This record is a partial extract of the original cable. The full text of the original cable is not available.

271014Z Feb 06

UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 02 CHIANG MAI 000041 
 
SIPDIS 
 
E.O. 12958: N/A 
TAGS: PGOV TH
SUBJECT: NORTHERN THAIS TURN OUT FOR THAKSIN 
 
REF: Chiang Mai 35 and Bangkok septels 
 
CHIANG MAI 00000041  001.2 OF 002 
 
 
¶1. Summary:  As hostility to Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra in Bangkok swelled and burst its banks during the past weeks, 
northern Thailand remained Thaksin territory.   Chiang Mai 
authorities staged a "cheer Thaksin" rally Sunday evening as a counterpoint to the opposition's anti-Thaksin protest in 
Bangkok.   End summary 
 
¶2. A combination of populist policies and favorite son pride ensure Prime Minister Thaksin's popularity in the predominantly rural North, helped along by a network of family and political connections wielding power and money.  The small opposition consists mainly of academics and NGOs, several of whom have expressed safety concerns about seeking support beyond campus boundaries. 
 
¶3. There is little doubt that Thai Rak Thai's (TRT) populist policies remain potent among the north's primarily rural population.  Combined with the Prime Minister's local boy appeal and home town largesse, these poverty reduction promises carried the election for TRT in every northern province last February. 
 
¶4. Equally important are the family and political networks that under gird Thaksin's already strong position in the Chiang Mai area, where the Shinawatras play the Sino-Thai newcomer role against the old-money Nimmanahaeminda family and the old-rank na 
Chiengmai clan.   Sister Yaowapha Wongsawat and brother Payap 
Shinawatra represent local constituencies in Parliament, with Yaowapha also serving as deputy TRT leader. 
 
CHEERS FOR THAKSIN 
 
¶5. Thaksin can count on backing from other Sino-Thai families as well, including that of Mayor Boonlert Buranupakorn and his 
brother Pakorn, a TRT parliamentarian.   Both  appeared at 
Sunday's counter-protest rally at the provincial "700-Year Stadium", where the Mayor announced that attendance reached 
50,000.   Less partisan observers put the crowd at under 20,000, 
far short of the 100,000 that a local district officer told the Consulate officials were aiming for. 
 
¶6. Sister Yaowapha led the cheers at the stadium, joined by Minister of Labor Somsak Thepsuthin, Minister of Natural Resources and Environment  Yongyut Tiyapairat, Deputy Finance Minister Warathep Ratanakorn, MP Laddawan Wongsriwong and the Buranupakorn brothers.  Other MPs from Chiang Mai joined in to praise Thaksin's achievements, call for a third term, and charge Democrat party leader Abhisit Vejjajiva, "Manager" boss Sondhi Limthongkul and former Phalang Dharma party leader Chamlong Srimuang with failing play by constitutional rules. 
 
¶7. Local officials mobilized participants to the rally via community networks, free transport, and per capita payments of 
100-300 baht.   Thaksin's failure to come to Chiang Mai as 
originally expected reduced pressure on canvassers to produce a huge turnout and brought the rally to an early end around 7 pm. 
 
¶8. In case anyone doubted local loyalties, anonymous banners strung all over Chiang Mai claim that "Northern people support Thaksin to be PM forever" and "PM Thaksin is good and honest". 
Painted on white cloth in northern dialect, the ubiquitous banners are widely believed to have been financed by the Mayor's brother, TRT MP Pakorn. 
 
APATHY FOR THE OPPOSITION 
 
¶9.  The only visible opposition to Thaksin during the weekend took place at Chiang Mai University (CMU), where student groups staged a campus rally February 24 and held a forum on university 
grounds Sunday during the Bangkok Sanam Luang protest.   The 
Sunday program drew about 500, with fewer than 200 turning out on Friday evening.  The officially recognized CMU Student Union has remained quiet, despite earlier coordinating efforts by the Bangkok-based Students' Federation of Thailand. 
 
¶10.  A local NGO leader expressed disappointment at the political apathy among CMU staff members, even from the Social Sciences Faculty that played a role in the anti-Suchinda campaign in 1992.  While a number of business, grassroots, and local media groups grumble bitterly about widespread cronyism and nepotism on the PM's home ground and express concern about the adverse effects of the government's populist policy, most have shied away from overt opposition.  Pressure from the authorities combined with fears of physical threat and tax intimidation are frequently cited as reasons for the lack of 
public protest.   Somewhat more anti-Thaksin sentiment was 
visible in Phitsanulok, Phichit and Tak, three provinces with 
constituencies less dominated by the Thai Rak Thai party.    An 
estimated 5,000 protesters attended a weekend rally in Pichit and a smaller number in Tak. 
 
¶11. Comment:   Although Thaksin's policies are genuinely popular 
in most of northern Thailand, officials nevertheless went to some effort to give the embattled Prime Minister a lifeline from 
 
CHIANG MAI 00000041  002.2 OF 002 
 
 
his home town.   A bit of intimidation towards the opposition 
and a few incentives for followers helped bolster underlying support.  As long as there is plenty of money to spread around - whether for poverty reduction schemes, local projects, or your basic cash-on-the barrel - the northern region is likely to stay in Thaksin's camp. 
CAMP