06BANGKOK4038 THAI ARMY CHIEF ON POLITICAL SITUATION
“70579″,”7/7/2006 10:00″,”06BANGKOK4038″,
“Embassy Bangkok”,”CONFIDENTIAL”,
“06BANGKOK3916″,”VZCZCXRO1664
PP RUEHCHI RUEHDT RUEHHM
DE RUEHBK #4038 1881000
ZNY CCCCC ZZH
P 071000Z JUL 06
FM AMEMBASSY BANGKOK
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC PRIORITY 9995
INFO RUEHZS/ASSOCIATION OF SOUTHEAST ASIAN NATIONS
RHHMUNA/HQ USPACOM HONOLULU HI
RUEAIIA/CIA WASHINGTON DC
RUEKJCS/SECDEF WASHDC
RHEHNSC/NSC WASHDC”,
“C O N F I D E N T I A L BANGKOK 004038
SIPDIS
SIPDIS
DEPT FOR EAP, EAP/MLS
NSC FOR HOLLY MORROW
E.O. 12958: DECL: 07/07/2016
TAGS: PGOV, PREL, TH
SUBJECT: THAI ARMY CHIEF ON POLITICAL SITUATION
REF: BANGKOK 03916
Classified By: AMBASSADOR RALPH L. BOYCE. REASON 1.4 (B,D)
1. (C) Summary. Royal Thai Army Commander General Sonthi
Boonyaratglin told me on July 6 that the current political
situation is untenable, but the military has no intention of
getting involved. Sonthi added that he has Thaksin\’s
supporters in the military \”under control.\” End Summary.
2. (C) I spoke with General Sonthi Boonyaratglin, Commander
of the Royal Thai Army, at the Embassy\’s independence day
celebration July 6. Sonthi\’s attendance at the event was
itself notable, in contrast to his usual low profile on the
social circuit. Even more significant, the General agreed to
chat with me following the formalities of the receiving line,
which entailed an hour wait on his behalf. Once nestled into
a quiet corner, I asked for his take on the Prime Minister\’s
controversial comments last week (ref). Sonthi was appalled
by the thinly-veiled attack on Prem (himself one of Sonthi\’s
predecessors as Army Commander). Sonthi said that the
situation is untenable but he doesn\’t know how it can be
resolved. The current crisis revolves around one
man–Thaksin. The PM has the ability to end the crisis by
going away, but he doesn\’t want to go away. I responded that
our understanding is that Thaksin is resigned to not serve as
PM again, but he doesn\’t want to announce this for tactical
reasons: both to help his Thai Rak Thai party at the polls in
the next election and also to keep his options open should
new, unforeseen developments offer new opportunities for him.
Sonthi agreed that this uncertainty is what keeps the
political climate from improving. He also indicated in a
variety of ways that he does not approve of the Prime
Minister, particularly because Thaksin appears to be inclined
to not just stay on as PM, but to attack venerable
institutions respected by the military.
3. (C) I explained that policymakers in Washington are
concerned about the situation in Thailand, but have noted
that the military continues to conduct itself in a
professional manner, staying on the sidelines of this crisis,
and that this can largely be attributed to Sonthi himself.
Sonthi stated that there is no intention, whatsoever, for
military involvement in the current crisis. When asked about
continued gossip that Thaksin\’s military supporters from
pre-cadet school class 10–who now hold several important
commands–may agitate to support the PM, Sonthi coolly
responded, \”I\’ve got class 10 under control; they won\’t do
anything.\”
4. (C) Comment. As the local press ratchets up new rumors of
coup-plotting, it is useful to hear the Army chief state in
no uncertain terms that the military is not planning on
coming off of the bench. We take him at face value; that
said, one can never completely rule out the potential for
military intervention in Thailand.
BOYCE
“
