VZCZCXRO6906
OO RUEHCHI RUEHDT RUEHHM
DE RUEHBK #3115 1571027
ZNR UUUUU ZZH
O 061027Z JUN 07
FM AMEMBASSY BANGKOK
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC IMMEDIATE 7411
INFO RUEHZS/ASSOCIATION OF SOUTHEAST ASIAN NATIONS
RUEHBY/AMEMBASSY CANBERRA 7213
RUEHWL/AMEMBASSY WELLINGTON 1761
RUEHBJ/AMEMBASSY BEIJING 4310
RUEHKO/AMEMBASSY TOKYO 9335
RUEHCHI/AMCONSUL CHIANG MAI 3636
RHEFDIA/DIA WASHDC
RUEAIIA/CIA WASHINGTON DC
RHEHNSC/NSC WASHDC
RUEKJCS/JCS WASHDC
RUEKJCS/SECDEF WASHINGTON DC
RHHMUNA/USCINCPAC HONOLULU HI
UNCLAS BANGKOK 003115
SIPDIS
SIPDIS
SENSITIVE
E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: PGOV PHUM KDEM KJUS ASEC TH
SUBJECT: THAI GOVERNMENT RELAXES POLITICAL PARTY
RESTRICTIONS
REF: BANGKOK 2994 (TRT DISSOLVED)
1. (U) Following a cabinet meeting on June 5, a government
spokesman announced the cabinet's decision to lift with
immediate effect a prohibition on political parties' conduct
of political activities. The cabinet also decided to draft a
bill to lift or modify a ban on the registration of new
political parties. The cabinet spokesman urged quick
parliamentary consideration for and passage of this bill.
(Note: The aforementioned prohibitions were established by
Council for Democratic Reform Announcement Number 15, dated
September 21. The cabinet is taking no action on
Announcement Number 27, from September 30, which imposed a
five-year loss of political rights for executive board
members of any political party ordered dissolved. End Note.)
2. (SBU) Comment: The lifting of restrictions on parties'
activities is a meaningful and positive step. Since the
coup, political party leaders have been able to speak out
publicly, and even criticize the authorities, but they have
said they need this recision in order to prepare for upcoming
elections. Any bill which, in effect, permits Thai Rak Thai
supporters to form new parties -- perhaps even under the TRT
name -- may prove more controversial than the government
seems to expect.
BOYCE