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FM AMCONSUL CHIANG MAI
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC PRIORITY 0263
INFO RUEHBK/AMEMBASSY BANGKOK PRIORITY 0536
RUCNASE/ASEAN MEMBER COLLECTIVE
RUEHCHI/AMCONSUL CHIANG MAI PRIORITY 0299

C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 02 CHIANG MAI 000144 
 
SIPDIS 
 
SIPDIS 
 
E.O. 12958: DECL:  9/1/2016 
TAGS: PGOV TH
SUBJECT: THAKSIN TERRITORY IS NO PLACE FOR A PROTEST 
 
REF: A. A)  CHIANG MAI 41 (NORTHERN THAIS TURN OUT FOR THAKSIN) 
     ¶B. B) CHIANG MAI 60 (ATTACK ON DEMOCRAT PARTY RALLY IN CHIANG MAI ESCALATES VIOLENCE) 
 
CHIANG MAI 00000144  001.2 OF 002 
 
 
CLASSIFIED BY: BEA CAMP, CONSUL GENERAL, CHIANG MAI, STATE. 
REASON: 1.4 (d) 
 
¶1.  (C ) Summary:    A tiny group of protestors at Prime 
Minister Thaksin's arrival in Chiang Mai on August 14 provoked 
major anger and retaliation from local pro-Thaksin political 
figures, who countered the embarrassment of even modest 
opposition in the Prime Minister's home town with posters 
threatening local activists.   This disproportionate response 
echoed an attack on a Democrat party rally in Chiang Mai last 
March (ref b ) and demonstrated both local political muscle and 
an effort to "please the boss" by Thaksin's  political 
supporters in Chiang Mai.  End summary 
 
¶2. (C ) Reportedly angered by an unexpected group of some 15 
protestors who showed up at the Chiang Mai airport before the 
Prime Minister's arrival on August 14, local politicians and 
Thai Rak Thai (TRT) members mobilized a rally on August 16 where 
they distributed thousands of small posters threatening eight 
local activists.  The protest at the airport also upset key 
provincial officials, especially Governor Suwat Tantipat and and 
Police Chief Maj.Gen.Jirut Phrommobol, who reportedly took heat 
from Thaksin's sister, former MP Yaowapha Wongsawat, for failing 
to forestall this embarrassment. 
 
LICENSE TO SHUN 
------------------------ 
 
¶3. (SBU) Printed on 13 x 16 paper with mug shots of the eight 
targeted individuals arrayed at the bottom, the mini-posters 
from the rally were also distributed in the market and in 
outlying districts.    The text urged Chiang Mai citizens to 
"drive out those with bad intentions who are dangerous to Chiang 
Mai people", accused the eight of "daring to criticize policies 
that support the poor" and stated that no one should "talk to, 
welcome, contact or trade with" them. 
 
¶4.  (SBU)  The group of eight "dangerous" individuals reported 
the threatening posters to the police and requested an 
investigation of the person behind the threats. No results have 
been reported to date. 
 
¶5. (C) Although all eight individuals pictured on the posters 
have been critical of Thaksin's policies, only two have been 
directly involved in the anti-Thaksin activities of the 
Bangkok-based People's Alliance for Democracy (PAD):  Suriyan 
Thongnu-iad of the Federation of Northern Farmers and Bannaros 
Buaklee, a reporter with Manager newspaper.    The common 
characteristic of the others appears to be their opposition to 
large development projects associated with Thaksin, including 
the Chiang Mai Night Safari and proposals for an elephant park, 
a cable car to Doi Suthep, and a concrete flood wall along the 
river. 
 
¶6. (C ) The targeted group includes folk singer Suntharee 
Wechanon, a well-known Thaksin opponent who has been the target 
of previous intimidation tactics, including a grenade thrown at 
her Chiang Mai restaurant last March.  Others are Chiang Mai 
University Professor of Agriculture Dr. Chalermpol Samphet, Dr. 
Uthaiwan Kanjanakamon who is director of a community radio 
station, Chaiyapahn Prapasawas of the Community Rights 
Institute, Nikom Putta of the Wildlife Protection Foundation of 
Thailand and Subsawadi Sanitwong, a retired academic. 
 
CONFIDENCE IN POWER 
------------------------------ 
 
¶7. (C ) Dr. Duantemduang Na Chiengmai, an unsuccessful candidate 
on the Democrat Party ticket in the February 2005 election, laid 
blame for the posters on a TRT faction dominated by the 
politically and financially well-connected Buranapakorn family. 
 She described the TRT faction as unafraid to threaten or use 
violence, "very confident in their power" to control the police. 
 In the case of the August 16 rally and leaflets, she said that 
the TRT group wanted to demonstrate their sway and please the 
boss.   Both actions were intended to assure Thaksin that he 
still has the support of Chiang Mai locals. 
 
¶8. (C ) Duantemdueng predicted that the threatening leaflets 
would signal local people to keep their distance from groups 
opposed to TRT or Thaksin; she added that her efforts to get 
votes in the coming election would be tougher as a result. 
 
 
¶9. (C ) Uthaiwan, an NGO activist, dentist and former 
Fulbrighter who was targeted on the poster, agreed that the 
distribution was an effort by local TRT politicians to offset 
the anti-Thaksin activity at the airport and reports of the 
protest that received prominent play in the media.  He too 
singled out as leaders of this effort the Buranapakorn family, 
 
CHIANG MAI 00000144  002.2 OF 002 
 
 
primarily five brothers who hold elected positions as Mayor of 
Chiang Mai, a senator, a town mayor, a member of the Chiang Mai 
Municipal Council and a member of the now-dissolved parliament. 
 
WELCOME TO CHIANG MAI 
---------------------------------- 
 
¶10. (C ) This same group, particularly MP Pakorn Buranapakorn, 
was widely believed to be behind the attack on the Democrat 
rally in March.  One political activist told the Consulate that 
that attack was sparked by a comment from Thaksin suggesting the 
Democrats be given "a good welcome" in Chiang Mai.   In the 
aftermath of public shock over the incident, Governor Suwat and 
Police Maj. Gen. Jirut were reportedly reprimanded by a 
high-ranking government official for the violence, according to 
a source at Government House in Bangkok (ref b).   A month 
earlier, in February, Pakorn was also widely identified as the 
source behind anonymous banners strung around Chiang Mai 
proclaiming that "Northern people support Thaksin to be PM 
forever" and "PM Thaksin is good and honest" (ref a) 
 
¶11.  (C ) Comment:   Despite - or perhaps because of -- 
Thaksin's solid hold on Chiang Mai votes, the Prime Minister's 
inner circle was furious over the protest at the airport and 
resulting media reports.  With this enemies list, this group 
sought to please the boss, intimidate opponents, and demonstrate 
their own political muscle in this TRT stronghold.  Considering 
that most of the eight "dangerous" activists are likely unknown 
to Thaksin, the pols also took advantage of national turmoil to 
settle some local scores.  A further troubling aspect of this 
affair is the willingness of Thaksin's local henchmen to carry 
out what they perceive to be his bidding, opening the door to 
tactics that can be disavowed by Bangkok if things get out of 
hand. 
CAMP