US embassy cable - 05BANGKOK6639

C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 02 BANGKOK 006639 
 
SIPDIS 
 
DEPARTMENT FOR EAP, EAP/MLS, EAP/MTS, EAP/RSP, S/CT, INR 
PACOM FOR FPA (HUSO) 
 
E.O. 12958: DECL: 10/19/2015 
TAGS: PGOV, PREL, PTER, TH, Southern Thailand 
SUBJECT: SOUTHERN VIOLENCE: THAILAND'S TROUBLED MALAYSIAN 
RELATIONSHIP 
 
REF: A. BANGKOK 6595 
 
     B. BANGKOK 5706 
     C. KUALA LUMPUR 3691 
     D. KUALA LUMPUR 3668 
 
Classified By: Political Counselor Susan M. Sutton. Reason 1.4(d) 
 
1.  (C)  SUMMARY:  Thai and Malaysian officials have been 
using increasingly un-diplomatic language in the press as 
tensions over the situation along the Thai/Malaysian border 
-- heightened by publicity surrounding 131 Thai "refugees" in 
Malaysia -- continue.  Thai MFA officials acknowledge 
privately that while working level cooperation continues, 
overall relations between the capitals are at a low point. 
Improving relations will require support from the highest 
levels; unlikely for the time being, given the ongoing 
rhetoric from the capitals, Thai sensitivities, and 
continuing violence on the Thai side of the border. 
Restoring cooperation is absolutely necessary in order to 
address the problem in southern Thailand.  END SUMMARY 
 
INCREASING RHETORIC BETWEEN CAPITALS 
------------------------------------ 
 
2.  (C)  On October 19, poloffs met with MFA Deputy Director 
General for East Asian Affairs Prasas Prasasvinitchai and 
Malaysia desk officer Jiraporn Sudanich to discuss the 
ongoing situation involving the group of 131 southern Thai 
Muslims who fled into Kelantan state in northern Malaysia 
(reftels B, C, D); and to seek Thai perspectives on the 
increasingly tough exchanges in the press between the Thai 
and Malaysian leadership over the situation in southern 
Thailand. 
 
3.  (C)  Rising tension began in August when Prime Minister 
Thaksin abruptly canceled a visit to Malaysia to meet with 
Prime Minister Badawi.  The spat has intensified since August 
30, following the flight of the 131 Muslim villagers.  Thai 
officials claim that Malaysia broke a private agreement not 
to discuss the issue through the press -- sparking the 
current back and forth between the capitals.  The involvement 
of UNHCR has added to the tension between Bangkok and Kuala 
Lumpur.  These incidents play against the backdrop of the 
overall violence afflicting southern Thailand which has 
obviously been of considerable concern for neighboring 
Malaysia. 
 
4.  (C)  There has been daily, often harsh, exchanges in the 
press between Foreign Ministries. In the latest jab on 
October 19 FM Kantathi told journalists he would not reach 
out to his counterpart unless Malaysia showed "sincerity and 
positive signals." (NOTE: On October 19 Kantathi also 
responded defensively to an Organization of Islamic 
Conferences (OIC) statement critical of the RTG's handling of 
the situation in the South, suggesting the OIC condemn the 
militants, and not the Thai government. END NOTE) 
 
THAILAND'S "MOST IMPORTANT" RELATIONSHIP HAS BEEN DAMAGED 
--------------------------------------------- ------------ 
 
5.  (C)  DDG Prasas said that Foreign Minister Kantathi 
"regrets" having to use such strong statements but indicated 
they feel like they have no choice.  "Over the past eight 
weeks we have not gotten the cooperation we need from the 
Malaysians," he explained.  Prasas said the RTG was very 
disappointed by the way the Malaysians have handled the group 
of 131, and their response to the overall situation in the 
South.  Prasas said relations with their neighbor, their 
"most important," have been seriously degraded.  The damage, 
he explained, was deep and could "have a long-term impact on 
our overall relationship." 
 
6.  (C)  Prasas complained that the Malaysians have not been 
responsive to Thai requests.  Citing one example, he claimed 
the RTG has been trying for weeks to get photos and 
fingerprints from all the 131, but had been continually 
rebuffed, even after discussions between Thai MFA Permsec 
Krit and Malaysian MFA Secretary General Fuzi.  (NOTE: Prasas 
will join a high-level Thai delegation next week -- led by 
director of Joint Intelligence at Supreme Command LTG 
Chayasit Linthong -- which will travel to Malaysia to meet 
with Malaysian officials and the group of 131 in an attempt 
to resolve the situation. END NOTE) 
 
7.  (C)  The MFA officers acknowledged that Malaysia was in a 
difficult position due to domestic political considerations 
in Kelantan state with the PAS party.   However, Prasas said 
the Malaysians should not let "domestic political concerns" 
trump the bilateral relationship. 
 
WORKING LEVEL COOPERATION CONTINUES 
----------------------------------- 
 
8.  (C)  While mostly downbeat about the state of Thai- 
Malaysian relations, our interlocutors were eager to point 
out some areas that remained healthy, noting that "on the 
ground" cooperation along the border, especially between the 
militaries continued.  Prasas also pointed out that the 
ongoing quiet cooperation between police and intelligence. 
Prasas emphasized that Thailand and Malaysia would continue 
to discuss joint development projects along the border, 
especially in agriculture and tourism. 
 
COMMENT - WORK NEEDED TO RESTORE RELATIONS 
------------------------------------------ 
 
9.  (C)  The negative tone from the Thai MFA officials is not 
surprising -- they are taking their cues from the top. 
Following the brutal murders this week of a Buddhist monk and 
two novices (reftel A) Prime Minister Thaksin told the press 
that Thailand would not seek cooperation from Malaysia, "it's 
best to rely on oneself."  The Thais are defensive about 
public attitudes from a fellow ASEAN member, and extremely 
concerned the situation in southern Thailand not be seen as 
an "international" issue.  The Thai government has gone to 
great lengths to portray the violence in the South as purely 
a domestic issue -- tough to do when the problem is taking 
place along an international border. 
 
10.  (C)  Beyond the high-level rhetoric and sensitivity, 
there is obvious working level frustration, with both the 
Thais and Malaysians acting like the wounded party.  With no 
resolution expected in the short term for the group of 131 
Thais in Kelantan -- and with no end in sight to the violence 
in Thailand's South -- there will likely be more trouble 
ahead for the already strained relationship between Bangkok 
and KL.  Restoring a cooperative relationship -- at all 
levels -- will be absolutely essential to address the problem 
in Thailand's southern border provinces.  END COMMENT 
BOYCE