Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
08BANGKOK3454
2008-11-24 10:19:00
CONFIDENTIAL
Embassy Bangkok
Cable title:  

ANTI-GOVERNMENT DEMONSTRATION IN BANGKOK STARTS

Tags:  PGOV ASEC CASC TH 
pdf how-to read a cable
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TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC IMMEDIATE 5159
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RUEHBJ/AMEMBASSY BEIJING PRIORITY 6539
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RHHMUNA/USCINCPAC HONOLULU HI PRIORITY
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RHHMUNA/CDR USPACOM HONOLULU HI PRIORITY
C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 02 BANGKOK 003454 

SIPDIS

NSC FOR DENNIS WILDER AND LIZ PHU

E.O. 12958: DECL: 11/24/2018
TAGS: PGOV ASEC CASC TH
SUBJECT: ANTI-GOVERNMENT DEMONSTRATION IN BANGKOK STARTS
STRONG BUT LOSES STEAM, NO VIOLENCE

REF: BANGKOK 3426 (LETHAL EXPLOSION)

BANGKOK 00003454 001.2 OF 002


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

SUMMARY AND COMMENT
-------------------

C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 02 BANGKOK 003454

SIPDIS

NSC FOR DENNIS WILDER AND LIZ PHU

E.O. 12958: DECL: 11/24/2018
TAGS: PGOV ASEC CASC TH
SUBJECT: ANTI-GOVERNMENT DEMONSTRATION IN BANGKOK STARTS
STRONG BUT LOSES STEAM, NO VIOLENCE

REF: BANGKOK 3426 (LETHAL EXPLOSION)

BANGKOK 00003454 001.2 OF 002


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

SUMMARY AND COMMENT
--------------


1. (SBU) Tens of thousands of supporters of the
anti-government People's Alliance for Democracy (PAD)
demonstrated at the parliament on the morning of November 24,
causing the cancellation of a legislative session. As of
late afternoon November 24, the main protest outside of the
PAD base at Government House consisted of approximately 2,000
people at Bangkok's Don Muang airport (used commercially for
domestic flights only),where the cabinet has used facilities
since the PAD takeover of the Government House compound.
Demonstrators also temporarily besieged other government
facilities and cut off electricity to them. The RTG has
taken these actions in stride. The police remain the lead
agency responding to the protests.


2. (C) Comment: It is unclear how long PAD intends to keep up
this latest round of demonstrations, although PAD figures
have vowed to continue at least until Wednesday, November 26,
to disrupt a planned cabinet meeting. A PAD co-leader has
trumpeted the current efforts as part of a "final battle"
against the government (which PAD views as a proxy for former
Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra),but the comparatively
small number engaged in the ongoing Don Muang protest
provides hope that the recent rhetoric is no more than that.
Given recent acts of violence involving PAD (including a
fatality -- reftel),we did not take for granted that the
November 24 protests would be peaceful, but so far there is
no sign of violence in connection with the ongoing
demonstrations. End Summary and Comment.

PROTEST AT PARLIAMENT, THEN AT AIRPORT
--------------


3. (SBU) The People's Alliance for Democracy (PAD) rallied
tens of thousands of sympathizers to the Government House
compound on November 23 for a renewed "final battle," the
same slogan used August 26 to launch the current phase of its
protest. The stated rationale was two-fold: to protest the
death of a PAD supporter the previous week (reftel),and to

prevent the government from amending the constitution, even
though such amendments were not on the parliamentary docket.
On the morning of November 24, the PAD marched on the
parliament, blocked access to the compound, and cut off the
electricity to the building. In response, House Speaker Chai
Chidchob canceled a planned joint House-Senate session
intended to review/approve international agreements. After
Chai's announcement, PAD demonstrators expressed satisfaction
that they had prevented the session from convening and
dispersed from the parliament.


4. (SBU) Hundreds of PAD protestors moved from the parliament
to the Don Muang airport, which the cabinet has used for its
meetings after the PAD occupation of Government House. As of
the late afternoon of November 24, it appeared that
approximately 2,000 PAD protstors were at the airport but
had not impeded comercial fliht operations. (Note:
Commercial ailines only use Don Muang airport for domestic
flghts. End Note.) PAD leaders talked of remainingat Don
Muang airport overnight, and of demonstratng at Suvarnabhumi
international airport when Prme Minister Somchai Wongsawat
returns from the AEC summit in Peru.

OTHER VENUES TARGETED
--------------


5. (SBU) PAD remains encamped t Government House and also
targeted other sites arly on November 24:

- PAD protestors held a deonstration at the Bangkok
Metropolitan Police hedquarters and cut off electricity to
the buildin; a police official told us there were

BANGKOK 00003454 002.2 OF 002


approximately 1,000 protestors present at mid-day.

- Several hundred PAD supporters demonstrated at the Ministry
of Finance and cut off electricity to the building;

- PAD also blocked access to the headquarters of the Chart
Thai party (Thailand's third-largest party and a member of
the governing coalition) and cut off electricity to the
building.


6. (SBU) As of the late afternoon of November 24, the actions
listed immediately above had ended, but approximately 2,500
PAD protestors were demonstrating at the Bank of Thailand.
Approximately 11,000 PAD supporters remained at or around the
Government House compound, according to a police contact.

GOVERNMENT RESPONSE
--------------


7. (SBU) Prime Minister Somchai, interviewed in Peru,
continued to reject PAD's demand that he resign. The police
reportedly readied approximately 1,500 personnel overnight
for the demonstrations, with some military troops to be
available to assist the police if required. Unlike the
previous round of violence near parliament October 7, the
police readied at least 20 fire trucks able use water cannons
to disperse protesters, though in the end that proved
unnecessary. Somchai directed Army Commander Anupong
Paojinda to monitor the security situation, according to
press reports. The government reportedly is seeking talks
with PAD leaders, although the purpose of the talks remains
unclear. As of close of business November 24, we have not
heard of any violent clashes between the security forces and
demonstrators.

PAD'S "FINAL BATTLE," THE SEQUEL?
--------------


8. (SBU) The November 23-24 demonstrations come in the
context of increasing tension. PAD co-leader Sondhi
Limthongkul has been the most outspoken of his group in
publicly framing the ongoing protests as part of a "final
battle" intended to bring down the current government, but
this is already the second time Sondhi has launched protest
marches with that phrase, and it is unclear how long PAD
intends to maintain its demonstrations absent achieving any
objectives.


9. (SBU) The pro-government United Front for Democracy
Against Dictatorship (UDD) rallied 20,000 supporters
peacefully November 23 at a Buddhist temple outside of
Bangkok but did not move to confront PAD.
JOHN