US embassy cable - 05BANGKOK2602

UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 02 BANGKOK 002602 
 
SIPDIS 
 
SENSITIVE 
 
E.O. 12958: N/A 
TAGS: PGOV, TH, Political Parties, TRT - Thai Rak Thai 
SUBJECT: THAILAND: MORE REPORTS OF FACTIONAL FERMENT IN THE 
THAI RAK THAI PARTY 
 
REF: (A) BANGKOK 2347 (B) BANGKOK 1819 
 
 1.  (SBU)  Summary:  A prominent Bangkok daily, the 
"Krungthep Thurakit," reported on April 12 that Thai Rak Thai 
(TRT) Secretary General and Transportation Minister Suriya 
Jungrungreankit may lose his party position at the TRT's next 
general meeting on April 24.  Reportedly, Prime Minister 
Thaksin Shinawatra is displeased with Suriya's earlier 
dalliance with powerful insurgent Wang Nam Yom faction leader 
and Tourism and Sports Minister Somsak Thepsuthin.  Several 
names have been tipped as Suriya's potential replacement at 
the powerful Secretary General's post, including  Deputy 
Prime Minister and Interior Minister Chidchai Vanasatidya, 
"Chart Pattana" faction leader and Justice Minister Suwat 
Liptipanlop, or Agriculture Minister (and leader of a 
powerful Bangkok faction) Sudarat Keyuraphun.  If these 
rumors result in Somsak's removal, it will demonstrate anew 
Thaksin's determination to put only those he trusts 
completely in powerful party and government positions.  End 
Summary. 
 
SURIYA TRIED TO PLAY BOTH SIDES? 
 
2.  (SBU)  The April 12 daily "Krungthep Thurakit" reported 
that Thai Rak Thai (TRT) Secretary General and Transportation 
Minister Suriya Jungrungreankit may lose his party position 
at the TRT's next general meeting, which is scheduled for 
April 24.  Suriya, considered one of the TRT's "power 
figures" because of his role as a major party financier, 
allegedly worked secretly with powerful TRT Wang Nom Yom 
faction leader and Tourism and Sports Minister Somsak 
Thepsuthin to support the Mahachon Party in last February's 
national parliamentary elections.  Their reported logic in 
doing so was to play all the political angles, betting that 
Mahachon would make a much more powerful showing than it 
eventually did (only two seats). 
 
PRIME MINISTER TO DEMOTE SURIYA? 
 
3.  (SBU)  As the story goes, Thaksin, unhappy at what he 
considers Suriya's duplicity, was prepared after the election 
to punish one of the TRT party's financial benefactors by 
moving him out of the Transport Ministry and into the less 
powerful (and less potentially lucrative) position of Deputy 
Prime Minister.  Suriya, perhaps relying on his remaining 
clout within the TRT apparatus, managed to keep his Secretary 
General and Transport Ministry positions in the first phase 
of appointments and reappointments following Thaksin's 
landslide win.  Suriya is reportedly distancing himself from 
Somsak, who recently allied himself with an openly unhappy 
coalition of TRT factions (Ref. A) headed by Sanoh Thienthong 
of the Wang Nam Yen group.  Looking to get back in the Prime 
Minister's good graces, Suriya reportedly is making political 
overtures to Yeowapa Lapwongsawat, Thaksin's sister and head 
of the powerful Wang Bua Ban faction. 
 
RUMORED REPLACEMENTS AS TRT SECRETARY GENERAL 
 
4.  (SBU)  Several names are being mooted as Suriya's 
potential replacement.  Two have been close to Thaksin during 
his rise to political power: Deputy Prime Minister and 
Interior Minister Police General Chidchai Vanasatidya, who 
attended school with Thaksin in the U.S. and as a policeman 
reportedly carried out "dirty" activities for the Prime 
Minister.  Another possibility is Sudarat Keyuraphun.  As 
noted in earlier reporting, she is one of the most prominent 
women in Thai politics.  Sudarat is currently the First 
Deputy Leader of the Thai Rak Thai Party and is a leader of 
the Bangkok faction in the TRT.  A third possibility is 
Justice Minister Suwat Liptipanlop.  Suwat is former leader 
of the now-defunct Chart Pattana party (CP), which he merged 
with the TRT in September 2004.  He now heads a "Chart 
Pattana" faction within TRT, and has proven to be somewhat of 
a favorite of the Prime Minister. 
 
THAKSIN IN CHARGE 
 
5.  (SBU)  Comment:  Though Suriya may still persuade the 
Prime Minister of his loyalty and keep his job, there remains 
a strong possibility that Thaksin will shake up his party in 
order to put people he trusts completely in positions of 
power.  Thaksin does not tolerate opposition of any level or 
what he perceives as disloyalty within his party.  Though 
Suriya has had the advantage of being a strong funding 
source, the Prime Minister is wealthy in his own right and 
can also raise funds from an expanding number of what he may 
consider more reliable sources.  This may not bode well for 
Suriya.  End Comment. 
 
 
 
 
BOYCE