Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
09CHIANGMAI24
2009-02-13 07:43:00
CONFIDENTIAL
Consulate Chiang Mai
Cable title:  

BY-ELECTIONS, REDS AND MIGRANTS TAKE CENTER STAGE

Tags:  PGOV PHUM KJUS KDEM SMIG ELAB ASEC TH BM 
pdf how-to read a cable
VZCZCXRO2918
PP RUEHCN RUEHDT RUEHHM
DE RUEHCHI #0024/01 0440743
ZNY CCCCC ZZH
P R 130743Z FEB 09
FM AMCONSUL CHIANG MAI
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC PRIORITY 0971
INFO RUEHZS/ASSOCIATION OF SOUTHEAST ASIAN NATIONS
RHEHAAA/NSC WASHINGTON DC
RUEHCHI/AMCONSUL CHIANG MAI 1049
C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 02 CHIANG MAI 000024 

SIPDIS

NSC FOR PHU

E.O. 12958: DECL: 2/12/2019
TAGS: PGOV PHUM KJUS KDEM SMIG ELAB ASEC TH BM
SUBJECT: BY-ELECTIONS, REDS AND MIGRANTS TAKE CENTER STAGE

REF: A. CHIANG MAI 18 (TOUGHER TIMES)

B. CHIANG MAI 10 (PRO-THAKSIN VOTE DROPS)

CHIANG MAI 00000024 001.2 OF 002


CLASSIFIED BY: Alex Barrasso, Chief, Pol/Econ, CG Chiang Mai.
REASON: 1.4 (b),(d)



------------------------------------
Summary and Comment
------------------------------------

C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 02 CHIANG MAI 000024

SIPDIS

NSC FOR PHU

E.O. 12958: DECL: 2/12/2019
TAGS: PGOV PHUM KJUS KDEM SMIG ELAB ASEC TH BM
SUBJECT: BY-ELECTIONS, REDS AND MIGRANTS TAKE CENTER STAGE

REF: A. CHIANG MAI 18 (TOUGHER TIMES)

B. CHIANG MAI 10 (PRO-THAKSIN VOTE DROPS)

CHIANG MAI 00000024 001.2 OF 002


CLASSIFIED BY: Alex Barrasso, Chief, Pol/Econ, CG Chiang Mai.
REASON: 1.4 (b),(d)



--------------
Summary and Comment
--------------


1. (SBU) The past few days have seen a flurry of political
activity in Chiang Mai, kicking off with a protest by
pro-Thaksin redshirts on February 8. Separately, the Election
Commission certified the results of January by-elections in two
Northern provinces, and election officials here told us more
by-elections are likely. Lastly, the February 7 rape and murder
of a university student, allegedly by two Burmese migrant
workers, has sparked a police crackdown on migrant workers in
Chiang Mai.


2. (SBU) Comment: The fact that the pro-Thaksin Rak Chiang Mai
51 (RCM51) called on family members of police officers and
redshirt supporters from other provinces to join its most recent
protest indicates the number of the group's hard-core members
may indeed be on the decline. An apparent split between RCM51
and other redshirt supporters in Chiang Mai also does not bode
well for the redshirts in former PM Thaksin's home province to
present a united front in their efforts to formally put Thaksin
and the Puea Thai Party front and center on Thailand's political
stage. End Summary and Comment.

-------------- --------------
--------------
More By-Elections Likely; January Results Certified
-------------- --------------
--------------


3. (C) Chiang Mai potentially faces four by-elections in the
near future, each involving a seat previously won by politicians
allied with fugitive former Prime Minister Thakskin Shinawatra.
Chiang Mai election officials told us on February 10 they have
recommended that the daughter of former Prime Minister Somchai
Wongsawat be disqualified ("red-carded") for buying votes during

her victorious campaign in the 2007 Parliamentary elections.
That recommendation has already been forwarded to the national
Election Commission, which - if it accepts the findings (an
announcement is expected soon) -- will send the case to the
Supreme Court's Election Division for a final decision.
Separately, the cases of the son of former Justice Minister
Somphong Amornwiwat, whose victory in the 2007 elections was
invalidated ("yellow-carded"),and another Chiang Mai MP who was
disqualified, are making their way through the courts. The
court has already accepted the cases of these two MPs, resulting
in their suspension, but has yet to decide whether to accept a
third disqualification case that involves the elected provincial
council executive.


4. (U) In an unrelated development, the press reported on
February 11 that the national Election Commission has certified
the results of six races contested in the January 11, 2009
by-elections, including two in the northern provinces of Lamphun
and Lampang (Ref B). Both were considered Thaksin strongholds,
but the Lamphun seat was grabbed by the Democrat Party, which
leads the current governing coalition.

-------------- --------------
Reds to Police: You're Not Welcome
-------------- --------------


5. (SBU) On February 8, pro-Thaksin community organization Rak
Chiang Mai 51 led approximately 1,000 redshirted pro-Thaksin
supporters in a protest near the Chiang Mai Governor's
residence, disrupting traffic and impeding access to Chiang
Mai's flower festival, which was ongoing at the time. The group
voiced its strong opposition to recently-announced police
reshuffles, in which several provincial and regional police
commanders considered sympathetic to Thaksin and the redshirts
were reassigned to inactive posts. Their replacements are seen
as favoring the anti-Thaksin People's Alliance for Democracy
(PAD). The protestors threatened to physically prevent the new
Police Region 5 Commissioner, who they believe has close links
with the 2006 coup makers and the PAD, from entering his office
building and assuming the new position. A senior police contact
told us that at the request of RCM51 and several MPs from the
pro-Thaksin Puea Thai party, the ranks of the protestors were
filled out by redshirt supporters from neighboring provinces,
and by family members of junior police officers, who remain
sympathetic to their cause. A journalist told us Thaksin's
younger sister, Yaowapa Wongsawat, played a key role in

CHIANG MAI 00000024 002.2 OF 002


marshalling the MPs to support the protest.

--------------
A Split in Red Ranks?
--------------


6. (U) In a separate development, another pro-Thaksin radio
station has sprung up in Chiang Mai. It is run by radio program
hosts who split from RCM51 and disavow the group's violent
tactics. Publicly, its founders said they left RCM51 due to a
lack of "transparent management" on the part of the group's
leader. We have requested a meeting with this new group, and
will report on that Septel.

-------------- --------------
Migrants Caught in the Cross Fire
-------------- --------------


7. (U) Burmese migrant workers have also been in the spotlight
of late. On February 7, a university student at Chiang Mai's
Mae Jo University was raped and murdered, allegedly by two
Burmese migrant workers. Immigration Police have since arrested
approximately 100 workers, and have threatened to dismantle
makeshift shelters in which many migrants working in the
construction industry reside. Burmese exile media reports claim
that workers who tried to avoid arrest were shot at and beaten,
but the Human Rights Development Foundation (HRDF) did not
corroborate these charges.


8. (SBU) According to HRDF, some migrant workers were sent from
Chiang Mai to the Thai-Burma border by immigration police, but
allowed to return for a fee of just over $100. Their return to
Chiang Mai was reportedly facilitated by another branch of the
police. Some of the workers arrested were allegedly set free in
exchange for paying $230. (Comment: Those extorted to pay $230
were likely undocumented, and therefore illegally present in
Thailand.) The murder suspect, who is currently in police
custody, has not had access to legal counsel, but HRDF is trying
to arrange a lawyer for him.


9. (U) In the wake of the February 7 murder, university
students have petitioned Chiang Mai's Provincial Government to
"take resolute action" against migrant workers. Though one of
Chiang Mai's Vice Governors admitted that pressure for
provincial authorities to do something to alleviate public
concern is mounting, he told the press that police crackdowns on
illegal workers and subsequent deportations would not provide a
lasting solution. Absent a single organization empowered to
handle migrant worker issues, he said the present situation
necessitates that all interested parties jointly work out a
comprehensive, viable plan to be implemented nationwide.


10. (U) This cable was coordinated with Embassies Bangkok and
Rangoon.
MORROW