THAILAND: AMBASSADOR ENGAGES NEW MFA PERMANENT

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. �0A; ¶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