US embassy cable - 05BANGKOK4332

C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 02 BANGKOK 004332 
 
SIPDIS 
 
E.O. 12958: DECL: 07/01/2010 
TAGS: PGOV, PHUM, SOCI, TH, Southern Thailand 
SUBJECT: ISLAMIC CONFERENCE TONES DOWN CRITICISM OF THAILAND 
 
REF: A. A) BANGKOK4108 
     B. (B) BANGKOK3854 
 
Classified By: MDELANEY 
 
1.   (C) SUMMARY.  The RTG appears to have been successful in 
getting criticism of its practices in Southern Thailand toned 
down. On June 29, the Organization of the Islamic Conference 
(OIC) released its report on the conditions of Thai Muslims 
in Thailand,s southern provinces, at the 32nd Session of the 
Islamic Conference of Foreign Ministers (ICFM) in Sana'a, 
Yemen.  The final report urged the RTG to ensure that 
incidents like those that took place at Tak Bai and the Krue 
Se Mosque do not reoccur, and that the government take action 
to punish those responsible.  It advised the government to 
take into account "the historical and cultural uniqueness" of 
the region when trying to keep the peace.  It also called for 
the RTG to increase efforts to investigate the disappearance 
of Muslim human rights lawyer Somchai Neelaphaijit.  The 
report restated the Thai view that the violence was not a 
religious conflict.  The Thai MFA was reportedly very upset 
with a draft version of the report. After intense lobbying 
for changes, FM Kantathi expressed satisfaction with the 
final version. According to media reports, the OIC planned to 
send a second delegation to Southern Thailand in late July. 
END SUMMARY 
 
2.    (U) On June 29, the Organization of the Islamic 
Conference (OIC) released its report on the conditions of 
Thai Muslims in Thailand,s southern provinces, at the 32nd 
Session of the Islamic Conference of Foreign Ministers (ICFM) 
in Sana'a, Yemen.  The report was the result of the June 2-13 
visit of an OIC fact-finding delegation led by Ambassador 
Syed Qasmi Al-Masri, former Assistant Secretary-General of 
the organization.  According to Thai media reports, the final 
version struck a balance between tentative support and open 
criticism of Thailand,s efforts in the South.  Post was 
unable to review the full report, but expects to receive a 
copy from the Thai MFA early next week. 
 
3.    (U) The report voices support for RTG efforts to work 
toward a peaceful resolution of the conflict, while at the 
same time advising the RTG to take into account "the 
historical and cultural uniqueness" of the region when trying 
to maintain order and find a long-term solution.  It urges 
the RTG to take appropriate measures to ensure that incidents 
like those that took place at Tak Bai and the Krue Se Mosque 
in 2004 do not happen again, and further calls on the RTG to 
take concrete actions to punish those responsible.  It also 
called for the RTG to redouble their efforts to investigate 
the disappearance of Muslim human rights lawyer Somchai 
Neelaphaijit.  The report reiterates the official line of the 
RTG and the June 8 joint statement that the violence in 
southern Thailand was not a religious conflict. The final OIC 
resolution directed the Secretary-General to continue to 
"follow the issue."  To this end, Thai media reported that a 
second OIC delegation was interested in visiting the Thai 
south again later this month. 
 
4.    (C) Following the OIC delegation,s visit and the 
sympathetic June 8 joint statement between the two sides, the 
Thais were publicly confident that the OIC report would 
present Thai efforts to keep the peace in the South in a 
positive light.  On June 25, the Thais were reportedly 
alarmed to receive a draft copy of the report, which they 
interpreted to be highly critical of their policies.  The 
Thai response was so strong that Grit Garnjanaa-Goonchorn, 
Permanent Secretary of the Thai MFA, canceled a trip to the 
US at the last minute, in order to press for changes to the 
document.  According to MFA, lobbying to clear up 
"misunderstandings" continued even after the conference 
began.  While it is unclear what changes were made in 
response to Thai advocacy efforts, FM Kantathi expressed 
satisfaction with the final report stating that it would 
promote "good relations" with the Islamic world. 
 
5.    (U) On June 29, Thai Foreign Minister Kantathi 
Suphamongkhon delivered a speech in Sana'a, Yemen to the 
ICFM, the first Thai FM to do so. (Note: Thailand became an 
observer at OIC in 1998. End Note) His non-controversial 
spoken remarks focused on the importance of interfaith 
harmony and the challenges of globalization.  He expressed 
regret that he had seen "Islam and its principles being 
misrepresented and misperceived" and encouraged moderation 
"in all faiths and religions".  Although he noted that 
Thailand had "welcomed the visit of the OIC" to Thailand, he 
never once directly mentioned the conflict in the Thai South. 
 
6.    (U) The RTG's cooperation with the OIC fact-finding 
mission in June is part of the RTG,s recent charm offensive 
to try and salvage the country,s reputation in the Muslim 
world which has suffered due to the Southern violence. 
Although Thailand has always maintained that the violence in 
the South was an internal matter, there has been a quiet 
policy of actively soliciting the advice and support of 
friendly Islamic countries since the beginning of 2005.  In 
March, Thailand hosted a delegation of leaders from the 
40-million strong, moderate Indonesian Islamic group 
Nahdlatul Ulama (NU), who toured the Southern provinces, and 
whose leader was granted a royal audience with the King.  In 
April, PM Thaksin Shinawatra went on high-profile visits to 
Jordan and Oman where he "explained the situation" to those 
country,s leaders.  In the press reports leading up to the 
OIC meeting, the Thai press reported that many Islamic 
countries had been active in defending Thailand,s record at 
the OIC, noting Bahrain and Indonesia, as two of its 
strongest supporters.  Bangladesh, Pakistan and Yemen were 
also cited as helpful, while Malaysia was said to be 
"distancing itself" from any active support. 
 
7.    (C) (Comment: In keeping with Thailand's "charm 
offensive", the RTG will probably not object to a second 
visit from the OIC, although the initial 'critical' report 
may give pause for thought. The RTG is anxious to present a 
good face to the Islamic world, and its active diplomacy and 
high-profile visits with Muslim leaders seems to have paid 
off and softened criticism from Muslim governments. The final 
report of the OIC is evidence of this. Inviting delegations 
from moderate Islamic groupings including the OIC,  should be 
useful in brainstorming solutions for the violence in the 
South, and showing moderate Muslims that the RTG is willing 
to work with respected Islamic leaders. It is doubtful 
however that the RTG would follow through with any 
"constructive criticism" they felt undermined their 
sovereignty. End Comment.) 
BOYCE