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O 020600Z AUG 07
FM AMEMBASSY MANILA
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC IMMEDIATE 7692
INFO RUCNARF/ASEAN REGIONAL FORUM COLLECTIVE IMMEDIATE

C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 02 MANILA 002602 
 
SIPDIS 
 
SIPDIS 
 
STATE FOR D, AND EAP 
 
E.O. 12958: DECL: 08/08/2027 
TAGS: ETRD MY PREL RP TH ASEAN EXBS
SUBJECT: DEPUTY SECRETARY NEGROPONTE MEETING WITH THAI FM 
NITYA PIBULSONGGRAM 
 
Classified By: Deputy Secretary Negroponte, reasons 1.4 c, d 
 
¶1. (C) SUMMARY: Deputy Secretary Negroponte encouraged 
Thailand to return to democracy by holding national elections 
by the end of 2007 as intended, during an August 1 meeting 
with Thai Foreign Affairs Minister Nitya Pibulsonggram on in 
Manila, site of this year's ASEAN Regional Forum (ARF). 
Nitya confirmed elections will be held December 16 and 
described the civil unrest in the South.  End Summary. 
 
ON A CONSISTENT PATH BUT WITH SOME SETBACKS 
------------------------------------------- 
 
¶2.  (C) The Deputy Secretary stated that the U.S. is 
concerned about Thailand's return to democracy.  Foreign 
Minister Nitya Pibulsongram reported that his administration 
is "on track" and moving steadily towards holding national 
elections on December 16.  He regretted that the government 
would not be able to meet the initial deadline of November 25 
due to technical difficulties with establishing enabling 
legislation.  FM Nitya repeatedly mentioned government 
attempts to restore democracy, and the setbacks encountered, 
but averred that the Thai authorities "always come back" with 
a steadfast resolve to ensure democratic governance. 
 
NOT ALL COUPS ARE THE SAME 
-------------------------- 
 
¶3.  (C) Deputy Secretary Negroponte underscored the need for 
rule of law, and inquired about treatment of Thai citizens in 
the period following the coup.  FM Nitya responded that they 
are treated as well or even better now.  The coup was a very 
unique "intervention," with no bloodshed, no bullets and no 
political prisoners.  Since the coup, the Thai administration 
had spent 8 months compiling evidence against those who moved 
against the previous administration.  He noted that there are 
55 cases pending and currently being processed through a 
Counter-corruption Committee.  FM Nitya asserted that there 
will be criminal indictments of those found guilty of 
misdemeanors.  Nitya stated that the Thaksin administration 
would have been very damaging to the nation's interest had 
they continued for five more years.  He alluded to massive 
electoral fraud within Thaksin's party.  Nitya also indicated 
that the current administration has made a lot of progress to 
organize the forthcoming elections, and that a few parties 
have been abolished.  He stated that the Thai military have 
behaved "impeccably," passing on the baton to the civilian 
administration in the immediate aftermath of the coup, and 
that General Sirayudh's membership on the Privy Council 
confirms the military's tactics as being above board. 
However, they are facing difficult decisions on how to 
establish the rule of law and constitution with safeguards, 
and how to prevent abuses of such safeguards.  Nitya 
suggested that international diplomatic circles should not 
jump to conclusions about Thailand's situation and that 
nothing is in black and white.  He said August 19th would be 
a difficult day, when a national referendum for a new 
constitution-- expected to pass-- would be held.  This was 
Thailand's first experience with such a process.  Nitya 
speculated that 50 percent turnout would be an optimistic 
scenario and noted his concern about the legitimacy of the 
new constitution.  The Deputy Secretary inquired if there 
would be an educational campaign that informs the public 
about the forthcoming referendum.  Nitya responded that there 
is a huge effort reaching out to provinces. 
 
THE TROUBLED SOUTH 
------------------ 
 
¶5.  (C) Nitya insisted that there is no Al-Qaeda presence in 
the South.  They are in communication with the Organization 
of Islamic Conference (OIC) and have communicated to the Arab 
world about the administration's attempts to ensure peace and 
security in Southern Thailand.  He alluded to extrajudicial 
actions of Thaksin's regime, exacerbated by the "religious 
dimension."  He brought up the issue that 30 percent of the 
workforce in the jewelry industry is from the South and that 
they would be disadvantaged now that the U.S. had taken away 
the Generalized System of Preferences (GSP) status of gold 
jewelry from Thailand.  The U.S. delegation responded that 
the GSP decision was because of Thailand's major strides made 
in becoming globally competitive in this industry.  Nitya 
mentioned good progress in cultivating relations with 
Malaysia, which has a key role in the situation in the South. 
 He indicated that Thaksin's administration had created a 
rift by alienating the Malaysian Government but that his 
government has now repaired much of the damage.  The Prime 
Ministers of both countries met earlier this year, and tasked 
their respective Foreign Ministers to resolve the issues in 
Southern Thailand.  Nitya described their strategy as three 
 
MANILA 00002602  002 OF 002 
 
 
"E"s:  Education, Employment and Entrepreneurship to enhance 
competitiveness and investment opportunities for the region. 
FM Nitya mentioned that Thailand has excellent relations with 
Bahrain and the United Arab Emirates (UAE).  Finally, he 
raised the issue of propaganda abroad that criticizes Thai 
government management of the situation in the South, 
referring to an organization based in Stockholm called 
Pattani United Liberation Organization (PULO). 
 
¶6.  (C) FM Nitya expressed hope that at upcoming APEC 
meetings President Bush would meet with Thailand's Prime 
Minister, whom he referred to as "a professional soldier and 
a very upright individual."  The Deputy Secretary and Foreign 
Minister referred to the long years of friendship between the 
two nations, as well as the historical ties, and said that 
they would maintain efforts to keep communication lines open. 
 
¶7. (U) August 1, 2007; 1640-1710; Manila, Philippines 
 
¶8. (U) Meeting Participants: 
 
Thailand 
 
Foreign Minister Nitya Pibulsonggram 
Norachit Sinhaseni, Deputy Permanent Secretary, MFA 
Nongnuth Phetcharatana, DG, Department of American 
and South Pacific Affairs, MFA 
Piriya Khempol, Deputy Director-General, Department 
of Information, MFA 
Arthayudh Srisamoot, Deputy Director-General, 
Department of ASEAN Affairs, MFA 
Nopporn Adchariyavanich, Director, Department of 
ASEAN Affairs, MFA 
 
U.S. 
 
Deputy Secretary John Negroponte 
Kaye Lee, Special Assistant to the Deputy Secretary of State 
Ted Wittenstein, Assistant to the Deputy Secretary of State 
Aye Aye Thwin, Notetaker 
Adam Scarlatelli, Notetaker 
KENNEY