REDSHIRTS PROTEST AT CONSULATE

UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 02 CHIANG MAI 000106 SENSITIVE SIPDIS FOR EAP/MLS, EAP/EX AND DS/IP E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: ASEC PGOV PREL TH SUBJECT: REDSHIRTS PROTEST AT CONSULATE REF: A. CHIANG MAI 96 (REDSHIRTS TARGET PUBLIC HEALTH MINISTER) ¶B. CHIANG MAI 59 (COMMUNITY RADIO STATIONS) ¶C. CHIANG MAI 32 (REDSHIRTS SPOIL TWO RALLIES) ¶D. CHIANG MAI 24 (REDSHIRTS, BY-ELECTIONS AND MIGRANTS) ¶E. CHIANG MAI 18 (TOUGHER TIMES AHEAD) ¶F. CHIANG MAI 3 (REDSHIRTS FLEX) ¶G. 08 CHIANG MAI 178 (PRO AND ANTI-THAKSIN GROUPS) ¶H. 08 CHIANG MAI 168 (POLITICAL TEMPERATURE) CHIANG MAI 00000106 001.2 OF 002 Sensitive but unclassified; please handle accordingly. -------------- Summary and Comment -------------- ¶1. (SBU) On July 20, representatives of a local anti-government redshirt group displayed placards peacefully expressing their disapproval of Thailand's current governing coalition and its chairmanship of the on-going ASEAN/ASEAN Regional Forum meetings in front of the Consulate. They also hand-delivered a letter critical of the Secretary's decision to participate in the meetings. Many of the placards referred to Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva as a "dictator" and "fascist," and to Foreign Minister Kasit Piromya as a "terrorist." The demonstration took place without incident, and the group disbanded peacefully after roughly 50 minutes. Contrary to information provided last week by local Thai authorities, the redshirts did not demonstrate at the Japanese Consulate in Chiang Mai. We do not yet know if they protested at the Chinese and Indian Consulates. ¶2. (SBU) Comment: The last protest at Consulate General Chiang Mai took place more than six years ago, focusing on the invasion of Iraq. That incident did not receive much press coverage, nor did it serve as a catalyst for further demonstrations. If today's protest garners significant media attention, we cannot rule out similar future incidents. End Summary and Comment. -------------- What Happened -------------- ¶3. (SBU) At approximately 1120 HRS local time on July 20, a group of redshirt protestors opposed to Thailand's current governing coalition began gathering in front of the Consulate. Their intension, as conveyed to us by local Thai authorities, who warned us on July 16 that the redshirts might demonstrate at the Consulate, was to deliver a letter critical of Thailand's chairmanship of the on-going Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) and ARF (ASEAN Regional Forum) meetings on the resort island of Phuket. At approximately 11:30 HRS, the group, which numbered roughly 30 (including some 10 photographers) notified us that it wanted to deliver a letter to Pol/Econ Chief, who its members requested by name. (Note: The requester was the former chairman of the Rak Chiang Mai 51 group - the redshirt group that has demonstrated a propensity for violence (Reftels),with whom Pol/Econ Chief met once previously. The group with which he is currently affiliated, and which led the July 20 demonstration, appears to have the closest links to the United Front for Democracy Against Dictatorship of all the redshirt groups in Chiang Mai.) ¶4. (SBU) RSO staff informed the redshirts that the Consulate had to follow certain procedures in such cases, and that the group would not be able to meet with Pol/Econ Chief. After demonstrating peacefully for an additional 30 minutes, the group expressed its readiness to deliver the letter, at which point Acting CG instructed Post's summer intern to take possession of the document inside the outer perimeter of the Consulate where photographs could not be taken. Three representatives of the group were escorted through the outer Consulate door, where they were permitted to read and deliver the letter to the intern. The envelope contained a letter in Thai with a poor English translation. An unofficial Consulate translation of the Thai letter follows at para 6. -------------- Atmospherics -------------- ¶5. (U) The protestors carried several signs in both English and Thai. ONE participant sported a pot on his head, which is a customary Thai way of expressing such profound embarrassment at something as to be unwilling to show one's face in public. ONE sign in English read "Abhisit Back Up Terrorists and Kasit! Stop and Get Out! Go to Hell"; others read "Abhisit is a Fascist and a dictator" and "Kasit You Are Terrorists" (references to Foreign Minister Kasit Piromya, who has been charged with Terrorism for his Role in the 2008 closure of Bangkok's two airports by the People's Alliance for Democracy). CHIANG MAI 00000106 002.2 OF 002 According to unofficial Consulate translations, two signs in Thai read "The Red Grassroots Confederation does not recognize a tyrant, bandit government" and "We Don't want a government that practices lip service." ¶6. (U) Begin unofficial Consulate translation of letter: Red Grassroots Confederation, Chiang Mai July 20, 2009 Re: Objecting to the Thai Government at the ASEAN Summit in Phuket Attention: U.S. Ambassador to Thailand (through U.S. Consulate General Chiang Mai) The Red Grassroots Confederation as a part of the Thai population would like to oppose the foreign ministerial ASEAN Summit in Phuket that the Thai Government is hosting and in which the U.S. Secretary of State will participate on the following grounds. ¶1. As the Prime Minister of the Thai Government, Mr. Abhisit Vejjajiva is unacceptable as the national leader on the grounds that he assumed the position illegitimately and undemocratically. ¶2. As a member of the Thai Cabinet, Foreign Minister Kasit Piromya is ONE of the international terrorists who took part in the siege of Suvarnabhumi International Airport. ¶3. In recognition of the role of the United States of America in counterterrorism and its achievement in the democratic system, we suggest that the U.S. review its participation in the said summit. The Confederation hereby wishes to state its opposition and ask that the U.S. Government reconsider its position toward participating in the meeting Sincerely, Red Grassroots Confederation ANDERSON