrations in order to prevent a government-led effort to amend the constitution. The People's Power Party (PPP)-led government proposed a bill that grants the police the authority to supervise or dissolve public protests -- the most stringent proposal to date regarding the regulation of rallies -- though a government whip withdrew the draft August 6, acknowledging it required more review. ¶2. (C) Comment: While the Democrat Party serves as the parliamentary opposition, PAD has been the principal organizer of street protests against the government. Thaksin's ongoing court cases, as well as government efforts to amend the constitution, may well generate further political tension, demonstrations, and counter-demonstrations. It is unclear whether either side in the polarized environment believes its interests would be served by significant shows of popular unrest, but we will continue to monitor closely the political climate and the actions of both government and private security elements associated with the street protesters. END Summary and Comment. PAD RALLIES PRONE TO VIOLENCE -------------- ¶3. (C) From March until June, there were periodic scuffles at People's Alliance for Democracy (PAD) rally sites in Bangkok and northeastern Thailand. (Note: PAD is an anti-government group that formed several years ago to oppose then-Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra. END Note.) Such incidents became more frequent in the month of July. No major injuries were reported until a July 23 rally in Maha Sarakham province, at which a leading PAD member suffered a head injury from a thrown rock. According to media reports, clashes in July escalated, with anti-PAD groups dismantling PAD stages or burning them down. ¶4. (C) On July 25, local media reported on a fatality at a July 24 PAD rally in Udon Thani in which, according to local press, a large anti-PAD mob attacked the rally, wielding knives, axes and clubs, and destroying the PAD stage. A PAD security guard allegedly died from an axe blow to the head during a clash with anti-PAD protesters. The assailants were identified as members of the previously unknown Khon Rak Udon (Udon-Lovers) group, led by the brother of Deputy Agriculture Minister (and People's Power Party executive board member) Theerachai Saenkaew. ¶5. (C) A PAD press release on July 25 accused the Royal Thai police and RTG officials of conspiring with anti-PAD groups to allow them access to attack PAD sites; PAD labeled the alleged government negligence as a campaign of state-sponsored brutality. The Udon Thani incident also prompted an appeal by Human Rights Watch for the RTG to protect opposition political rallies, as PAD leaders claimed that the Thai police were tolerating aggressive behavior by anti-PAD protesters. In response, the Royal Thai Army and Air Force offered to assist police at demonstration sites. The police have yet to accept military assistance. ALLEGED FATALITY'S BODY MISSING -------------- ¶6. (C) Despite the allegations of a PAD fatality at the Udon Thani rally, no body has been found, and neither the police BANGKOK 00002405 002 OF 003 nor PAD members can identify the alleged victim. Security officials of Udon Thani and Buriram provinces and an Udon Thani Police Station official told us that the reports were false. However, PAD co-leader Somkiat Pongpaiboon claimed to us that "someone stole the body and dumped it," adding that confirmation of a death would have reflected poorly on pro-government protesters. However, he acknowledged that he was expressing his personal suspicion, and PAD would not formally claim a fatality until the alleged victim's relatives reported the victim as a missing person or the body surfaced. PAD STOPS DISPATCHING BANGKOK GUARD UNITS -------------- ¶7. (C) Somkiat told us on July 25 that, even before the Udon demonstration, PAD had decided it would no longer dispatch Bangkok-based PAD security guards to rallies outside of Bangkok, in particular to regions where Thaksin is popular, such as the North and Northeast, and where the chances of a clash are especially high. Somkiat added that many of PAD's guards hail from southern Thailand, and they would be seen as outsiders by the people in the North and Northeast. Somkiat believed violent conflicts between PAD and counter-demonstrators would reflect poorly on PAD and cause divisions among PAD's supporters. He added that PAD co-leader Major General (ret) Chamlong Srimuang had responsibility for PAD's security measures. THAKSIN CONVICTION COULD CALM PAD DOWN -------------- ¶8. (C) Somkiat suggested that PAD no longer called for military intervention in political affairs and intended to cease its rallies if the Supreme Court were to convict Thaksin in an ongoing "abuse of power" case. Subsequent to our meeting with Somkiat, however, another PAD co-leader, Suriyasai Katasila, announced publicly that PAD would hold major rallies to prevent any government-led effort to amend the constitution. (Somkiat had also told us that PAD would continue to work to prevent constitutional amendment.) PPP RETALIATES WITH PROPOSALS TO REGULATE RALLIES -------------- -------------- ¶9. (C) The government whip withdrew a controversial bill regulating public rallies that was scheduled for discussion in the House on August 6, citing a need for further review of the proposal. Over 25 MPs from the PPP had proposed a bill to regulate public rallies under Article 63 of the Constitution, which grants the freedom of assembly. They claimed the bill would address public criticism of traffic and noise disruptions caused by ongoing PAD rallies. The bill would have authorized the Metropolitan Police Bureau in Bangkok and provincial police chiefs to supervise public rallies with impunity, including the right to dismantle rallies and to imprison participants of unauthorized or unruly protests for up to three years. PAD leaders criticized the bill in the media, claiming it clashed with democratic principles; PM Samak accused PAD leaders of opposing the bill to perpetuate their disruptive rallies. On August 8, Chusak Sirinil, Minister Attached to the Prime Minister's Office, emphasized that Article 63 would not be amended, but he said the government would continue to push for stricter regulations of public gatherings. ¶10. (C) During an August 5 audience with the King, PM Samak proposed a government campaign for reconciliation and political unity that would run from August 12 (the Queen's birthday) until December 5 (the King's birthday) and be chaired by the Crown Prince, according to press reports. The prospective impact of Samak's initiative on public gatherings is unclear, but PAD supporters have complained publicly that the reconciliation effort is a partisan ploy to put political pressure on PAD to stop its demonstrations. Deputy Government Spokesman Natthawut Saikua told the media that PAD was asked to comply with the campaign and review current PAD activities. He explained that the reconciliation campaign would entail five major events on Bangkok's Ratchadamneon Avenue where PAD currently holds its rallies. PAD leading BANGKOK 00002405 003 OF 003 member Phiphop Thongchai announced on-stage at a PAD rally that PAD would adjust its rallies as necessary, but warned the government not to involve the monarchy in "political games." JOHN