VZCZCXRO6896
OO RUEHCHI RUEHCN RUEHDT RUEHHM
DE RUEHBK #0340/01 0320805
ZNY CCCCC ZZH
O 010805Z FEB 08
FM AMEMBASSY BANGKOK
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC IMMEDIATE 1665
INFO RUEHZS/ASSOCIATION OF SOUTHEAST ASIAN NATIONS
RUEHBY/AMEMBASSY CANBERRA 8275
RUEHWL/AMEMBASSY WELLINGTON 2148
RUEHLO/AMEMBASSY LONDON 1601
RUEHBJ/AMEMBASSY BEIJING 5496
RUEHUL/AMEMBASSY SEOUL 4216
RUEHCHI/AMCONSUL CHIANG MAI 4735
RHHMUNA/CDR USPACOM HONOLULU HI
RHEFDIA/DIA WASHDC
RHHMUNA/HQ USPACOM HONOLULU HI
RHEHNSC/NSC WASHDC
RHFJSCC/COMMARFORPAC
RUEAIIA/CIA WASHINGTON DC
RUEKJCS/SECDEF WASHINGTON DC

C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 03 BANGKOK 000340 
 
SIPDIS 
 
SIPDIS 
 
NSC FOR PHU 
 
E.O. 12958: DECL: 02/01/2018 
TAGS: PREL PGOV PINR PHUM SNAR KDEM KJUS TH BM
SUBJECT: AMBASSADOR AND PRIME MINISTER SAMAK DISCUSS 
DEMOCRACY, BURMA, DRUGS 
 
REF: BANGKOK 276 (BIO OF SAMAK) 
 
BANGKOK 00000340  001.2 OF 003 
 
 
Classified By: Ambassador Eric G. John, reason: 1.4 (b) and (d). 
 
SUMMARY 
------- 
 
¶1. (C) The Ambassador called on Prime Minister Samak 
Sundaravej at his residence on February 1 and welcomed the 
return of a democratically-elected government to Thailand. 
Samak explained his decision to serve concurrently as 
Minister of Defense and confirmed reports of his intended 
appointments to top Foreign Ministry positions.  The 
Ambassador urged Samak to make constructive public statements 
on the political situation in Burma; Samak said he would 
favor "soft pressure" on Burma and unofficially advocated 
multilateral talks with the Burmese junta.  The Ambassador 
said he hoped to work cooperatively with the RTG on 
counternarcotics, but stressed that the RTG must not return 
to heavy-handed Thaksin-era methods, especially extrajudicial 
killings.  Samak said the authorities were not responsible 
for most Thaksin-era drug-related extrajudicial killings, but 
he acknowledged those deaths had caused problems for then-PM 
Thaksin.  Samak discussed plans to expand mass transportation 
in the greater Bangkok area.  Samak was welcoming and 
promised the Ambassador he stood ready to assist with any USG 
concerns; he also said he would be delighted to welcome 
President Bush to visit Thailand this year.  End Summary. 
 
CONGRATULATIONS ON ELECTIONS 
---------------------------- 
 
¶2. (C) The Ambassador, accompanied by the DCM and Poloff 
(notetaker), called on Prime Minister Samak Sundaravej at his 
residence on February 1.  (Note: Samak has received royal 
endorsement as Prime Minister but has not yet been sworn in. 
End Note.)  The Ambassador opened the meeting by 
congratulating Samak on his election as Prime Minister and 
welcoming the return of a democratically elected government. 
Samak -- who was unaccompanied at this meeting -- said he 
looked forward to a return to normalcy in Thai politics and a 
healing of the wounds that had arisen from political 
divisions. 
 
GOOD RELATIONS WITH A DIVIDED MILITARY 
-------------------------------------- 
 
¶3. (C) Samak explained that he would concurrently hold the 
position of Minister of Defense.  The military was currently 
divided, he said, and appointing a military officer as 
Defense Minister would inevitably exacerbate rivalries within 
the Army.  Samak said he expected to remain on good terms 
with leading military officers, and he twice praised Army 
Commander Anupong Paojinda as "good."  The Ambassador 
explained the USG looked forward to ending restrictions on 
military assistance to Thailand after Samak's inauguration; 
he anticipated numerous high-level visitors throughout the 
year, such as Pacific Commander Admiral Keating, due to 
arrive in late February.  Samak welcomed the prospect of 
high-level visits and spoke gratefully of the long U.S.-Thai 
military relationship.  Samak cited King Rama IV's offer to 
provide elephants to assist the North in the U.S. civil war, 
as well as Thailand's return in November 2007 of the former 
USS Landing Craft Support 102 for exhibit in a San Francisco 
museum. 
 
HOPES TO WELCOME PRESIDENT BUSH 
------------------------------- 
 
¶4. (C) During discussion of U.S.-Thai relations, Samak 
observed that, in one of his terms as Deputy Prime Minister, 
he had occasion to be involved in a visit from then-President 
Clinton.  Samak said he would be delighted to welcome 
President Bush to Thailand this year. 
 
 
BANGKOK 00000340  002.2 OF 003 
 
 
BURMA 
----- 
 
¶5. (C) Samak raised USG concerns about the situation in 
Burma.  After reviewing contemporary Burmese history, Samak 
praised the framework for six-party talks on North Korea, and 
-- stressing this was his personal view rather than an 
official position -- he suggested similar modalities for 
dealing with Burma, including the nations with meaningful 
ties to Burma.  (He specifically cited Thailand, Singapore, 
Japan, China, and India.)  Samak said he supported "soft 
pressure" that would convey to the Burmese the need "to live 
with the rest of the world."  He suggested Thailand would 
make a good venue for dialogue with the Burmese.  Samak noted 
Thailand had extensive cross-border trade with Burma and 
provided sanctuary to approximately one million Burmese 
seeking employment. 
 
¶6. (C) The Ambassador emphasized that President Bush was 
personally concerned with the situation in Burma and would 
take positive note of any public statements Samak might make 
on the need to democracy there.  The Ambassador urged Samak 
to speak out on Burma, saying that, as one who had helped 
bring a democratically-elected government into power after a 
military coup, Samak was well positioned to convey the 
importance of elections and democracy to the Burmese junta. 
 
DRUGS 
----- 
 
¶7. (C) The Ambassador noted that counternarcotics issues had 
been high on Samak's People's Power Party agenda.  Citing 
widespread concerns about extrajudicial killings during the 
Thaksin era's "war on drugs," the Ambassador said the USG 
looked forward to supporting RTG efforts that would enable 
counternarcotics efforts within Thailand's legal framework. 
Samak decried the effects of illegal narcotics on Thai 
society and said he understood the international drug trade 
in Southeast Asia also had an impact on U.S. cities.  Samak 
praised the effectiveness of crop substitution programs, 
which he said made rural farmers wealthier than they would be 
if they grew opium. 
 
¶8. (C) Addressing the Ambassador's concern about drug-related 
extrajudicial killings, Samak said that a recent 
investigation had shown police involvement in under 60 of the 
approximately 2,500 people who died during the Thaksin-era 
"war on drugs."  (Note: A recent report by a committee 
appointed by outgoing PM Surayud Chulanont found that, in 
early 2003, 54 of 2,559 deaths relating to the "war on drugs" 
entailed the deaths of suspects during their arrest by 
police.  End Note.)  In those few dozen instances, Samak 
said, the proper thing to do was to allow the courts to 
handle the cases.  The vast majority of drug-related killings 
resulted from top figures in criminal syndicates trying to 
eliminate others who could implicate them, Samak asserted. 
He acknowledged that the violence had caused problems for 
then-PM Thaksin, but he stressed that King Bhumibol had 
supported the "war on drugs," which saved many lives from the 
damaging effects of illegal narcotics.  The Ambassador 
stressed that the RTG could combat the drug trade without 
extrajudicial killings.  Indeed, EJKs would constrict or 
prevent our ability to cooperate on drugs and to share 
related intelligence, as had happened in 2003. 
 
ECONOMY 
------- 
 
¶9. (C) Noting that the foreign investment community would be 
watching closely, the Ambassador asked Samak how he planned 
to revitalize the Thai economy.  Samak said that on economic 
matters, as on other issues, the Ambassador should feel free 
to bring concerns to his attention, and his administration 
would be highly responsive.  Samak then spoke at length about 
plans to expand mass transit in the greater Bangkok area, 
 
BANGKOK 00000340  003.2 OF 003 
 
 
through expansion of Bangkok's subway and train systems, to 
enable factories in the city to relocate to outer areas. 
Samak said he would publicize this proposal when first 
announcing his administration's policies. 
 
FOREIGN AFFAIRS TEAM 
-------------------- 
 
¶10. (C) The Ambassador inquired about Samak's nominee for the 
position of Foreign Minister.   Samak confirmed press reports 
that Noppadol Pattama, one of deposed PM Thaksin's leading 
lawyers, would receive the position, with former diplomat 
Jakrapob Penkair serving under him as Deputy FM.  Samak 
mentioned as an aside that new rules under the 2007 
Constitution prohibiting conflicts of interest made many 
people less interested in serving in the cabinet.  Cabinet 
nominees had to pass vetting on 28 separate points, Samak 
claimed. 
 
COMMENT 
------- 
 
¶11. (C) Although at times going off on lengthy tangents, 
Samak was welcoming and expressed an eagerness to work 
cooperatively with the USG -- "Anything you want, we'll 
help," he said.  He clearly has his own view on the situation 
in Burma, however, and it is unclear whether he will adopt a 
helpful policy.  We have noted some in Samak's party favor a 
revitalized counternarcotics campaign, and the Ambassador 
clearly conveyed that any such effort should adhere to the 
rule of law.  End Comment. 
 
BIOGRAPHIC NOTES 
---------------- 
 
¶12. (C) Citing his experience decades ago as a student in 
Chicago, Samak spoke warmly of the United States, 
specifically praising the opportunities for both work and 
study that were available in America.  He said the U.S. 
provided an excellent example for others, and many Thais who 
had been exposed to the U.S. adopted American ways of 
thinking.  He praised the American promotion of equality and 
harmonious relationships between diverse ethnic groups in the 
U.S.  He showed in conversation that he closely followed the 
ongoing presidential primaries in the U.S.  He also said he 
was familiar with the USG's condolence message on the 
occasion of the death of former Indonesian President Suharto, 
and he felt the USG had struck the right note by 
acknowledging Suharto's accomplishments and not dwelling on 
allegations of corruption. 
JOHN