THAI SUPREME COMMANDER ASSURES AMBASSADOR THAT

C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 02 BANGKOK 003209

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E.O. 12958: DECL: 10/24/2018
TAGS: PGOV PREL PINR KDEM ASEC MOPS TH
SUBJECT: THAI SUPREME COMMANDER ASSURES AMBASSADOR THAT
THERE WILL BE NO COUP

REF: BANGKOK 3143

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Classified By: Ambassador Eric G. John, reasons 1.4 (b) and d)


1. (C) Summary. Thai Armed Forces Supreme Commander General
Songkitti Jaggabartra told the Ambassador on October 24 that
the Thai military would not stage a coup. The military was
committed to working with Prime Minister Somchai and to
helping the country through constitutional means. Songkitti
said a coup would not solve the political conflict as the
pro-Thaksin People's Power Party (PPP) or its successor would
win the next election anyway.


2. (C) Comment. Songkitti demonstrated a compelling
understanding of why a coup would not solve the current
conflict and that such action would only postpone political
reconciliation. The Supreme Commander's statements that
there would be no coup were a reassuring confirmation of Army
Commander General Anupong's continuing public and private
assurances that the military would not become involved in
politics. End Summary and comment.

A COUP IS NOT THE SOLUTION
--------------


3. (C) During an October 24 meeting with Royal Thai Armed
Forces Supreme Commander General Songkitti Jaggabartra, the
Ambassador stressed the USG position that a coup would not be
acceptable. Songkitti said the Thai military would not stage
a coup, as such action would hurt the nation and not solve
the underlying political and societal problems. People had
misunderstood Royal Thai Army Commander General Anupong
Paochinda's October 16 comments on TV, Songkitti said. The
Army Commander had not said the Prime Minister should resign;
rather Anupong had only said he would resign if he were the
PM.


4. (C) Songkitti placed blame for the current conflict on
political actors who were trying to exploit a perceived split
between the PPP-led government and the military. Songkitti
told the Ambassador that the Thai military would stay neutral
and would respect the democratic process and the
constitution. The anti-government People's Alliance for
Democracy (PAD) had been trying to gain the backing of the
military, as the group would not prevail without the
military's support. The military, however, was committed to
working with Prime Minister and Defense Minister Somchai in
carrying out its duty to defend the country and to resolve
security challenges. Songkitti told the Ambassador that he
and General Anupong had had a friendly meeting with Somchai
after an October 23 royal ceremony. The two military leaders
had also met with Somchai earlier in the week to discuss the
border conflict with Cambodia in advance of the Prime
Minister's October 24 talks with Cambodian Prime Minister Hun
Sen (note: in Beijing, as part of the ASEM meetings).

MEDIA NOT REPORTING THE TRUTH
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5. (C) Songkitti said the Thai media was not accurately
reporting the state of affairs. The media was trying to
create a problem which did not exist by only reporting signs
of apparent bad blood between Anupong and the Prime Minister.
The true story was that the Thai military would continue to
support the government through constitutional avenues,
Songkitti said. The military would not fall into the trap
represented by intervention in the political process.


6. (C) The Ambassador reiterated to Songkitti that a coup
would set back the process of resolving the political
conflict. The 2006 coup had postponed by at least a year and
a half any progress towards compromise. Songkitti agreed and
said a coup every two years would only work against solving
the real problems within the political system. Songkitti

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expressed his wish that the U.S. and others would use their
private meetings with Thai politicians to influence them in a
positive way, i.e., that they should carry out their work for
the good of the nation and not for personal benefit.
Songkitti noted that the conflict had divided Thailand into
red pro-PPP/Thaksin and yellow anti-government provinces.
This was a grave state of affairs, Songkitti said, the
consequence of which was a country that could not be governed
effectively.

THAKSIN SHOULD CALL FOR RECONCILIATION
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7. (C) The Ambassador asked Songkitti for his assessment of
former-Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra's plans to address a
November 1 pro-government mass rally in Bangkok via a
telephone or video link from abroad. Songkitti expressed
hope that Thaksin would call on all parties to think of the
country and to bring themselves to compromise for the greater
good. The Thai people should sacrifice for the benefit of
the nation so that upcoming events, such as the funeral for
the King's sister, the King's birthday, and the ASEAN Summit,
could be successfully completed.

RESPECT THE RULE OF LAW
--------------


8. (C) The Ambassador asked the Supreme Commander for his
view of how the Thai government and the military would
respond if there were further violence, particularly a clash
between pro- and anti-government groups. Songkitti said the
Thai government should follow the rule of law. As such, the
Thai police would be responsible for maintaining order. The
street clash September 2 between the PAD and its
pro-government rival, the United Front for Democracy Against
Dictatorship (UDD),showed, however, that the police were not
always capable in keeping the peace, Songkitti said. After
the September 2 emergency declaration (lifted by Somchai
September 14) by then-Prime Minister Samak Sundaravej that
had allowed for the deployment of a small number of soldiers,
the two sides had quickly retreated. The Ambassador stressed
that violence by demonstrators on either side of the
political divide should not be a pretext for a coup, the
Supreme Commander agreed.
JOHN