US embassy cable - 05BANGKOK2260

C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 02 BANGKOK 002260 
 
SIPDIS 
 
DEPARTMENT FOR EAP/BCLTV. HQ USPACOM FOR FPA (HUSO) 
 
E.O. 12958: DECL: 03/30/2015 
TAGS: PREL, PHUM, TH, BIO Info, Southern Thailand, NRC - National Reconciliation Committee 
SUBJECT: THAILAND: AMBASSADOR'S MEETING WITH THE 
CHULARATCHAMONTRI 
 
 
Classified By: Ambassador Ralph L. Boyce, Reason: 1.4 (d) 
 
1. (U)  SUMMARY:  During the Ambassador's March 28 courtesy 
call on the leader of Thailand's official Islamic community, 
the Chularatchamontri stated his support for the National 
Reconciliation Commission (NRC) headed by former Prime 
Minister Anand Panyarachun.  The 89-year-old Muslim cleric 
expressed his wish to visit the U.S. with members of his 
Central Islamic Committee in an effort to support and reach 
out to "moderate Islam."  END SUMMARY 
 
2. (U)  Born Sawat Sumanyasak on January 27, 1916, the 
Chularatchamontri is the 15th Muslim cleric to assume his 
position, which dates back nearly 400 years to the Ayuddhya 
period.  The Chularatchamontri (or Sheikul Islam in Arabic) 
is selected by the 45-member Central Islamic Committee and 
appointed for life.  On March 28, the Ambassador and 
notetaker traveled one hour to the Office of the 
Chularatchamontri, which is located on a compound on the 
outskirts of eastern Bangkok, nearly surrounded by rice 
fields.  The Muslim leader's 20-acre complex (on land donated 
by the Royal Crown Property Bureau) houses a large golden 
mosque, offices for a staff of 50 and a sports stadium. 
 
3. (U) The leader of Thailand's six million Muslims received 
the Ambassador in a traditional Muslim turban and dressed in 
a long white garment with a black robe adorned with a single 
row of military-like rank insignia.  He appeared lively and 
at ease and opened the meeting by expressing delight that the 
Ambassador had come to meet him.  He noted that he was aware 
from reports on presentation of credentials to the King when 
new ambassadors arrived to Thailand, but few had come to 
visit him. 
 
4. (C) While the Chularatchamontri needed some assistance to 
walk and to get up and down, his wit and intellect clearly 
are unaffected by his advanced years.  After the Ambassador 
noted his various postings including his most recent 
experience in Indonesia, the Chularatchamontri commented he 
had traveled extensively, including most of Europe and even 
to Egypt, "which is better than Napoleon could manage."  He 
then went on to tell a joke ending with a racy double 
entendre. 
 
5. (SBU)  The Chularatchmontri noted the support that the 
Muslim community has received over the years from the entire 
Thai Royal family.  (Note:  The Ambassador noted he was going 
to meet later that day with Princess Chulabhorn and the 
Chularatchamontri asked the Ambassador to send special warm 
regards to her.  End note.)   Expressing his desire to visit 
the U.S., the Chularatchamontri and the Director of his 
Office, Dr. Niran Pantharakit, suggested that a 10 member 
delegation from the Thai Central Islamic Committee would be 
interested in meeting with U.S. Muslim leaders.  They are 
particularly interested in forging ties between Thai Muslim 
youth and U.S. Muslim youth groups. 
 
6. (U) The Ambassador mentioned the visit of the Indonesian 
Muslim leader, Ahmed Hasyim Muzadi, Chairman of Nahdlutl 
Ulamu (NU), one of the world's largest Muslim organizations 
(Septel).  They discussed the Ambassador's experiences in 
Indonesia and Embassy Jakarta's efforts to support moderate 
Muslim academics. 
 
7. (SBU)  The Ambassador expressed his concern over the 
increasing violence and social strife in the southern 
provinces of Narathiwat, Pattani and Yala.  The 
Chularatchamontri commented, "We are taking the wrong 
medicine for the disease that ails us."  He alluded to 
government efforts in the south as "medicine for a headache 
(e.g. aspirin), "while the patient is suffering from a 
stomach ache." 
 
8. (C) On the issue of the newly formed National 
Reconciliation Commission (NRC), headed by former Prime 
Minister Anand Panyarachun (Septel), the Chularatchamontri 
expressed confidence in Anand but was noncommittal about how 
the NRC might move to alleviate the violence.  (Note: In a 
later conversation with Poloff, Dr. Narin revealed that the 
Chularatchamontri had not been consulted directly about the 
composition of the NRC.  No members of the Central Islamic 
Committee were chosen for the NRC.  Dr. Narin had no 
explanation for this apparent slight and queried Poloff about 
details on the NRC appointment process and possible 
membership.  End Note.) 
 
9. (SBU) The Chularatchmontri then said that some observers 
have cited language as one of the main causes of problems 
with Muslims in the South by pointing out that many southern 
Muslims don't speak the central Thai language used throughout 
the country and that most local officials (who are appointed 
by Bangkok) don't speak the local Malay dialect. But the 
Chularatchamontri rebutted this thesis, explaining that many 
different ethnic groups in Thailand don't speak central Thai 
as their native language, including Khmer speakers in the 
Northeast, Karen speakers in the North and Chinese speakers 
throughout the country.  He also dismissed the notion by some 
that the cause of separatist uprising is based partly on the 
fact that Islam in Thailand is an "imported" religion.  He 
noted that all the other major religions in Thailand -- 
Buddhism, Hinduism, and Christianity -- are "imports."  He 
also asserted a strong local media bias against the Muslim 
community, citing the example of newscasters referring to 
separatists in the south as "Muslim bandits", when actually 
the south was well known for criminal activity by bandits of 
many races and religions, not just Muslims. 
 
10. (C) Lastly, the Ambassador stated that he had no plans in 
the immediate future to visit the far South.  The Muslim 
leader agreed that for the time being it was best not pursue 
an Ambassadorial visit and thus cause unnecessary concerns 
about U.S. involvement in the South. 
 
11. (C) COMMENT:  This initial encounter with the 
octogenarian leader of Thai Muslims proved congenial, though 
short on substance.  We intend to explore the possibility of 
facilitating a visit by him and members of the Central 
Islamic Committee to the U.S. END COMMENT. 
 
BOYCE