NEW THAI CABINET APPOINTED, FACES CRITICISM

C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 04 BANGKOK 003712

SIPDIS

NSC FOR WILDER AND PHU

E.O. 12958: DECL: 12/22/2018
TAGS: PGOV PINR KDEM TH
SUBJECT: NEW THAI CABINET APPOINTED, FACES CRITICISM

REF: A. BANGKOK 3707 (KASIT UNPLUGGED)

B. BANGKOK 3648 (ABHISIT ELECTED)

C. BANGKOK 409 (NEW CABINET)

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Classified By: Deputy Chief of Mission James F. Entwistle, reason: 1.4
(b and d).

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


1. (C) Abhisit Vejjajiva's cabinet received royal appointment
on December 20 and was scheduled to be sworn in late in the
day on December 22. The cabinet consists primarily of
politicians, although a former Army Commander serves as
Defense Minister and a career diplomat serves as Foreign
Minister. Abhisit's Democrat Party (DP) ceded some key
positions to coalition partners, with the faction loyal to
Buriram politician Newin Chidchob -- formerly a close Thaksin
ally -- receiving a generous allotment of important seats.
Abhisit faced some criticism from his own party over the
cabinet's composition. This cable provides biographic
information on selected persons holding security and
justice-related positions; septel will report on the economic
team. Paragraph nine provides a complete cabinet list.


2. (C) Comment: We had doubted that Abhisit's formal
opposition would allow him to enjoy a honeymoon period, but
it is surprising that, upon returning the Democrats to power
for the first time since 2001, the new PM immediately began
taking open criticism from his own side as well. The
cabinet's composition shows Abhisit and his close political
partner Suthep have recognized the need to distribute ample
seats to their coalition allies. But the pro-Thaksin Puea
Thai Party, which holds a plurality in the House, was
previously willing to back the Motherland Party Leader as
Prime Minister and can offer tempting incentives to break up
Abhisit's coalition. Abhisit faces a tough road ahead. End
Summary and Comment.

CABINET TO BE INAUGURATED DECEMBER 22
--------------


3. (SBU) Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva's cabinet, publicly
unveiled after receiving royal approval on December 20, is
scheduled to take its oath of office late in the day on
December 22, in the presence of King Bhumibol. Abhisit and
his administration have already drawn criticism. Loyalists
to former Prime Minister Thaksin have publicly alleged that
senior military figures played a role in cobbling together
the coalition that elected Abhisit on December 15.
Pro-Thaksin figures also denounced the new Foreign Minister's
ties to the People's Alliance for Democracy (ref A).


4. (SBU) More surprisingly, Democrat Party (DP) legislator
Nipit Intarasombat, who failed to receive a cabinet
appointment, complained publicly that the cabinet's formation
was improperly influenced by individuals' financial
interests. In response, DP Secretary General Suthep
Thaugsuban -- who claimed publicly that only he and Abhisit
determined the cabinet's composition -- flatly denied that he
"sold" cabinet seats. Abhisit admitted his cabinet might not
be optimal but explained he had to contend with certain
political realities. Aside from Nipit, many observers
predicted prominent Democrats Kraisak Choonhavan (a relative
newcomer to the party) and Kiat Sittheeamorn would join the
cabinet, but they, too, ultimately were excluded.

BALANCE AMONG POLITICAL PARTIES
--------------


5. (SBU) DP figures -- and non-politicians favored primarily
by the DP -- hold 18 of the 36 cabinet positions, including
the premiership. This distribution reflects the substantial
leverage of the Democrats' coalition partners. DP
legislators provided approximately 70 percent of the House
votes in Abhisit's favor during his recent Abhisit election,
but the DP holds only 50 percent of the cabinet seats.


6. (C) The faction of former People's Power Party (PPP)

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legislators loyal to Buriram politician Newin Chidchob, which
defected to the Democrats, received substantial payback from
Abhisit. Newin faction figures became Interior Minister --
despite preliminary indications that DP Secretary General
Suthep sought this powerful and presumably lucrative job for
himself -- and Transport Minister (another position offering
many opportunities for personal enrichment). Others from
this faction became Deputy Ministers in Interior,
Transportation, and Agriculture.


7. (SBU) The position of Agriculture Minister remains, as it
was under Prime Ministers Samak and Somchai, with an ally of
Banharn Silapa-Archa, former Leader of the now-disbanded
Chart Thai Party. Banharn's brother, Chumpol Silapa-Archa,
has taken over the Tourism Ministry, formerly headed by close
Banharn associate Weerasak Kowsurat. Sanan Kachornprasart,
who joined Chart Thai in 2007, rounds out the top tier of
that former party's representatives, remaining a Deputy PM,
as under Samak and Somchai.


8. (SBU) Ruam Jai Thai Chart Pattana Party financier Pradit
Phataraprasit remains in place as Deputy Finance Minister,
while his party also picked up the Energy Ministry. A
representative of the former Matchima Party received the
position of Commerce Minister, while the Natural Resources
and Environment Ministry is in the hands of Suwit Khunkitti,
a former Thai Rak Thai figure who co-formed and until
recently led the Motherland Party (now torn by factionalism).

FULL LIST
--------------


9. (U) Abhisit's cabinet, in its entirely, consists of:

- Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva
- Deputy Prime Minister Suthep Thaugsuban
- Deputy Prime Minister Korbsak Sabhavasu
- Deputy Prime Minister Sanan Kachornprasart
- Foreign Minister Kasit Piromya
- Defense Minister General (ret) Prawit Wongsuwan
- Justice Minister Pirapan Salirathavibhaga
- Interior Minister Chaovarat Chanweerakul
- Deputy Interior Minister Boonjong Wongtrairat
- Deputy Interior Minister Thaworn Senneam
- Finance Minister Korn Chatikavanij
- Deputy Finance Minister Pradit Pataraprasit
- Deputy Finance Minister Pruektichai Damrongrat
- Commerce Minister Pornthiva Nakasai
- Deputy Commerce Minister Alongkorn Pollabutr
- Tourism and Sports Minister Chumpol Silapa-Archa
- Social Development and Human Security Miinister Witoon
Nambutr
- Agriculture Minister Theera Wongsamut
- Deputy Agriculture Minister Chartchai Pukkayaporn
- Transportation Minister Sophon Saram
- Deputy Transportation Minister Kuakul Danchaiwijit
- Deputy Transportation Minister Prajak Kaewklahan
- Natural Resources and Environment Minister Suwit Khunkitti
- Information and Communications Technology Minister
Ranongrak Suwanchawee
- Energy Minister Wannarat Charnnukul
- Industry Minister Charnchai Chairungrueng
- Labor Minister Phaithoon Kaeothong
- Culture Minister Teera Slukpetch
- Science Minister Kalaya Sophonpanich
- Education Minister Jurin Laksanawisit
- Deputy Education Minister Chaiwuti Bannawat
- Deputy Education Minister Narisara Chawaltanpipat
- Public Health Minister Witthaya Kaewparadai
- Deputy Public Health Minister Manit Nopamornbodi
- Minister Attached to the PM's Office Satit Wongnongtaey
- Minister Attached to the PM's Office Virachai Virameteekul

SELECT BIOS
--------------


10. (SBU) Post provided biographic notes on Abhisit, Foreign
Minister Kasit, and Deputy PM Sanan Kachornprasart in refs B,
A, and C, respectively. Septel will report on the economic

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team. Biographic notes on certain key cabinet members follow.

Deputy PM Suthep Thaugsuban
--------------

(C) Deputy Prime Minister Suthep has served as Deputy
Secretary General of the Democrat Party since 2005. Born on
July 7, 1949, in Surat Thani province, he entered politics in
1979 and has held a seat in Thailand's democratically-elected
parliaments since then. He has previously served in the
cabinet as Communications Minister and twice as Deputy
Agriculture Minister. In 1995, a scandal involving
then-Deputy Agriculture Minister Suthep's land reform program
caused then-Prime Minister Chuan Leekpai (to whom Suthep
remains close) to dissolve the House rather than face a
no-confidence vote.

(C) In recent years, Suthep has controlled the finances of
the Democrat Party, and several Democrats have privately
complained to us that he engages in corrupt and unethical
behavior. Abhisit has generally deferred to Suthep to
conduct political negotiations on his behalf; while Abhisit
appears publicly as an ethical intellectual, Suthep serves as
the party's backroom dealmaker. He maintains contacts in all
camps, including the military. Although he played a leading
role in complaining about fraud in the 2006 legislative
election, protecting witnesses in the case that ultimately
led to the Thai Rak Thai party's dissolution, he has
reportedly had direct contact with Thaksin after Thaksin was
deposed as Prime Minister.

(SBU) Suthep has a bachelor's degree from Chiang Mai
University and a Master's Degree in Political Science from
Middle Tennessee State University; he can discuss
professional matters in English, although at times he
struggles to find apt words. He has been very accessible to
the Embassy. Suthep's first wife died years ago; he now
refers to the sister of Democrat Party Deputy Leader Niphon
Promphan as his wife, although the two may not be legally
married. Suthep has three children from his first marriage.

Defense Minister General (ret) Prawit Wonsuwon
-------------- -

(SBU) General Prawit became Army Commander in 2004,
reportedly thanks to the backing of close Thaksin ally
Sudarat Keyuraphan. He held that position until 2005, when
he retired and was replaced by General Sonthi Boonyaratglin.
After the 2006 coup d'etat, Prawit was appointed to the
National Legislative Assembly, where he played a role in the
drafting of the Internal Security Act.

(SBU) Prawit served in Vietnam from 1970-71. During his
career, he also fought against communist insurgents in
Thailand's Northeast, and he has served on the Thai-Cambodian
border. He became First Army Area Commander in 2002 and then
rose to become Assistant Army Commander the following year.
Born on August 11, 1945, Prawit graduated from the Armed
Forces Academy Preparatory School and Chulachomklao Royal
Military Academy (1969). He is a graduate of the Command and
General Staff College (1978) and National Defense College
(1997). He never married.

Interior Minister Chaovarat Chanweerakul
--------------

(SBU) Chaovarat's appointment as Interior Minister marks his
fifth cabinet position this year. He started under Prime
Minister Samak as Deputy Minister of Public Health, then
moved to become Minister of Social Development and Human
Security, then served as Minister of Public Health. Prime
Minister Somchai Wongsawat appointed him as Deputy Prime
Minister, and after the Constitutional Court dissolved the
People's Power Party (PPP) on December 2 Chaovarat served
briefly as Acting Prime Minister. He is currently aligned
with Buriram politician Newin Chidchob.

(SBU) Chaovarat is Chairman of the Sino-Thai Construction
Company, which he founded in 1952. He has been a major

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financier of the Thai Rak Thai party, then of the PPP. He
has served as Honorary Consul of Papua New Guinea, and he
served twice as Deputy Minister of Finance in the mid-1990's.
He was born on June 7, 1936, in Bangkok, and holds a
bachelor's degree in Economics from Thammasat University.

Justice Minister Pirapan Salirathavibhaga
--------------

(SBU) Pirapan has not previously held a cabinet post. He was
a career judge before entering politics in 1996 as a Democrat
Party candidate for a Bangkok seat in the House of
representatives. In the 1990's, he served as advisor to the
Education Minister, Advisor to the Justice Minister, and
Advisor to the Bangkok Governor. Pirapan was born on
February 21, 1959, the son of a Vice Admiral. The holds an
LL.B. degree and two master's degrees, including one from
Tulane University. He is married to the daughter of
prominent hotelier Thanpuying Chanat Piya-oui, and has four
children.

Minister Attached to the PM's Office
Satit Wongnongtaey
--------------

(SBU) Satit entered politics in 1995, winning election as a
Democrat Party legislator from Trang province. He was been
re-elected in every election since then. He served as
Secretary to Abhisit when Abhisit was Minister Attached to
the Prime Minister's Office, and he also served as DP
spokesman from 1998 until 2001. He also owns a school in
Trang province. He holds a bachelor's degree from Prince of
Songkhla University and a master's degree in public
administration from the National Institute for Development
Administration. He was born in April 23, 1961, and is
married to Suporn Wongnongtaey, and has two children. He
does not speak English.

Deputy Minister of Interior Boonjong Vongtrirat
-------------- --

(SBU) Boonjong has represented the northeastern province of
Nakhon Ratchasima in the House of Representatives in each
election since 2001, when he was affiliated with the Thai Rak
Thai party. Before 2001, he served in the provincial
administrative organization of Nakhon Ratchasima. He is
currently aligned with Buriram politician Newin Chidchob;
after Newin threw his faction's support to Abhisit, an
unidentified person placed two hand grenades in Boonjong's
yard. This is Boonjong's first cabinet position. He holds a
master's degree in public administration from the National
Institute of Development Administration; we were unable to
determine his other educational credentials. He is married
to Kanchana Vongtrirat and has two children.

Deputy Minister of Interior Thaworn Senneam
--------------

(SBU) Thaworn, a Deputy Secretary General of the Democrat
Party, served as a public prosecutor in southern Thailand for
19 years. In 1995, he won election as a Songkhla province
legislator, and he retained his seat in every subsequent
election. This is Thaworn's first cabinet position. He
holds an LL.B. from Thammasat University and a master's
degree in public administration from the National Institute
for Development Administration. He was born on March 29,
1947, and is married to Major General Chantima Senneam. He
has three children. He does not speak English.
JOHN