Cablegate: Thailand: Initial Media Coverage, Government And

This record is a partial extract of the original cable. The full text of the original cable is not available.

UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 02 BANGKOK 001527

SIPDIS

SENSITIVE

DEPARTMENT FOR EAP/BCLTV, EAP/PD, DRL; HQ UPACOM FOR FPA
HUSO

E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: PREL PHUM KPAO TH HUMAN RIGHTS
SUBJECT: THAILAND: INITIAL MEDIA COVERAGE, GOVERNMENT AND
OTHER REACTIONS TO THE 2004 HUMAN RIGHTS REPORT

1. (SBU) Summary: Local Thai media on March 2 headlined
their stories on the 2004 Human Rights Report (HRR) with
variations on the theme, "US government slams Thailand's
human rights performance," with special attention to
incidents in the South. PM Thaksin has not commented on the
HRR. Official Thai government reaction has been relatively
subdued thus far, but the Ambassador was summoned to the
Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MFA) late in the day to discuss
the report with Permanent Secretary Krit Garnjana-Goonchorn
(septel). Several print and on-line media carried
significant excerpts of the report verbatim. Editorial
comment ranged from favorable to outraged. One local TV
personality, a former Bangkok governor known for his right
wing views and colorful commentary, lashed out at the report,
challenged the Ambassador to a televised debate, and called
for demonstrators to protest at the U.S. Embassy. (Note: A
small demonstration did materialize, reported septel. End
Note.) Abhisit Vejjajiva, the expected new party leader of
the opposition Democrat Party (DP), characterized the report
as fair and accurate. Monitors of the international press
coverage of the worldwide release of the HHR noted a focus on
the Thailand HRR chapter over those of regional neighbors
like Burma and China. End Summary.

NEWSPAPERS HEADLINE REPORT AND QUOTE LARGE SECTIONS

2. (U) On Wednesday March 2, local print and broadcast media
carried lead stories about criticism of Thailand's human
rights record contained in the 2004 HRR, giving particular
emphasis to U.S. citing of violent incidents at the Krue Se
mosque and Tak Bai in southern Thailand. The Thai-language
Matichon newspaper headline, "U.S. says government measures
in South severely violate human rights; Government Spokesman
explains actions are in line with Constitution," sums up how
some newspapers played the story. The English-language
Bangkok Post carried an inside page story, "U.S. rights
report fingers Thailand." The HRR report's description of
restrictions on press freedom, in particular the case of
media activist Suphinya Klangnarong, was also noted in most
of the daily press. The Manager newspaper covered the
report's human trafficking section. At least four Thai
language daily newspapers and the English language daily The
Nation, carried excerpts from the Thailand chapter. Several
on-line editions of these newspapers carried excerpts of the
report. The HRR inspired several editorials. The Nation's
comment, "A damning report card," stated that "2004 was an
extraordinary year because human rights were flouted with
impunity by the government." Other editorials were outraged
at the U.S. portrayal of Thailand. Some Thai media outlets
also ran less prominent stories about HRR criticisms of other
countries.

A DEBATE, MR. AMBASSADOR?

3. (SBU) Local television news commentator and former
Bangkok governor Samak Suntharawet, who hosts a daily morning
news show, lashed out at the report, describing it as
"completely inaccurate" and based on false information given
to the Embassy by NGOs trying to bring down the government.
Echoing commentary heard in previous years around the release
of the HRR, the former politician asked in a baiting tone,
"Why does such a good ally accuse a close friend?" In a live
call-in news show later the same morning, Samak challenged
the Ambassador to a public debate on human rights issues. He
also called on Thais to demonstrate in protest at the U.S.
Embassy, and a small, manageable demonstration did
materialize in the afternoon of March 2 (septel). (Comment:
Samak appeared on the Army-controlled Channel 5 and later on
the government-controlled channel 9. We believe his vehement
criticism could not have been made without a green light from
the current government. End comment.) Most other local news
channels carried reports of the HRR release during regular
news broadcasts. The stories were similar in content to the
print media, including short quotes from the HRR. They
carried initial Royal Thai Government (RTG) reaction as well.

THAI GOVERNMENT FAIRLY RESTRAINED IN PUBLIC; BUT AMBASSADOR
SUMMONED TO MFA

4. (U) Thus far official RTG reaction to the report has been
relatively restrained, but that may not last. Prime Minister
Thaksin Shinawatra, who last year blasted the US as a
"useless friend" when the HRR was released, has made no
public statements. Government spokesman Jakrapob Penkair
stated that the RTG had followed the "rule of law" and was
still following closely the case of Muslim lawyer Somchai
Neelapaijit, whose disappearance and presumed murder are
prominently mentioned in the report. Ministry of Foreign
Affairs (MFA) spokesman Sihasak Puangketkeow stated that,
"The annual release of the report is not constructive for
bilateral relations. If there is any concern it should be
expressed through diplomatic channels." He also said that
the US should not use its standards as a benchmark for other
countries. On February 28, prior to the Washington release
of the report, The Nation newspaper carried a story
announcing the release the next day with the headline, "U.S.
report lambastes Thailand's rights abuses" and previewing
some elements of the HRR quite accurately. The next day,
March 1, just prior to the local release, The Nation carried
a follow up story detailing MFA reaction with the headline,
"US should keep rights report to itself: Foreign Ministry."
MFA Permanent Secretary Krit Garnjana-Goonchorn summoned the
Ambassador to a late afternoon March 2 discussion of the HRR
(septel).

OPPOSITION PARTY LEADER SUPPORTIVE

5. (U) On the morning of March 2, opposition Democrat Party
(DP) member of parliament, Apirak Kosayodhin made positive
public comments when asked about the report. Noting that the
HRR is global and that release of the Thailand chapter is an
annual occurrence, Abhisit wondered why the government always
made such a fuss defending itself from criticism. Apirak,
who is expected to be elected Democrat party leader during a
party conference this weekend, said that he thought the
report was generally factual and described the situation of
human rights accurately. The government could gain much from
a careful analysis of the report and use it to solve some of
the problems facing the country, he said.

THAILAND IN THE SPOTLIGHT?

6. (U) Embassy Bangkok posted the HRR in both the English
and Thai languages on its website March 1, a few hours after
release of the worldwide HRR in Washington. However, most
media attention in Thailand drew heavily from international
sources. AFP carried an early print report on Thailand.
CNN's Asia correspondent Aneesh Raman carried a short story
that quoted the Thai MFA spokesman as noted above and
highlighted major criticisms outlined in the HRR. The BBC
also made special mention of criticism of Thailand's human
rights record. Some local TV stations covered release of the
full report in Washington DC, some featuring clips of Acting
DRL Assistant Secretary of State Michael Kozak. Some local
observers expressed surprise at the international media focus
on Thailand, which seemed to them to overshadow interest in
the HRR chapters on Burma, China, or Cambodia.

7. (SBU) Comment. Extensive local media coverage reaction
was predictable. The HRR's descriptions of abuses in the
South came in the midst of a news cycle focused intensely on
these issues and proposed RTG policies aimed at
reconciliation. Perhaps regional and international media
attention focused on the Thailand chapter because Thailand
has been in the media eye for months with the tsunami
disaster and its February national elections. The release of
the report, the media attention it has gathered, and the
integrity of the report itself have contributed to the
continuing public debate over human rights issues in
Thailand. Human rights NGOs and activists, and many Thai
citizens, are gratified at the U.S. support for human rights
that this report represents. The MFA has been lobbying for
months against a harsh HRR on Thailand, and this year's
report has also introduced an element of tension into the
bilateral relationship that we will have to deal with. End
Comment.

BOYCE

© Scoop Media