THAI QUEEN SHOWS SUPPORT FOR ANTI-GOVERNMENT

C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 02 BANGKOK 003080

SIPDIS

E.O. 12958: DECL: 10/14/2018
TAGS: PGOV KDEM ASEC CASC TH
SUBJECT: THAI QUEEN SHOWS SUPPORT FOR ANTI-GOVERNMENT
PROTESTS, PRO-GOVERNMENT "RED" TEAM REEMERGES

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Classified By: Charge d'Affaires, a.i. James F. Entwistle, reason: 1.4
(b) and (d).

SUMMARY AND COMMENT
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1. (C) Bangkok was calm October 14 as as Queen Sirikit sent
the strongest public signal to date of her support for the
People's Alliance for Democracy (PAD) when she presided over
the October 13 funeral ceremony of an anti-government
protestor, Angkhana Radappanyawut. Shortly after the funeral
concluded, leading Thai forensics expert Porntip Rojanasunan
announced that her investigation indicated Angkhana died
after being hit in the chest by a Chinese tear gas grenade
containing a small amount of RDX explosive. Having postponed
an October 13 demonstration outside Bangkok police
headquarters, PAD's plan for the immediate future remains
unclear. After a five week absence, the red-clad
pro-government "United Front for Democracy against
Dictatorship" (UDD) reemerged with large, peaceful rallies in
Bangkok October 11-14. Prime Minister Somchai Wongsawat said
on October 13, after an audience with the King, that he
planned neither to resign nor to dissolve the House of
Representatives.


2. (C) Comment: The PAD postponement of its planned October
13 demonstration at police headquarters provided temporary
breathing space for several days, but there is no indication
it has abandoned its "final battle" approach to the political
conflict. We remain concerned that, if the PAD does conduct
a rally later in the week at national police headquarters, it
may turn violent. Once the Queen signaled her willingness to
preside over the cremation ceremony of Angkhana, an
extraordinarily unusual development, the PAD had every
incentive to let that event dominate the news cycle, which
strengthened the PAD's claim to be supporting (and supported
by) palace elements. In overtly embracing the PAD, the Queen
risks politicizing the monarchy in a manner which may prove
especially unwise at a time when challenges associated with
royal succession are looming. End Summary and Comment.

QUEEN PRESIDES OVER FUNERAL
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3. (C) Queen Sirikit publicly signaled strong support for the
PAD on October 13, when she took the extraordinary step of
presiding over the cremation ceremony of commoner Angkhana
Radappanyawut, with Princess Chulabhorn, Supreme Commander
Songkitti Jakkabat, Army Commander Anupong Paojinda, Privy
Councilors, PAD leaders and opposition Democrat Party leaders
in attendance. Angkhana was one of two anti-government
protestors killed on October 7; the Queen almost never
attends funerals of commoners unless they have rendered
extraordinary services to the monarchy. Media outlets quoted
Angkhana's father claiming that the Queen had told him his
late daughter had supported the Thai nation and the monarchy.


4. (SBU) Shortly after the conclusion of the ceremony,
Thailand's leading forensics expert, Porntip Rojanasunan,
went on TV to discuss her findings regarding the
circumstances of Angkhana's death outside the Metropolitan
Police Headquarters late October 7. After test-firing the
type of Chinese tear gas canister used by police, discovering
that the canisters contained the explosive RDX, and examining
photos of Angkhana's wounds, Porntip concluded that Angkhana
died from being hit squarely in the chest with a tear gas
canister just before it exploded. Others had speculated that
Angkhana was carrying an explosive device that detonated.

SOMCHAI APPEALS TO NATION, PAD POSTPONES
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5. (U) PM Somchai made a short televised appeal to the nation
late October 12. He expressed regret for the violence on
October 7, restated his intent to form two committees to
examine the causes of violence and compensate victims, called
on the country to unify in advance of a series of important
upcoming events--the mid-November funeral rites of Princess
Gallyani; the early December birthday of King Bhumibol; and

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the mid-December ASEAN summits--and asked the PAD to vacate
the Government House compound and the streets.


6. (SBU) Shortly after Somchai's address concluded, PAD
leaders announced a postponement of their scheduled
demonstration outside of the police headquarters the morning
of October 13. PAD co-leader Sondhi Limthongkul said his
decision was motivated by the desire to focus public
attention on the funeral ceremonies for Angkhana and another
PAD supporter who died after the October 7 clash. A leading
PAD figure told us on October 14 that PAD had not yet decided
whether to proceed with a demonstration at the police
headquarters, which had been tentatively rescheduled for
October 15.

UDD RETURNS
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7. (SBU) After a five week absence in the wake of the violent
September 2 clash with the PAD which left one of its
supporters dead, the red-clad, pro-government UDD reemerged
the evening of October 11 with a rally of more than 10,000 at
Bangkok's Muong Thong Thani Arena, followed by a three day
rally at Bangkok's royal grounds (Sanam Luang). The four
original UDD leaders from 2006 led the rally, including
Jakrapob Penkair, the former member of Samak Sundaravej's
cabinet who resigned after being charged with lese majeste.
Another UDD leader, Veera Musikapong, reiterated publicly
what he had told us privately in early September in the wake
of the September 2 violence: the UDD aimed to show it was
more peaceful and law-abiding, and could rally a larger group
publicly, than the PAD. Another UDD figure told us October
14 that UDD would conclude its rally but would be ready to
mobilize for further protests in the event of a military coup.


8. (C) In addition to the alternative color scheme (red,
instead of yellow, the color of the King),the UDD has
consciously adopted several other symbols putting itself at
odds with both the PAD and the current monarchy. The PAD
uses plastic hand clappers at its rally; the UDD unveiled a
red "foot clapper" at its rally (showing the sole of one's
foot is taken as a sign of disrespect in Thai culture). In
response to the PAD's paramilitary, black-clad Sri Vichaya
warriors, the UDD unveiled its own black-clad guard force,
self-styled "King Taksin warriors." (note: King Taksin was
the final monarch prior to the establishment of the current
Chakri dynasty, and was murdered in 1782 by his own
ministers).

PRIME MINISTER HAS ROYAL AUDIENCE
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9. (SBU) King Bhumibol received Prime Minister Somchai
Wongsawat for an audience in Hua Hin on October 13. After
the audience, Somchai told the press that he had provided the
King with a routine update, and that he (Somchai) planned
neither to resign nor to dissolve the House of
Representatives.
ENTWISTLE