Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
10BANGKOK113
2010-01-14 09:42:00
CONFIDENTIAL
Embassy Bangkok
Cable title:  

THAILAND: AMBASSADOR ENGAGES NEW MFA PERMANENT

Tags:  PGOV PREL PREF PHUM APEC SMIG TH LA 
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PP RUEHCHI RUEHCN RUEHDT RUEHHM
DE RUEHBK #0113/01 0140942
ZNY CCCCC ZZH
P 140942Z JAN 10
FM AMEMBASSY BANGKOK
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC PRIORITY 9570
INFO RUEHZS/ASSOCIATION OF SOUTHEAST ASIAN NATIONS PRIORITY
RUEHBJ/AMEMBASSY BEIJING PRIORITY 7867
RUEHBY/AMEMBASSY CANBERRA PRIORITY 0300
RUEHNE/AMEMBASSY NEW DELHI PRIORITY 5900
RUEHUL/AMEMBASSY SEOUL PRIORITY 6098
RUEHKO/AMEMBASSY TOKYO PRIORITY 2229
RUEHWL/AMEMBASSY WELLINGTON PRIORITY 0260
RUEKJCS/SECDEF WASHINGTON DC PRIORITY
RHHMUNA/CDR USPACOM HONOLULU HI PRIORITY
RHMFISS/CJCS WASHINGTON DC PRIORITY
RUEAIIA/CIA WASHINGTON DC PRIORITY
RUEKDIA/DIA WASHINGTON DC PRIORITY
RHEHNSC/NSC WASHINGTON DC PRIORITY
C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 03 BANGKOK 000113 

SIPDIS

NSC FOR WALTON

E.O. 12958: DECL: 01/13/2020
TAGS: PGOV PREL PREF PHUM APEC SMIG TH LA
SUBJECT: THAILAND: AMBASSADOR ENGAGES NEW MFA PERMANENT
SECRETARY ON BILATERAL RELATIONS, HMONG, ASEAN

REF: A. STATE 2965

B. BANGKOK 86

Classified By: Ambassador Eric G. John, reasons 1.4 (b) and (d)

C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 03 BANGKOK 000113

SIPDIS

NSC FOR WALTON

E.O. 12958: DECL: 01/13/2020
TAGS: PGOV PREL PREF PHUM APEC SMIG TH LA
SUBJECT: THAILAND: AMBASSADOR ENGAGES NEW MFA PERMANENT
SECRETARY ON BILATERAL RELATIONS, HMONG, ASEAN

REF: A. STATE 2965

B. BANGKOK 86

Classified By: Ambassador Eric G. John, reasons 1.4 (b) and (d)


1. (C) Summary. During a January 12 meeting with the new MFA
Permanent Secretary Theerakun Niyom, the Ambassador and
Theerakun explored opportunities for U.S. engagement in
Thailand and the region, agreeing that additional U.S.
involvement would be valuable for both nations. The
Ambassador previewed Secretary Clinton's upcoming speech on
the U.S. policy of multilateral engagement in Asia, as well
as a series of high-level visitors. Theerakun made a pitch
for both an Abhisit visit to Washington in 2010, as well as a
Presidential stop in Thailand as part of the expected
Indonesia visit this summer. The Ambassador expressed USG
disappointment regarding the recent repatriation of thousands
of Lao Hmong and requested an update on the promised return
of four vulnerable Hmong. Theerakun described plans for him
to take a more prominent administrative role in the Ministry,
"cleaning house" while delegating policy responsibilities to
his Deputy Permanent Secretaries. Ref B reported the
Ambassador's conversation with Theerakun on Burma. End
Summary.


2. (C) COMMENT. Even though we were pre-briefed on the
PermSec's increased administrative role, Theerakun proved
more than willing to engage credibly on substantive issues.
More importantly, his interest in increased U.S. engagement
and willingness to consider U.S. approaches to regional
issues seems a promising start to his tenure. In particular,
his strong interest in Lower Mekong issues should make him a
valued partner as we move forward with our Lower Mekong
Initiative. END COMMENT.

PROMOTING U.S.-THAI RELATIONS
--------------


3. (C) The Ambassador had a January 12 introductory meeting
with newly-appointed MFA Permanent Secretary Theerakun Niyom.
Theerakun started the meeting by emphasizing the
long-standing U.S.-Thai bilateral relationship, combined with

close people-people ties, and expressing hope that such
relations would continue to be positive and substantive.
Theerakun noted with pleasure recent re-engagement by the
U.S. in the region as demonstrated by the visits of both
Secretary Clinton in Phuket and President Obama in the
Leaders' Meeting in Singapore.


4. (C) The Ambassador highlighted a series of upcoming
high-level U.S. planned visits to Thailand over the next
month that would further meaningful bilateral relations,
including PM A/S Shapiro, CJCS Mullen, DASD Scher, PACOM
Commander Willard, and OSD A/S Gregson. The annual,
multinational Cobra Gold exercise starting February 1
remained the largest of its kind in Asia. The Ambassador
stressed that the military alliance delivered benefits to
both countries; Theerakun interjected that he felt the same
way. The Ambassador also reinforced U.S interest in fixing a
date for the Strategic Dialogue between the two nations.


5. (C) Theerakun made a pitch for PM Abhisit to be invited
for a working visit to Washington, as well as a Presidential
visit to Thailand in the summer on the margins of the planned
visit to Indonesia. Ambassador replied that high-level
exchanges are important.

MUTUAL AGREEMENT ON MULTILATERAL ENGAGEMENT IN ASIA
-------------- --------------


6. (C) The Ambassador previewed for Theerakun Secretary
Clinton's speech on the U.S. vision for multilateral
engagement in the Asia-Pacific region, drawing on points in
ref A. The U.S. would encourage regional institutions, such
as ASEAN and APEC, to pursue concrete goals and to be
inclusive, flexible and transparent. The Ambassador
highlighted USG hopes for Thailand to play an active role in

BANGKOK 00000113 002 OF 003


shaping U.S. engagement in Asia. Theerakun replied that he
hoped the U.S. could support ASEAN's centrality in Asian
architecture, as well as ASEAN connectivity, both
infrastructure and people-people ties. The Ambassador
assured Theerakun of continued U.S. interest in engaging
with the region, noting the plan to place an Ambassador to
ASEAN in Jakarta and the Lower Mekong Initiative (LMI).


7. (C) The PermSec said that Lower Mekong issues were "close
to his heart," having started in the Thai MFA 30 years ago as
the desk officer for Lower Mekong issues. He emphasized the
pivotal role the LMI could play in "narrowing the gap between
old and new members of ASEAN." That in turn would help the
region and its partners better address challenges exacerbated
by the gap, such as refugees/displaced people, human
trafficking, and illegal drugs. The Ambassador highlighted
how this cooperation could offer the U.S. a new way to engage
substantially with Laos, while at the same time having
Thailand, Cambodia and Vietnam at the table as well.
Theerakun said the RTG would be happy to assist the U.S. in
engaging the region. Laos, Vietnam, and Burma, in
particular, have their own pace and way of thinking, causing
difficulty at times even for the RTG's bilateral relations
with these nations. Patience was necessary, he concluded.

NO WORD YET ON STATUS OF FOUR VULNERABLE HMONG
--------------


8. (C) While recognizing that the RTG had welcomed huge
numbers of refugees for decades, the Ambassador expressed
U.S. disappointment with the decision in late December to
forcefully repatriate two groups of Lao Hmong, despite PM
Abhisit's assurances to Secretary Clinton last July, and in
the face of widespread international criticism. The PermSec
noted that the RTG had stressed two points to Laos before
making their decision to repatriate the Hmong groups: ensure
the safety of the returnees; and grant the international
community direct access to begin the process of resettlement.
Theerakun also highlighted the importance to Thai-Lao
bilateral relations of the GOL following through on these two
promises.


9. (C) The Ambassador requested an update on the status and
location of the four Hmong for whom PM Abhisit had granted
last minute approval not to repatriate for compelling
humanitarian reasons, only to see them sent back as well.
Three were children without parents and one an adult female
who had been a victim of sexual assault by the military when
in Laos. The PermSec explained that RTARF LTG Nipat Thonglek
had received assurances from the Lao Deputy Joint Chief of
Staff regarding their return but had asked for more
time/consultations.


10. (C) Ambassador expressed concern that if the Lao handled
those four cases in that manner, it would be difficult to
rely on their word for the hundreds of other of cases for
which there were also humanitarian concerns. Theerakun
pledged to keep the Ambassador posted, urged direct U.S.
contact with the Lao, but indicated FM Kasit would raise this
matter with his Lao counterpart at the ASEAN FM retreat in
Danang January 13-14. Theerakun said that the RTG had
pointed out to Laos that the RTG had "done its part."
Thailand remained committed to humanitarian principles,
dating back 30 years ago, when he started in the Thai foreign
service and there were 250,000 refugees in camps along the
Cambodian border.. Ambassador acknowledged this record,
noting that the Embassy calculated that the U.S. had
resettled almost 500,000 refugees out of Thailand in the past
three decades. Theerakun said that development assistance
could act as a preventative measure to such flows, but that
Thailand remained prepared to deal with the protection aspect.

A SHIFT IN RESPONSIBILITY FOR NEW PERMANENT SECRETARY
-------------- --------------


11. (C) PermSec Theerakun explained in more detail the new
role FM Kasit had assigned him to play. Kasit had recalled

BANGKOK 00000113 003 OF 003


him from Seoul after only five months with a charge to "clean
house." He would focus on resolving administrative and
organizational issues within the Ministry and strengthening
the MFA's interagency partnerships with other ministries. As
a result of this new focus, he would delegate policy-making
responsibilities to the four Deputy Permanent Secretaries.
The Ambassador told Theerakun that he nevertheless looked
forward to working with him. In particular, the PermSec's
emphasis on dialogue and interagency coordination could
assist on economic issues, given the difficulties in securing
timely meetings with key economic policymakers. The U.S.
remained Thailand's largest single export market and the
second largest source of foreign direct investment. U.S.
companies were increasingly wondering whether the RTG and
Thailand were open for business or not. Better access and
communication would benefit both countries, but specifically
the Thai economy.
JOHN