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Viewing cable 06BANGKOK1302, THE THAI ARMY COMES TO DINNER

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Reference ID Created Released Classification Origin
06BANGKOK1302 2006-03-02 11:34 2011-08-30 01:44 CONFIDENTIAL Embassy Bangkok
This record is a partial extract of the original cable. The full text of the original cable is not available.
C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 02 BANGKOK 001302 
 
SIPDIS 
 
SIPDIS 
 
PACOM FOR FPA HUSO 
 
E.O. 12958: DECL: 03/02/2016 
TAGS: ASEC PGOV PREL MARR TH TRT SNAP
SUBJECT: THE THAI ARMY COMES TO DINNER 
 
REF: BANGKOK 1214 
 
Classified By: Ambassador Ralph L. Boyce.  Reason 1.4 (a and d) 
 
 1.  (C)  Summary.  During a March 2 dinner hosted by the 
Ambassador, Royal Thai Army (RTA) CINC, GEN Sonthi 
Boonyaratglin and his senior staff appeared relaxed and gave 
no indication that the Army plans to involve itself in the 
ongoing political crisis.  Sonthi told the Ambassador that he 
had recently urged PM Thaksin Shinawatra to show restraint, 
make concessions to his critics, and avoid antagonizing 
opponents in order to defuse tensions but seemed skeptical 
that Thaksin would do so.  Sonthi believes that the present 
situation is much different than that of 1992, the last time 
the Army intervened in Thai politics, and suggested that the 
only way the Army would intervene would be to protect the 
monarchy and restore order.  Although Sonthi and his senior 
staff officers were surprisingly candid in telling Embassy 
officials about their dissatisfaction with Thaksin's 
leadership -- to the point of making jokes at his expense -- 
they took pains to demonstrate their intention to remain on 
the sidelines.  Sonthi hopes that anti-Thaksin rallies 
continue to remain peaceful but acknowledged that his biggest 
worry is that they will not.  END SUMMARY. 
 
SONTHI ASKS THE PM TO SHOW RESTRAINT 
 
2.  (C)  On March 2, the Ambassador hosted RTA CINC Sonthi 
and seven senior RTA officers to dinner at the residence.  In 
a pull-aside before dinner, Sonthi briefed the Ambassador on 
his February 28 meeting with PM Thaksin.  Sonthi said that, 
contrary to press reports claiming he had urged to PM to step 
down, he had simply urged Thaksin to back away from 
confrontation, show a willingness to make concessions, and 
generally take the high road when commenting on the political 
situation.  He was quick to note, however, that given the 
PM's personality, it was unlikely Thaksin would heed such 
advice. 
 
THIS IS NOT 1992 
 
3.  (C)  Sonthi believes that the current crisis differs 
significantly from 1992 -- when segments of the RTA fired on 
protesters opposing General Suchinda Krayprayoon's assumption 
of the Prime Ministry.  In 1992, Sonthi explained, the RTA 
had a vested interest in Suchinda remaining in power.  Today, 
the RTA has no similar stake for or against Thaksin.  Sonthi 
said that his biggest concern was that an unforeseen act 
might cause one of the protests to become violent.  He 
underscored the need to be on the watch for agitators who 
might try to provoke violence.  Sonthi indicated that the 
only circumstance under which the RTA would intervene would 
be to protect the monarchy. 
 
WHAT ABOUT SURAYUD? 
 
4.  (C)  Sonthi is a protege of retired Army Commander and 
current Privy Councilor General Surayud Chulanont.  Sonthi 
told the Ambassador that Surayud is uncomfortable with press 
speculation that he might be appointed as an interim Prime 
Minister should Thaksin step down.  Nonetheless, Sonthi was 
keenly interested in hearing about the Ambassador's February 
28 meeting with Surayud and asked whether the Ambassador's 
impression of Surayud corresponded with his own (reftel). 
 
NOT CRITICAL OF CHAMLONG 
 
5.  (C)  The Ambassador invited Sonthi to comment on the new 
dynamic presented by the involvement of retired GEN Chamlong 
Srimuang in the anti-Thaksin rallies.  Sonthi refrained from 
endorsing or criticizing Chamlong's role in the protests. 
 
ARMY SUPPORT FOR THAKSIN NOTICEABLY LUKEWARM 
 
6.  (C) Sonthi and his staff appeared very relaxed throughout 
the evening.  The officers freely expressed their opinions 
about the political situation and some even made jokes at 
Thaksin's expense.  GEN Chirapong Vanarat, Chief of Staff for 
GEN Sonthi's inner office, went so far as to predict that 
Thaksin would have to step down within the next three days. 
That said, these same officers gave numerous examples of 
steps they were taking to avoid giving any impression that 
the military intends to intervene.  Overall, we were struck 
by how tepid the senior Army leadership's support for Thaksin 
seemed to be. 
 
MOLES IN OUR MIDST? 
 
7.  (C)  Interestingly, the only wall flower during dinner 
was Assistant Chief of Staff for Intelligence LTG Chatchai 
Thavaraputta.  His reticence was probably due to his having 
been an Armed Forces Prep School classmate of Thaksin's.  In 
Thailand, police and military officer candidates attend prep 
school together for two years prior to moving on to their 
respective service academy.  Members of the same class meet 
annually and form close bonds.  An officer is frequently more 
loyal to his prep school classmates than he is to any other 
group.  Thaksin has been criticized by many within the RTA 
for promoting his classmates, graduates of Prep School Class 
10, ahead of more senior officers.  During dinner, GEN 
Chirapong laughingly said within earshot of LTG Chatchai that 
the only reason Chatchai was present was to watch the others. 
 
8.  (C)  Officers at post had been concerned that the last 
minute addition to the Thai delegation of MAJ Saravudh 
Shinawatra, nephew of the Prime Minister, might inhibit 
conversation.  However, Saravudh and the other aides waited 
outside the dining room throughout dinner.  Several of the 
aides spoke openly with PolOff while the senior officers 
dined in the residence.  Whenever Saravudh would approach, 
however, the other aides would stop talking about the crisis 
and turn the conversation to something more innocuous. 
Saravudh otherwise spent most of dinner on a cell phone 
talking with two of his girlfriends. 
 
COMMENT 
 
9.  (C)  Sonthi gave every appearance of being a measured 
professional who is committed to keeping the Army on the 
sidelines of the unfolding political situation.  We also 
believe that he and his senior staff have a good grip on the 
Army rank-and-file. 
BOYCE