Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
08BANGKOK3208
2008-10-24 10:16:00
CONFIDENTIAL
Embassy Bangkok
Cable title:
THAILAND COMMITTED TO PEACEFUL RESOLUTION FOR
how-toVZCZCXRO3236 OO RUEHCHI RUEHCN RUEHDT RUEHHM DE RUEHBK #3208/01 2981016 ZNY CCCCC ZZH O 241016Z OCT 08 FM AMEMBASSY BANGKOK TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC IMMEDIATE 4817 INFO RUEHZS/ASSOCIATION OF SOUTHEAST ASIAN NATIONS PRIORITY RUEHBJ/AMEMBASSY BEIJING PRIORITY 6440 RUEHBY/AMEMBASSY CANBERRA PRIORITY 9126 RUEHNE/AMEMBASSY NEW DELHI PRIORITY 5312 RUEHUL/AMEMBASSY SEOUL PRIORITY 4987 RUEHKO/AMEMBASSY TOKYO PRIORITY 1127 RUEHWL/AMEMBASSY WELLINGTON PRIORITY 2482 RUEHGV/USMISSION GENEVA PRIORITY 2070 RUCNDT/USMISSION USUN NEW YORK PRIORITY 5398 RHEFDIA/DIA WASHDC PRIORITY RUEAIIA/CIA WASHINGTON DC PRIORITY RHEHNSC/NSC WASHDC PRIORITY RUEKJCS/SECDEF WASHINGTON DC PRIORITY RUEKJCS/CJCS WASHDC PRIORITY RHHMUNA/HQ USPACOM HONOLULU HI PRIORITY
C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 02 BANGKOK 003208
SIPDIS
STATE FOR EAP/MLS
NSC FOR PHU
E.O. 12958: DECL: 10/24/2018
TAGS: PREL PGOV TH CB
SUBJECT: THAILAND COMMITTED TO PEACEFUL RESOLUTION FOR
BORDER DISPUTE WITH CAMBODIA
Classified By: Ambassador Eric G. John, reasons 1.4 (b) and (d)
C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 02 BANGKOK 003208
SIPDIS
STATE FOR EAP/MLS
NSC FOR PHU
E.O. 12958: DECL: 10/24/2018
TAGS: PREL PGOV TH CB
SUBJECT: THAILAND COMMITTED TO PEACEFUL RESOLUTION FOR
BORDER DISPUTE WITH CAMBODIA
Classified By: Ambassador Eric G. John, reasons 1.4 (b) and (d)
1. (C) Summary. Supreme Commander General Songkitti
Jaggabartra October 24 told the Ambassador that Cambodia
recently had reinforced troops near Preah Vihear temple.
Nevertheless, the Thai government remained committed to a
peaceful resolution to the dispute. Songkitti said the
United Nations had recently given the final approval for
Thailand to deploy a battalion of troops to Darfur and the
Thai military was targeting deployment for May 2009.
Songkitti promised to continue to work closely with the
international community to insure fair and transparent
processing of Lao Hmong refugees in Thailand.
2. (C) Comment. October 24 meetings between the two sides'
Prime Ministers in Beijing on the margins of ASEM and by
local military commanders in Cambodia are positive movements
for the border dispute. More telling, however, will be
whether Thailand and Cambodia can make tangible progress when
the Joint Border Commission (JBC) begins talks. The Thai
Parliament is expected to consider next week the August 19
provisional framework that provides for bilateral
negotiations through the JBC. End comment.
THAI GOVERNMENT MAINTAINS BILATERAL TALKS ARE KEY
-------------- ---
3. (C) Royal Thai Armed Forces (RTARF) Supreme Commander
General Songkitti Jaggabartra October 24 told the Ambassador
(accompanied by Poloff) that Cambodia had sent more troops
and weapons to the area near the disputed territory around
the Preah Vihear temple. The Thai military believed that
there were now approximately 2,700 or 2,800 Cambodian troops
situated in low lands below the temple. The Cambodian
military had also deployed six multiple rocket launchers and
several 130 millimeter artillery pieces to the area in recent
days. Despite these actions, the Thai military believed that
a peaceful solution would be found. Therefore, the Thai
military only maintained approximately 600 Thai troops on the
Thai side of the border in the area near the temple.
4. (C) The Thai government and military remained committed to
resolving the problem bilaterally through negotiations,
Songkitti said. A meeting of the countries' Prime Ministers
in Beijing and ongoing military talks through the Regional
Border Committee were positive steps toward a peaceful
solution. Involvement by the international community would
not be necessary, Songkitti told the Ambassador, because the
JBC would provide for direct bilateral talks.
CAMBODIAN POLITICS A CONCERN
--------------
5. (C) Songkitti believed that the underlying problem in the
border dispute was that Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Sen was
dealing with heightened domestic political demands and was
using Preah Vihear to deflect the demands. Despite the
success of Hun Sen's party in the late-July election, other
political actors in Cambodia were demanding increased roles
in the political process. Hun Sen understood the recent
history of politics in Southeast Asia in that leaders who had
been in power for extended periods of time, such as Marcos
and Suharto, saw their dominance increasingly challenged as
years passed, Songkitti explained.
THAILAND TO WORK WITH THE INTERNATIONAL COMMUNITY ON HMONG
-------------- --------------
6. (SBU) The Ambassador reiterated the USG view that a
transparent screening process was needed for Hmong refugees
in Petchabun. Songkitti promised to continue to work closely
with the USG and the international community to insure that
the Hmong would be treated fairly, both in Thailand and in
BANGKOK 00003208 002 OF 002
Laos for those that choose to return. The RTARF was
continuing discussions with the Vientiane government to
insure that the Hmong who wanted to go back to Laos would be
provided education and other social services in order that
they could lead normal lives.
THAILAND EXPECTS TO DEPLOY TO DARFUR IN MAY-JULY NEXT YEAR
-------------- --------------
7. (SBU) Songkitti told the Ambassador that United Nations
had recently given formal approval to Thailand to deploy a
battalion of troops to Darfur. Necessary training for the
troops has already commenced and the RTARF is targeting a May
2009 deployment to UNAMID.
JOHN
SIPDIS
STATE FOR EAP/MLS
NSC FOR PHU
E.O. 12958: DECL: 10/24/2018
TAGS: PREL PGOV TH CB
SUBJECT: THAILAND COMMITTED TO PEACEFUL RESOLUTION FOR
BORDER DISPUTE WITH CAMBODIA
Classified By: Ambassador Eric G. John, reasons 1.4 (b) and (d)
1. (C) Summary. Supreme Commander General Songkitti
Jaggabartra October 24 told the Ambassador that Cambodia
recently had reinforced troops near Preah Vihear temple.
Nevertheless, the Thai government remained committed to a
peaceful resolution to the dispute. Songkitti said the
United Nations had recently given the final approval for
Thailand to deploy a battalion of troops to Darfur and the
Thai military was targeting deployment for May 2009.
Songkitti promised to continue to work closely with the
international community to insure fair and transparent
processing of Lao Hmong refugees in Thailand.
2. (C) Comment. October 24 meetings between the two sides'
Prime Ministers in Beijing on the margins of ASEM and by
local military commanders in Cambodia are positive movements
for the border dispute. More telling, however, will be
whether Thailand and Cambodia can make tangible progress when
the Joint Border Commission (JBC) begins talks. The Thai
Parliament is expected to consider next week the August 19
provisional framework that provides for bilateral
negotiations through the JBC. End comment.
THAI GOVERNMENT MAINTAINS BILATERAL TALKS ARE KEY
-------------- ---
3. (C) Royal Thai Armed Forces (RTARF) Supreme Commander
General Songkitti Jaggabartra October 24 told the Ambassador
(accompanied by Poloff) that Cambodia had sent more troops
and weapons to the area near the disputed territory around
the Preah Vihear temple. The Thai military believed that
there were now approximately 2,700 or 2,800 Cambodian troops
situated in low lands below the temple. The Cambodian
military had also deployed six multiple rocket launchers and
several 130 millimeter artillery pieces to the area in recent
days. Despite these actions, the Thai military believed that
a peaceful solution would be found. Therefore, the Thai
military only maintained approximately 600 Thai troops on the
Thai side of the border in the area near the temple.
4. (C) The Thai government and military remained committed to
resolving the problem bilaterally through negotiations,
Songkitti said. A meeting of the countries' Prime Ministers
in Beijing and ongoing military talks through the Regional
Border Committee were positive steps toward a peaceful
solution. Involvement by the international community would
not be necessary, Songkitti told the Ambassador, because the
JBC would provide for direct bilateral talks.
CAMBODIAN POLITICS A CONCERN
--------------
5. (C) Songkitti believed that the underlying problem in the
border dispute was that Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Sen was
dealing with heightened domestic political demands and was
using Preah Vihear to deflect the demands. Despite the
success of Hun Sen's party in the late-July election, other
political actors in Cambodia were demanding increased roles
in the political process. Hun Sen understood the recent
history of politics in Southeast Asia in that leaders who had
been in power for extended periods of time, such as Marcos
and Suharto, saw their dominance increasingly challenged as
years passed, Songkitti explained.
THAILAND TO WORK WITH THE INTERNATIONAL COMMUNITY ON HMONG
-------------- --------------
6. (SBU) The Ambassador reiterated the USG view that a
transparent screening process was needed for Hmong refugees
in Petchabun. Songkitti promised to continue to work closely
with the USG and the international community to insure that
the Hmong would be treated fairly, both in Thailand and in
BANGKOK 00003208 002 OF 002
Laos for those that choose to return. The RTARF was
continuing discussions with the Vientiane government to
insure that the Hmong who wanted to go back to Laos would be
provided education and other social services in order that
they could lead normal lives.
THAILAND EXPECTS TO DEPLOY TO DARFUR IN MAY-JULY NEXT YEAR
-------------- --------------
7. (SBU) Songkitti told the Ambassador that United Nations
had recently given formal approval to Thailand to deploy a
battalion of troops to Darfur. Necessary training for the
troops has already commenced and the RTARF is targeting a May
2009 deployment to UNAMID.
JOHN