AMBASSADOR AND PRIME MINISTER SAMAK DISCUSS

C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 03 BANGKOK 000340

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E.O. 12958: DECL: 02/01/2018
TAGS: PREL PGOV PINR PHUM SNAR KDEM KJUS TH BM
SUBJECT: AMBASSADOR AND PRIME MINISTER SAMAK DISCUSS
DEMOCRACY, BURMA, DRUGS

REF: BANGKOK 276 (BIO OF SAMAK)

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

SUMMARY
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1. (C) The Ambassador called on Prime Minister Samak
Sundaravej at his residence on February 1 and welcomed the
return of a democratically-elected government to Thailand.
Samak explained his decision to serve concurrently as
Minister of Defense and confirmed reports of his intended
appointments to top Foreign Ministry positions. The
Ambassador urged Samak to make constructive public statements
on the political situation in Burma; Samak said he would
favor "soft pressure" on Burma and unofficially advocated
multilateral talks with the Burmese junta. The Ambassador
said he hoped to work cooperatively with the RTG on
counternarcotics, but stressed that the RTG must not return
to heavy-handed Thaksin-era methods, especially extrajudicial
killings. Samak said the authorities were not responsible
for most Thaksin-era drug-related extrajudicial killings, but
he acknowledged those deaths had caused problems for then-PM
Thaksin. Samak discussed plans to expand mass transportation
in the greater Bangkok area. Samak was welcoming and
promised the Ambassador he stood ready to assist with any USG
concerns; he also said he would be delighted to welcome
President Bush to visit Thailand this year. End Summary.

CONGRATULATIONS ON ELECTIONS
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2. (C) The Ambassador, accompanied by the DCM and Poloff
(notetaker),called on Prime Minister Samak Sundaravej at his
residence on February 1. (Note: Samak has received royal
endorsement as Prime Minister but has not yet been sworn in.
End Note.) The Ambassador opened the meeting by
congratulating Samak on his election as Prime Minister and
welcoming the return of a democratically elected government.
Samak -- who was unaccompanied at this meeting -- said he
looked forward to a return to normalcy in Thai politics and a
healing of the wounds that had arisen from political
divisions.

GOOD RELATIONS WITH A DIVIDED MILITARY
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3. (C) Samak explained that he would concurrently hold the
position of Minister of Defense. The military was currently
divided, he said, and appointing a military officer as
Defense Minister would inevitably exacerbate rivalries within
the Army. Samak said he expected to remain on good terms
with leading military officers, and he twice praised Army
Commander Anupong Paojinda as "good." The Ambassador
explained the USG looked forward to ending restrictions on
military assistance to Thailand after Samak's inauguration;
he anticipated numerous high-level visitors throughout the
year, such as Pacific Commander Admiral Keating, due to
arrive in late February. Samak welcomed the prospect of
high-level visits and spoke gratefully of the long U.S.-Thai
military relationship. Samak cited King Rama IV's offer to
provide elephants to assist the North in the U.S. civil war,
as well as Thailand's return in November 2007 of the former
USS Landing Craft Support 102 for exhibit in a San Francisco
museum.

HOPES TO WELCOME PRESIDENT BUSH
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4. (C) During discussion of U.S.-Thai relations, Samak
observed that, in one of his terms as Deputy Prime Minister,
he had occasion to be involved in a visit from then-President
Clinton. Samak said he would be delighted to welcome
President Bush to Thailand this year.


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BURMA
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5. (C) Samak raised USG concerns about the situation in
Burma. After reviewing contemporary Burmese history, Samak
praised the framework for six-party talks on North Korea, and
-- stressing this was his personal view rather than an
official position -- he suggested similar modalities for
dealing with Burma, including the nations with meaningful
ties to Burma. (He specifically cited Thailand, Singapore,
Japan, China, and India.) Samak said he supported "soft
pressure" that would convey to the Burmese the need "to live
with the rest of the world." He suggested Thailand would
make a good venue for dialogue with the Burmese. Samak noted
Thailand had extensive cross-border trade with Burma and
provided sanctuary to approximately one million Burmese
seeking employment.


6. (C) The Ambassador emphasized that President Bush was
personally concerned with the situation in Burma and would
take positive note of any public statements Samak might make
on the need to democracy there. The Ambassador urged Samak
to speak out on Burma, saying that, as one who had helped
bring a democratically-elected government into power after a
military coup, Samak was well positioned to convey the
importance of elections and democracy to the Burmese junta.

DRUGS
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7. (C) The Ambassador noted that counternarcotics issues had
been high on Samak's People's Power Party agenda. Citing
widespread concerns about extrajudicial killings during the
Thaksin era's "war on drugs," the Ambassador said the USG
looked forward to supporting RTG efforts that would enable
counternarcotics efforts within Thailand's legal framework.
Samak decried the effects of illegal narcotics on Thai
society and said he understood the international drug trade
in Southeast Asia also had an impact on U.S. cities. Samak
praised the effectiveness of crop substitution programs,
which he said made rural farmers wealthier than they would be
if they grew opium.


8. (C) Addressing the Ambassador's concern about drug-related
extrajudicial killings, Samak said that a recent
investigation had shown police involvement in under 60 of the
approximately 2,500 people who died during the Thaksin-era
"war on drugs." (Note: A recent report by a committee
appointed by outgoing PM Surayud Chulanont found that, in
early 2003, 54 of 2,559 deaths relating to the "war on drugs"
entailed the deaths of suspects during their arrest by
police. End Note.) In those few dozen instances, Samak
said, the proper thing to do was to allow the courts to
handle the cases. The vast majority of drug-related killings
resulted from top figures in criminal syndicates trying to
eliminate others who could implicate them, Samak asserted.
He acknowledged that the violence had caused problems for
then-PM Thaksin, but he stressed that King Bhumibol had
supported the "war on drugs," which saved many lives from the
damaging effects of illegal narcotics. The Ambassador
stressed that the RTG could combat the drug trade without
extrajudicial killings. Indeed, EJKs would constrict or
prevent our ability to cooperate on drugs and to share
related intelligence, as had happened in 2003.

ECONOMY
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9. (C) Noting that the foreign investment community would be
watching closely, the Ambassador asked Samak how he planned
to revitalize the Thai economy. Samak said that on economic
matters, as on other issues, the Ambassador should feel free
to bring concerns to his attention, and his administration
would be highly responsive. Samak then spoke at length about
plans to expand mass transit in the greater Bangkok area,

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through expansion of Bangkok's subway and train systems, to
enable factories in the city to relocate to outer areas.
Samak said he would publicize this proposal when first
announcing his administration's policies.

FOREIGN AFFAIRS TEAM
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10. (C) The Ambassador inquired about Samak's nominee for the
position of Foreign Minister. Samak confirmed press reports
that Noppadol Pattama, one of deposed PM Thaksin's leading
lawyers, would receive the position, with former diplomat
Jakrapob Penkair serving under him as Deputy FM. Samak
mentioned as an aside that new rules under the 2007
Constitution prohibiting conflicts of interest made many
people less interested in serving in the cabinet. Cabinet
nominees had to pass vetting on 28 separate points, Samak
claimed.

COMMENT
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11. (C) Although at times going off on lengthy tangents,
Samak was welcoming and expressed an eagerness to work
cooperatively with the USG -- "Anything you want, we'll
help," he said. He clearly has his own view on the situation
in Burma, however, and it is unclear whether he will adopt a
helpful policy. We have noted some in Samak's party favor a
revitalized counternarcotics campaign, and the Ambassador
clearly conveyed that any such effort should adhere to the
rule of law. End Comment.

BIOGRAPHIC NOTES
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12. (C) Citing his experience decades ago as a student in
Chicago, Samak spoke warmly of the United States,
specifically praising the opportunities for both work and
study that were available in America. He said the U.S.
provided an excellent example for others, and many Thais who
had been exposed to the U.S. adopted American ways of
thinking. He praised the American promotion of equality and
harmonious relationships between diverse ethnic groups in the
U.S. He showed in conversation that he closely followed the
ongoing presidential primaries in the U.S. He also said he
was familiar with the USG's condolence message on the
occasion of the death of former Indonesian President Suharto,
and he felt the USG had struck the right note by
acknowledging Suharto's accomplishments and not dwelling on
allegations of corruption.
JOHN