Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
08BANGKOK2800
2008-09-16 10:23:00
CONFIDENTIAL
Embassy Bangkok
Cable title:
CHART THAI PARTY LEADER BANHARN PRAISES PM NOMINEE
how-toVZCZCXRO5036 OO RUEHCHI RUEHCN RUEHDT RUEHHM DE RUEHBK #2800 2601023 ZNY CCCCC ZZH O 161023Z SEP 08 ZDK FM AMEMBASSY BANGKOK TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC IMMEDIATE 4359 INFO RUEHZS/ASSOCIATION OF SOUTHEAST ASIAN NATIONS PRIORITY RUEHBY/AMEMBASSY CANBERRA PRIORITY 9025 RUEHWL/AMEMBASSY WELLINGTON PRIORITY 2414 RUEHLO/AMEMBASSY LONDON PRIORITY 1726 RUEHBJ/AMEMBASSY BEIJING PRIORITY 6333 RUEHUL/AMEMBASSY SEOUL PRIORITY 4891 RUEHKO/AMEMBASSY TOKYO PRIORITY 1033 RUEHCHI/AMCONSUL CHIANG MAI PRIORITY 5636 RHEFDIA/DIA WASHDC PRIORITY RUEAIIA/CIA WASHINGTON DC PRIORITY RUEKJCS/SECDEF WASHINGTON DC PRIORITY RHHMUNA/CDR USPACOM HONOLULU HI PRIORITY RHHMUNA/USCINCPAC HONOLULU HI PRIORITY RHEHNSC/NSC WASHDC PRIORITY
C O N F I D E N T I A L BANGKOK 002800
SIPDIS
E.O. 12958: DECL: 09/16/2018
TAGS: PGOV PINR KDEM TH
SUBJECT: CHART THAI PARTY LEADER BANHARN PRAISES PM NOMINEE
SOMCHAI
REF: BANGKOK 2791 (PPP ENDORSES SOMCHAI)
Classified By: Ambassador Eric G. John, reason: 1.4 (b) and (d).
C O N F I D E N T I A L BANGKOK 002800
SIPDIS
E.O. 12958: DECL: 09/16/2018
TAGS: PGOV PINR KDEM TH
SUBJECT: CHART THAI PARTY LEADER BANHARN PRAISES PM NOMINEE
SOMCHAI
REF: BANGKOK 2791 (PPP ENDORSES SOMCHAI)
Classified By: Ambassador Eric G. John, reason: 1.4 (b) and (d).
1. (C) The Ambassador called on former Prime Minister Banharn
Silapa-Archa, leader of the Chart Thai Party (the second
largest member of the governing coalition) September 16 just
after the ruling People's Power Party (PPP) met to reconfirm
plans to nominate Somchai Wongsawat as Prime Minister.
Banharn told the Ambassador that the internal strife within
PPP related to Somchai's nomination (reftel) had been
resolved. Banharn said he had just spoken with Somchai by
phone and had offered advice for Somchai's upcoming term as
PM. (Note: the Parliament is scheduled to vote on the PM
nomination on September 17.) Banharn's advice, which he felt
Somchai would heed, was to lead with an economic program to
improve the people's welfare, and to pursue constitutional
amendment only in non-confrontational areas. Banharn felt
the current crisis had been exacerbated by Samak's
confrontational style and emphasis on constitutional
revisions that could be seen as designed to benefit Thaksin
and allied politicians.
2. (C) Banharn praised Somchai's performance during his term
as Permanent Secretary at the Ministry of Justice. He
characterized Somchai as gracious and soft-spoken, although
adding that Somchai might need to become more decisive in his
leadership style. Banharn expected that Somchai's family
ties to former PM Thaksin Shinawatra (Somchai is married to
Thaksin's sister Yaowapha, leader of PPP's northern faction)
would not prove a liability, as Somchai knew this
relationship would concern skeptics and therefore would make
extra efforts to govern fairly.
3. (C) Banharn added that the People's Alliance for Democracy
(PAD) was appearing increasingly unreasonable in its
continued protests at Government House. He believed it
possible to settle the conflict between PAD and the
government in the near term, but he declined to specify his
prescribed strategy to accomplish this. Banharn said that
the government would be patient with PAD demonstrators, and
he did not think the use of force would be appropriate.
4. (C) Comment: Overnight media reports of internal PPP
divisions over Somchai's upcoming nomination seem to have
been unduly alarmist; it appears that the PPP faction
opposing Somchai's nomination, led by Newin Chidchob, dropped
its opposition in exchange for a promise of one additional
cabinet seat in Somchai's administration. Other politicians
have publicly described Somchai in terms similar to those
Banharn used. Only the PAD -- which has taken an extreme
position in rejecting any figure associated with PPP -- seems
unwilling to give him a chance.
JOHN
SIPDIS
E.O. 12958: DECL: 09/16/2018
TAGS: PGOV PINR KDEM TH
SUBJECT: CHART THAI PARTY LEADER BANHARN PRAISES PM NOMINEE
SOMCHAI
REF: BANGKOK 2791 (PPP ENDORSES SOMCHAI)
Classified By: Ambassador Eric G. John, reason: 1.4 (b) and (d).
1. (C) The Ambassador called on former Prime Minister Banharn
Silapa-Archa, leader of the Chart Thai Party (the second
largest member of the governing coalition) September 16 just
after the ruling People's Power Party (PPP) met to reconfirm
plans to nominate Somchai Wongsawat as Prime Minister.
Banharn told the Ambassador that the internal strife within
PPP related to Somchai's nomination (reftel) had been
resolved. Banharn said he had just spoken with Somchai by
phone and had offered advice for Somchai's upcoming term as
PM. (Note: the Parliament is scheduled to vote on the PM
nomination on September 17.) Banharn's advice, which he felt
Somchai would heed, was to lead with an economic program to
improve the people's welfare, and to pursue constitutional
amendment only in non-confrontational areas. Banharn felt
the current crisis had been exacerbated by Samak's
confrontational style and emphasis on constitutional
revisions that could be seen as designed to benefit Thaksin
and allied politicians.
2. (C) Banharn praised Somchai's performance during his term
as Permanent Secretary at the Ministry of Justice. He
characterized Somchai as gracious and soft-spoken, although
adding that Somchai might need to become more decisive in his
leadership style. Banharn expected that Somchai's family
ties to former PM Thaksin Shinawatra (Somchai is married to
Thaksin's sister Yaowapha, leader of PPP's northern faction)
would not prove a liability, as Somchai knew this
relationship would concern skeptics and therefore would make
extra efforts to govern fairly.
3. (C) Banharn added that the People's Alliance for Democracy
(PAD) was appearing increasingly unreasonable in its
continued protests at Government House. He believed it
possible to settle the conflict between PAD and the
government in the near term, but he declined to specify his
prescribed strategy to accomplish this. Banharn said that
the government would be patient with PAD demonstrators, and
he did not think the use of force would be appropriate.
4. (C) Comment: Overnight media reports of internal PPP
divisions over Somchai's upcoming nomination seem to have
been unduly alarmist; it appears that the PPP faction
opposing Somchai's nomination, led by Newin Chidchob, dropped
its opposition in exchange for a promise of one additional
cabinet seat in Somchai's administration. Other politicians
have publicly described Somchai in terms similar to those
Banharn used. Only the PAD -- which has taken an extreme
position in rejecting any figure associated with PPP -- seems
unwilling to give him a chance.
JOHN