THAI PM DELIVERS INAUGURAL POLICY STATEMENT AT MFA

C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 02 BANGKOK 003779 SIPDIS NSC FOR WILDER AND PHU E.O. 12958: DECL: 12/30/2018 TAGS: PGOV PHUM TH SUBJECT: THAI PM DELIVERS INAUGURAL POLICY STATEMENT AT MFA AMID ONGOING ANTI-GOVERNMENT RED PROTESTS REF: BANGKOK 3756 Classified By: DCM James F. Entwistle, reasons 1.4 (b, d) ¶1. (SBU) Summary. Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva delivered his constitutionally-mandated policy address at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MFA) rather than at Parliament December 30, enabling the new Democrat Party-led government to take decisions and avoiding paralysis extending into the New Year. Rather than cnfront anti-government, red-shirted United Front for Democracy (UDD) protesters who continued to block the Parliament complex, the Democrats mustered a quorum of more than half of the existing members of the House and Senate, as required by the Constitution, at the alternate venue. Opposition MPs opted out of the hastily-scheduled session and cried foul, claiming Abhisit should have postponed the policy statement until after the New Year Abhisit's policy address stressed four major thmes: protection of the institution of the monarchy; national unity; addressing economic challenges and political reform. ¶2. (C) Comment: Abhisit howed the tactical flexibility in delivering hismaiden address successfully without a clash withopposition street protesters that his predecessor Somchai lacked when faced with a similar blockade of parliament by the yellow shirts (People's Alliance for Democracy - PAD) on October 7. In so doing, Abhisit delivered on the Democrats' pledge to finish all necessary steps to empower the new government prior to the extended New Year's break, and deprived his redshirt opponents of a morale-boosting victory. The upcoming three-day holiday from December 31 - January 2 will likely ease tensions in the short-term, as opposition MPs and protesters return to their upcountry home districts. However, the messy nature of the delivery of the policy statement -- red blockade of parliament, quickly-switched venue, no opposition present, and no debate after Abhisit's speech -- does not mark an auspicious launch for the Democrat Party-led government; in particular, the lack of opposition MPs sent a sharp reply to Abhisit's previous call for national unity. While most Thais long for a stretch of political quiet, 2009 is more likely to deliver continued political drama. End Summary and Comment. PM ABHISIT OUTMANEUVERS PROTESTERS -------------- ¶3. (U) PM Abhisit delivered his policy address at the MFA mid-day on December 30, outmaneuvering the anti-government, red-shirted UDD protesters gathered at the Parliament complex. The 227 MPs and 103 Senators attending formed the necessary quorum -- more than half of the existing members of the House and Senate, as required by the Constitution -- despite the absence of MPs from the opposition. Opposition Puea Thai MPs criticized the Democrat Party for not postponing the policy address until the New Year. Red-shirt protesters rushed to the MFA once Abhisit's policy address began, but in vain. ¶4. (U) In his address, Abhisit stressed the four major policy components he had previously mentioned: protection of the monarchy; promotion of national unity; economic rehabilitation; and political reform. House Speaker Chai Chidchob closed the session at 1315, minutes after Abhisit concluded, precluding any additional commentary (though, with the opposition absent of its own volition, it is unclear how the scheduled "debate" might have proceeded). UDD and POLICE EXERCISE RESTRAINT; REDSHIRTS DEFIANT -------------- -------------- ¶5. (U) Continuing the red adaptation of earlier yellow tactics, UDD protesters had stayed overnight at the Parliament complex December 29 to continue their blockade, vowing to stay until PM Abhisit dissolved the House (reftel). By 0800, around 1,000 red-shirted protesters deflected the attempts of 3,000 police to break protest lines around the BANGKOK 00003779 002 OF 002 Parliament complex; the police eventually retreated peacefully on strict orders from Abhisit and key government ministers to avoid the use of force. ¶6. (SBU) Perhaps mindful of the violence which had occurred October 7 during former PM Somchai's initial policy speech, both UDD protesters and police limited their actions around parliament, according to our sources. While the police took more initiative to attempt to secure a path for the cabinet members and MPs to enter the Parliament complex than they had on December 29, they backed away when faced with UDD resolve. No injuries were reported throughout the day, despite occasionally shoving along police lines near parliament and in front of Chitralada Palace, as the UDD marched from parliament towards the MFA. For its part, the UDD leaders removed women and children protesters early in the morning from around parliament. ¶7. (U) UDD leader Jatuporn Prompan told redshirt supporters to return to parliament after MPs and Senators had departed from the MFA. Jatuporn vowed the UDD protests would continue, suggesting the redshirts might rally at the residences of PM Abhisit and FM Kasit Piromya, a target of particular UDD ire due to his affiliation with PAD protests, after the New Year break. JOHN