US embassy cable - 05BANGKOK6462

C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 02 BANGKOK 006462 
 
SIPDIS 
 
INFO ASSOCIATION OF SOUTHEAST ASIAN NATIONS 
HQ USPACOM HONOLULU HI 
 
E.O. 12958: DECL: 10/12/2015 
TAGS: PGOV, TH 
SUBJECT: UNCERTAINTY OVER PUBLIC HEALTH MINISTER'S 
RESIGNATION 
 
REF: 2004 BANGKOK 5615 
 
Classified By: POLITICAL COUNSELOR SUSAN M. SUTTON 
 
1.    (SBU)  SUMMARY:  Public Health Minister Dr. Suchai 
Charoenratanakul recently announced his resignation, 
effective at the end of this month, following several weeks 
of political in-fighting with another cabinet minister and 
party officials.  The political fracas began earlier this 
month when Suchai removed a permanent secretary for alleged 
corruption and attempted to transfer 9 additional senior 
officials as part of a ministry shake-up.  This sparked a row 
with his predecessor, powerful TRT faction leader and present 
Agriculture Minister Sudarat Keyuraphanthin.  Sudarat won and 
speculation began over another Cabinet reshuffle in the near 
future.  Reports in the Thai press on October 11 said that 
Thaksin, if unable to persuade Suchai to stay on, may opt to 
appoint an acting Minister of Health in lieu of a reshuffle. 
END SUMMARY. 
 
WHEN DOCTORS BECOME POLITICIANS 
 
2.  (C)  Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra,s appointment of 
Dr. Suchai as Public Health Minister marked the first time in 
20 years that a medical doctor had been placed in the highest 
public health position in Thailand.  Suchai had long been in 
good graces with the Shinawatra family, having been personal 
physician to the Prime Minister's mother-in-law for many 
years.  Suchai,s first six months on the job were 
uneventful, although rumors persisted of his inability to 
exert influence over subordinate officials within the Public 
Health Ministry. 
 
3.  (C)  In early September, Dr. Suchai,s frustration 
appeared to reach the breaking point over the failure of the 
Ministry to conclude a contract for the purchase of 232 
ambulances, reportedly worth 464 million Baht ($11.6 million 
USD).  Dr. Suchai accused Health Ministry Permanent Secretary 
Vichai Tienthavorn of corruption involving the deal and 
immediately transferred him to an inactive post in the Prime 
Minister's office.  Less than a week later, Dr. Suchai 
ordered the removal of 9 other senior officials within the 
Ministry, claiming they were not competent, although the less 
publicized reason is that they were reportedly not 
demonstrating sufficient loyalty to Dr. Suchai.  The attempt 
to remove the 9 officials began while Thaksin was in the U.S. 
-- leaving the final disposition of the antagonists' fate 
until his return. 
 
WHOA! NOT SO FAST! 
 
4.  (C)  The removal of the Permanent Secretary and attempted 
transfer of the other 9 officials did not sit well with 
everyone.  One cabinet member that did not approve of the 
transfer was Agricultural Minister Sudarat Keyuraphan, who 
was Dr. Suchai,s predecessor in the Ministry of Public 
Health.  Sudarat had personally promoted most of the removed 
officials and immediately complained to Thaksin upon his 
return from the U.S.  Less obviously, Vichai had come to 
Sudarat,s defense when she was under fire for last year's 
computer scandal (reftel), and political insiders see this as 
her returning the favor.  In addition, the removed officials 
also accused Dr. Suchai of being incompetent and unable to 
handle his new position.  Visibly unhappy that this move took 
place during his absence, the Prime Minister vetoed the 
transfer order and urged Dr. Suchai to reconsider the list. 
 
LEAVING AT MONTH'S END? 
 
5.  (C)  Dr. Suchai abruptly resigned just a few days after 
Thaksin encouraged him to give up the fight.  Dr. Suchai, 
both embarrassed and frustrated that he lost the fight to run 
the Ministry as he saw fit, was visibly teary-eyed when he 
stated on October 5th &I am not a politician and accepted my 
office at the government's invitation, hence I am willing to 
sacrifice my job for the sake of public interest.8  Several 
Thai Senators have been quoted as describing the incident as 
blatant political interference that will ultimately hurt the 
Ministry's ability to function effectively.  There is still 
speculation that Suchai will give in to Thaksin's persuasion 
and rescind his resignation.  Other reports say that if 
Suchai remains determined to leave, Thaksin will appoint an 
acting Minister of Health in lieu of another cabinet 
reshuffle.  (Note:  Factions within the TRT would likely 
welcome another reshuffle and the chance of increasing their 
shares of cabinet seats.) 
 
6.  (C)  Comment:  Although Thaksin has publicly claimed he 
wants Dr. Suchai to reconsider, he is also evidently unhappy 
that Dr. Suchai decided to resign without consulting with him 
first.  Of more immediate concern for Thaksin, however, is 
the possibility that an aggrieved Dr. Suchai will use his 
remaining time as Public Health Minister to exact revenge by 
making more corruption allegations against ministry 
officials.  With an investigation against Permanent Secretary 
Vichai already under way for the ambulance scandal, more 
announcements of corruption within the Public Health Ministry 
are the last thing Thaksin or the TRT needs.  End Comment. 
BOYCE