VZCZCXRO9825
PP RUEHFK RUEHKSO RUEHNAG RUEHNH
DE RUEHKO #5663 3610359
ZNR UUUUU ZZH
P 270359Z DEC 07
FM AMEMBASSY TOKYO
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC PRIORITY 0587
RUEKJCS/SECDEF WASHDC PRIORITY
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RUEATRS/DEPT OF TREASURY WASHINGTON DC PRIORITY
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RUHBANB/OKINAWA FLD OFC US FORCES JAPAN CP BUTLER JA PRIORITY
RHMFIUU/USFJ PRIORITY
INFO RUEHFK/AMCONSUL FUKUOKA 5170
RUEHNH/AMCONSUL NAHA 7566
RUEHNAG/AMCONSUL NAGOYA 3870
RUEHKSO/AMCONSUL SAPPORO 5800
RUEHOK/AMCONSUL OSAKA KOBE 8835
RUEHBJ/AMEMBASSY BEIJING 0819
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RHEHAAA/NSC WASHDC
UNCLAS TOKYO 005663
SIPDIS
SIPDIS
STATE FOR I/RF, PA/PR/FPC/W, IIP/G/EA, EAP/PD, R/MR,
EAP/J, EAP/P, PM;
USTR FOR PUBLIC AFFAIRS OFFICE;
TREASURY FOR OASIA/IMI;
SECDEF FOR OASD/PA;
CP BUTLER OKINAWA FOR AREA FIELD OFFICE;
PACOM HONOLULU FOR PUBLIC DIPLOMACY ADVISOR
E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: OIIP KMDR KPAO JA
SUBJECT: TOKYO MEDIA REACTION - THAI ELECTION AND
INSTABILITY IN IRAQ
LEAD STORIES: Most Thursday morning papers led with an
approval by the education minister of Japanese history
textbooks for high school students, which specify the
involvement of the Imperial Japanese Army in the mass
suicides of Okinawa residents in the waning days of
WWII.
1. "Ensure Political Stability after Election"
The business-oriented Nikkei editorialized (12/27):
"The People Power Party that supports former Prime
Minister Thaksin won a plurality in the Thai general
election. While there is the possibility that the party
may lose several seats due to vote violations, it
appears to be securing a comfortable majority through
holding coalition negotiations with other groups.
Thailand's political situation is heading toward
stability with a new government in the making led by
the pro-Thaksin forces.... It is true that the former
prime minister was heavily criticized for his
corruption and disregard for King Bhumibol. However,
the election results pointing to the Thai people's
rejection of a junta government must be respected. The
nation has witnessed the military's repeated
interference into politics whenever it suffered from
economic slowdown and faced corruption scandals. The
time has come for Thailand to put an end to the vicious
cycle of political interference by the military and to
foster democracy through public participation in the
political process."
2. "Growing Presence of Sunni Militias" A Cairo-based
reporter for the top-circulation, moderate Yomiuri
wrote (12/27): "The Shiite-led Iraqi government is
having a difficult time in the face of a growing
presence of Sunni armed groups, which have been beefed
up by the U.S. military in countering al-Qaeda
insurgents. The clout of the Sunni militia called
'Awakening Council' is rapidly expanding due to its
significant contribution to the recent improvement of
the security situation. As the U.S. military plans to
scale down its troops in Iraq next year, concerns are
mounting that the Council will clash head-on with
Shiite militias and the Shiite-controlled Iraqi
military and that their religious rivalry may develop
into civil war."
DONOVAN