Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
09BANGKOK1541
2009-06-29 08:29:00
CONFIDENTIAL
Embassy Bangkok
Cable title:
THAKSIN SUPPORTER WINS BY-ELECTION; "REDSHIRTS"
how-toVZCZCXRO1169 OO RUEHCHI RUEHCN RUEHDT RUEHHM DE RUEHBK #1541 1800829 ZNY CCCCC ZZH O 290829Z JUN 09 FM AMEMBASSY BANGKOK TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC IMMEDIATE 7367 INFO RUEHZS/ASSOCIATION OF SOUTHEAST ASIAN NATIONS PRIORITY RUEHBY/AMEMBASSY CANBERRA PRIORITY 9794 RUEHKO/AMEMBASSY TOKYO PRIORITY 1730 RUEHBJ/AMEMBASSY BEIJING PRIORITY 7226 RUEHUL/AMEMBASSY SEOUL PRIORITY 5608 RUEHCHI/AMCONSUL CHIANG MAI PRIORITY 6770 RUEAIIA/CIA WASHINGTON DC PRIORITY RHHMUNA/CDR USPACOM HONOLULU HI PRIORITY RUEKJCS/SECDEF WASHINGTON DC PRIORITY RHEHNSC/NSC WASHINGTON DC PRIORITY RUEKDIA/DIA WASHINGTON DC PRIORITY
C O N F I D E N T I A L BANGKOK 001541
SIPDIS
E.O. 12958: DECL: 06/29/2019
TAGS: PGOV PINR KDEM ASEC TH
SUBJECT: THAKSIN SUPPORTER WINS BY-ELECTION; "REDSHIRTS"
PROTEST PEACEFULLY IN BANGKOK
REF: BANGKOK 1491 (BELLWETHER BY-ELECTION)
Classified By: Acting DCM Robert Griffiths, reason: 1.4 (d).
C O N F I D E N T I A L BANGKOK 001541
SIPDIS
E.O. 12958: DECL: 06/29/2019
TAGS: PGOV PINR KDEM ASEC TH
SUBJECT: THAKSIN SUPPORTER WINS BY-ELECTION; "REDSHIRTS"
PROTEST PEACEFULLY IN BANGKOK
REF: BANGKOK 1491 (BELLWETHER BY-ELECTION)
Classified By: Acting DCM Robert Griffiths, reason: 1.4 (d).
1. (C) The Puea Thai (opposition) party won a by-election for
a House of Representatives seat in the northeastern province
of Sisaket on June 28. Garnering 124,327 votes, Surachart
Charnpradit defeated Sakulthip Angkasakullkiat, from the
Chart Thai Pattana party (a member of the governing
coalition),who drew 76,435, according to unofficial results
published in the daily paper Bangkok Post. Coming on the
heels of the victory of a Puea Thai candidate in Sakon Nakhon
(reftel),the Sisaket election outcome will reinforce a
perception that former Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra, who
lobbied actively on Puea Thai's behalf in both contests,
retains significant influence in Thailand, particularly in
the Northeast.
2. (SBU) Thaksin also phoned in to a demonstration in Bangkok
by over 20,000 supporters of the United Front for Democracy
against Dictatorship (UDD) on June 27. According to press
reports, Thaksin reinforced his association with the Puea
Thai party, explained he was residing in Dubai, and expressed
a strong desire to return to Thailand. One of the organizing
figures from the UDD, Jatuporn Prompan, indicated that UDD
protests would continue, with the aim of forcing Prime
Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva to dissolve the House of
Representatives, paving the way for a new national
legislative election. There has been no announcement of
dates for new protests. In the days leading up to the
demonstration, there was widespread speculation, including by
government officials, that the anti-government "redshirt"
protestors could become violent. Redshirt leaders, however,
had assured the public the demonstration would remain
peaceful, and it was.
JOHN
SIPDIS
E.O. 12958: DECL: 06/29/2019
TAGS: PGOV PINR KDEM ASEC TH
SUBJECT: THAKSIN SUPPORTER WINS BY-ELECTION; "REDSHIRTS"
PROTEST PEACEFULLY IN BANGKOK
REF: BANGKOK 1491 (BELLWETHER BY-ELECTION)
Classified By: Acting DCM Robert Griffiths, reason: 1.4 (d).
1. (C) The Puea Thai (opposition) party won a by-election for
a House of Representatives seat in the northeastern province
of Sisaket on June 28. Garnering 124,327 votes, Surachart
Charnpradit defeated Sakulthip Angkasakullkiat, from the
Chart Thai Pattana party (a member of the governing
coalition),who drew 76,435, according to unofficial results
published in the daily paper Bangkok Post. Coming on the
heels of the victory of a Puea Thai candidate in Sakon Nakhon
(reftel),the Sisaket election outcome will reinforce a
perception that former Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra, who
lobbied actively on Puea Thai's behalf in both contests,
retains significant influence in Thailand, particularly in
the Northeast.
2. (SBU) Thaksin also phoned in to a demonstration in Bangkok
by over 20,000 supporters of the United Front for Democracy
against Dictatorship (UDD) on June 27. According to press
reports, Thaksin reinforced his association with the Puea
Thai party, explained he was residing in Dubai, and expressed
a strong desire to return to Thailand. One of the organizing
figures from the UDD, Jatuporn Prompan, indicated that UDD
protests would continue, with the aim of forcing Prime
Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva to dissolve the House of
Representatives, paving the way for a new national
legislative election. There has been no announcement of
dates for new protests. In the days leading up to the
demonstration, there was widespread speculation, including by
government officials, that the anti-government "redshirt"
protestors could become violent. Redshirt leaders, however,
had assured the public the demonstration would remain
peaceful, and it was.
JOHN