US embassy cable - 05BANGKOK1527

UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 02 BANGKOK 001527 
 
SIPDIS 
 
SENSITIVE 
 
DEPARTMENT FOR EAP/BCLTV, EAP/PD, DRL; HQ UPACOM FOR FPA 
HUSO 
 
E.O. 12958: N/A 
TAGS: PREL, PHUM, KPAO, TH, HUMAN RIGHTS 
SUBJECT: THAILAND:  INITIAL MEDIA COVERAGE, GOVERNMENT AND 
OTHER REACTIONS TO THE 2004 HUMAN RIGHTS REPORT 
 
 
1. (SBU)  Summary: Local Thai media on March 2 headlined 
their stories on the 2004 Human Rights Report (HRR) with 
variations on the theme, "US government slams Thailand's 
human rights performance," with special attention to 
incidents in the South.  PM Thaksin has not commented on the 
HRR.  Official Thai government reaction has been relatively 
subdued thus far, but the Ambassador was summoned to the 
Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MFA) late in the day to discuss 
the report with Permanent Secretary Krit Garnjana-Goonchorn 
(septel).  Several print and on-line media carried 
significant excerpts of the report verbatim.  Editorial 
comment ranged from favorable to outraged.  One local TV 
personality, a former Bangkok governor known for his right 
wing views and colorful commentary, lashed out at the report, 
challenged the Ambassador to a televised debate, and called 
for demonstrators to protest at the U.S. Embassy.  (Note:  A 
small demonstration did materialize, reported septel.  End 
Note.)  Abhisit Vejjajiva, the expected new party leader of 
the opposition Democrat Party (DP), characterized the report 
as fair and accurate.  Monitors of the international press 
coverage of the worldwide release of the HHR noted a focus on 
the Thailand HRR chapter over those of regional neighbors 
like Burma and China.  End Summary. 
 
NEWSPAPERS HEADLINE REPORT AND QUOTE LARGE SECTIONS 
 
2. (U)  On Wednesday March 2, local print and broadcast media 
carried lead stories about criticism of Thailand's human 
rights record contained in the 2004 HRR, giving particular 
emphasis to U.S. citing of violent incidents at the Krue Se 
mosque and Tak Bai in southern Thailand.  The Thai-language 
Matichon newspaper headline, "U.S. says government measures 
in South severely violate human rights; Government Spokesman 
explains actions are in line with Constitution," sums up how 
some newspapers played the story. The English-language 
Bangkok Post carried an inside page story, "U.S. rights 
report fingers Thailand."  The HRR report's description of 
restrictions on press freedom, in particular the case of 
media activist Suphinya Klangnarong, was also noted in most 
of the daily press.  The Manager newspaper covered the 
report's human trafficking section.  At least four Thai 
language daily newspapers and the English language daily The 
Nation, carried excerpts from the Thailand chapter.  Several 
on-line editions of these newspapers carried excerpts of the 
report.  The HRR inspired several editorials.  The Nation's 
comment, "A damning report card," stated that "2004 was an 
extraordinary year because human rights were flouted with 
impunity by the government."  Other editorials were outraged 
at the U.S. portrayal of Thailand.  Some Thai media outlets 
also ran less prominent stories about HRR criticisms of other 
countries. 
 
A DEBATE, MR. AMBASSADOR? 
 
3. (SBU)  Local television news commentator and former 
Bangkok governor Samak Suntharawet, who hosts a daily morning 
news show, lashed out at the report, describing it as 
"completely inaccurate" and based on false information given 
to the Embassy by NGOs trying to bring down the government. 
Echoing commentary heard in previous years around the release 
of the HRR, the former politician asked in a baiting tone, 
"Why does such a good ally accuse a close friend?"  In a live 
call-in news show later the same morning, Samak challenged 
the Ambassador to a public debate on human rights issues.  He 
also called on Thais to demonstrate in protest at the U.S. 
Embassy, and a small, manageable demonstration did 
materialize in the afternoon of March 2 (septel).  (Comment: 
Samak appeared on the Army-controlled Channel 5 and later on 
the government-controlled channel 9.  We believe his vehement 
criticism could not have been made without a green light from 
the current government.  End comment.)  Most other local news 
channels carried reports of the HRR release during regular 
news broadcasts.  The stories were similar in content to the 
print media, including short quotes from the HRR.  They 
carried initial Royal Thai Government (RTG) reaction as well. 
 
THAI GOVERNMENT FAIRLY RESTRAINED IN PUBLIC; BUT AMBASSADOR 
SUMMONED TO MFA 
 
4. (U)  Thus far official RTG reaction to the report has been 
relatively restrained, but that may not last.  Prime Minister 
Thaksin Shinawatra, who last year blasted the US as a 
"useless friend" when the HRR was released, has made no 
public statements.  Government spokesman Jakrapob Penkair 
stated that the RTG had followed the "rule of law" and was 
still following closely the case of Muslim lawyer Somchai 
Neelapaijit, whose disappearance and presumed murder are 
prominently mentioned in the report.  Ministry of Foreign 
Affairs (MFA) spokesman Sihasak Puangketkeow stated that, 
"The annual release of the report is not constructive for 
bilateral relations.  If there is any concern it should be 
expressed through diplomatic channels."  He also said that 
the US should not use its standards as a benchmark for other 
countries.  On February 28, prior to the Washington release 
of the report, The Nation newspaper carried a story 
announcing the release the next day with the headline, "U.S. 
report lambastes Thailand's rights abuses" and previewing 
some elements of the HRR quite accurately.  The next day, 
March 1, just prior to the local release, The Nation carried 
a follow up story detailing MFA reaction with the headline, 
"US should keep rights report to itself: Foreign Ministry." 
MFA Permanent Secretary Krit Garnjana-Goonchorn summoned the 
Ambassador to a late afternoon March 2 discussion of the HRR 
(septel). 
 
OPPOSITION PARTY LEADER SUPPORTIVE 
 
5. (U)  On the morning of March 2, opposition Democrat Party 
(DP) member of parliament, Apirak Kosayodhin made positive 
public comments when asked about the report.  Noting that the 
HRR is global and that release of the Thailand chapter is an 
annual occurrence, Abhisit wondered why the government always 
made such a fuss defending itself from criticism.  Apirak, 
who is expected to be elected Democrat party leader during a 
party conference this weekend, said that he thought the 
report was generally factual and described the situation of 
human rights accurately.  The government could gain much from 
a careful analysis of the report and use it to solve some of 
the problems facing the country, he said. 
 
THAILAND IN THE SPOTLIGHT? 
 
6. (U)  Embassy Bangkok posted the HRR in both the English 
and Thai languages on its website March 1, a few hours after 
release of the worldwide HRR in Washington.  However, most 
media attention in Thailand drew heavily from international 
sources.  AFP carried an early print report on Thailand. 
CNN's Asia correspondent Aneesh Raman carried a short story 
that quoted the Thai MFA spokesman as noted above and 
highlighted major criticisms outlined in the HRR.  The BBC 
also made special mention of criticism of Thailand's human 
rights record.  Some local TV stations covered release of the 
full report in Washington DC, some featuring clips of Acting 
DRL Assistant Secretary of State Michael Kozak.  Some local 
observers expressed surprise at the international media focus 
on Thailand, which seemed to them to overshadow interest in 
the HRR chapters on Burma, China, or Cambodia. 
 
7. (SBU) Comment.  Extensive local media coverage reaction 
was predictable.  The HRR's descriptions of abuses in the 
South came in the midst of a news cycle focused intensely on 
these issues and proposed RTG policies aimed at 
reconciliation.  Perhaps regional and international media 
attention focused on the Thailand chapter because Thailand 
has been in the media eye for months with the tsunami 
disaster and its February national elections.  The release of 
the report, the media attention it has gathered, and the 
integrity of the report itself have contributed to the 
continuing public debate over human rights issues in 
Thailand.  Human rights NGOs and activists, and many Thai 
citizens, are gratified at the U.S. support for human rights 
that this report represents.  The MFA has been lobbying for 
months against a harsh HRR on Thailand, and this year's 
report has also introduced an element of tension into the 
bilateral relationship that we will have to deal with. End 
Comment. 
 
BOYCE