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C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 02 BANGKOK 006030 
 
SIPDIS 
 
SIPDIS 
 
DEPT FOR P, EAP, EAP/MLS 
NSC FOR WILDER, MORROW 
 
E.O. 12958: DECL: 10/02/2016 
TAGS: PGOV PREL TH
SUBJECT: THAILAND:  NEW PRIME MINISTER SURAYUD TELLS 
AMBASSADOR HE WILL LIFT MARTIAL LAW SOON AND PROTECT CIVIL 
LIBERTIES IN TRANSITION TO CIVILIAN GOVERNMENT 
 
Classified By: Ambassador Ralph L. Boyce.  Reason 1.4 (b and d) 
 
 ¶1.  (C)  Summary.  I called on Prime Minister Surayud 
Chulanont on October 2 to urge that his interim government 
operate independently of the military-led Council for 
National Security (CNS) and quickly take steps to protect 
civil liberties.  I underscored three points:  1) 
condemnation of the coup; 2) the importance of Surayud and 
his new Cabinet quickly demonstrating their independence from 
the CNS; and 3) our concern over a number of clauses in the 
interim Constitution that appear to curb civil liberties and 
give the CNS too much control.  Surayud acknowledged the need 
to demonstrate his Government's independence and said he was 
committed to a quick return to democratic norms, featuring 
elections for the next government.  He said that he himself 
had not welcomed the coup and stated that martial law would 
be lifted soon.  Following the meeting, I made a brief 
statement to the press stressing the importance of a speedy 
return to a democratically elected government and the 
protection of civil liberties during the interim.  End 
Summary. 
 
¶2.  (C)  I met with Prime Minister Surayud at Government 
House on October 2, less than 24 hours after he was appointed 
Prime Minister.  I expressed U.S. concern that the military 
coup leaders seemed to retain a significant influence over 
the new Thai government based on our preliminary reading of 
the just-promulgated interim Constitution.  I told the Prime 
Minister that his immediate actions in the coming days would 
be extremely important and I urged him, both in his actions 
and his statements, to assert his independence.  I showed him 
a Western press headline critical of the junta's suspension 
of civil liberties, noting that the international community 
was watching.   I also flatly reminded the Prime Minister 
that the USG did not welcome the coup.  Surayud immediately 
responded "neither did I."  Noting that we would be seeking 
clarification of the meaning of a number of clauses in the 
new Constitution in the coming days, I asked for an assurance 
that civil rights guaranteed under the former Constitution 
would be protected by the interim government.  At this point, 
Surayud turned to acting Foreign Minister Krit 
Garnjana-Goonchorn, who maintained that the Bill of Rights 
contained in the 1997 Constitution is incorporated by 
reference in the new Constitution (NOTE:  We are still 
studying this section of the new Constitution with Thai 
scholars and civil rights experts). 
 
¶3.  (C)  Surayud acknowledged the importance of quickly 
taking steps to show his independence and to enable a quick 
return to democracy.  He indicated that he will select a new 
Cabinet in the coming days and plans to submit a list of 
candidates to the King by the weekend of October 7.  He 
expects martial law to be lifted at roughly the same time. 
He told me that he is polling experts and professionals in a 
number of fields, soliciting their input for candidates for 
the new interim parliament and the assembly that will draft 
the new Constitution.  Surayud indicated that he will press 
the CNS to accept these candidates. 
 
¶4.  (C)  I reminded Surayud that his appointment was being 
interpreted in two ways.  Some believe that, by appointing a 
man they respect and trust, the CNS can hand over the reins 
of power to his government with confidence.  However, critics 
contend that -- given the Prime Minister's military 
background and the Constitutional power given to the CNS -- 
Surayud will have limited freedom of action.  I brought up 
his track record of advocating an apolitical military and 
offered that he now has an opportunity to put those beliefs 
into practice. 
 
¶5.  (C)  I told Surayud that I planned to make brief remarks 
to the press gathered outside after our meeting to emphasize 
America's desire for a speedy return to democratically 
 
BANGKOK 00006030  002 OF 002 
 
 
elected government and the protection of civil liberties 
during the interim.  I said that I wanted to tell the media 
that the Prime Minister had assured me that this would be the 
case.  Surayud gave me that assurance, and accompanied me 
during the press encounter (Points made during that encounter 
below.) 
 
COMMENT 
 
¶6.  (C)  The new Prime Minister has no misperceptions about 
our desire for a quick return to democracy in Thailand.  I 
emphasized that Washington will be looking closely at his 
actions and public statements in the coming days for 
indications of his independence and commitment to protecting 
civil liberties.  We will have a chance later this week to 
assess whether progress is being by looking at the makeup of 
his Cabinet.  END COMMENT. 
 
PRESS REMARKS 
 
¶7.  (SBU)  I made the following points during my remarks to 
the press: 
 
--Since I am leaving tomorrow on a previously scheduled trip 
to Washington, I met today with the new Prime Minister. 
 
--We had a good discussion. 
 
--As is well known, the United States urges a speedy return 
to democratically elected government and protection of civil 
liberties during the interim. 
 
--The Prime Minister assured me this would be the case. 
BOYCE