VZCZCXRO3663
RR RUEHCHI RUEHCN RUEHDT RUEHHM
DE RUEHBK #1362 1230526
ZNR UUUUU ZZH
R 020526Z MAY 08
FM AMEMBASSY BANGKOK
TO RUEHCHI/AMCONSUL CHIANG MAI 5201
RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC 2908
INFO RUEHZS/ASSOCIATION OF SOUTHEAST ASIAN NATIONS

UNCLAS BANGKOK 001362 
 
SIPDIS 
 
DEPT PLEASE PASS EAP/PD, EAP/MLS, IIP/G/EAP 
 
SIPDIS 
 
E.O. 12958: N/A 
TAGS: OIIP SCUL KPAO TH
SUBJECT:  Request for Speaker on U.S. Elections 2008 
 
¶1.   PROGRAM DESCRIPTION: Post requests IIP support and assistance 
to recruit a U.S. speaker for an FY2008 Speaker Program on Elections 
¶2008.  Post will program the U.S. speaker for five (5) days in 
Bangkok and outlying provinces in the North, South and Northeast. 
Post seeks a speaker who can provide a journalistic perspective on 
the 2008 U.S. elections.  Topics of interest would include media 
ethics in covering the election campaign and candidates; the impact 
that the media has on public perception of candidates; and the 
effect of new media and technology on the electoral process, 
including how it has shaped campaigning and fund raising by 
candidates.  The speaker also must be able to discuss platform 
issues that resonate most with U.S. voters and to explain basic 
elements of the U.S. electoral system (i.e. delegates, Electoral 
College, balloting, vote counting, and campaign finance.)  A senior 
political correspondent or other senior correspondent versed in 
coverage of U.S. elections would be ideal. 
 
¶2.   TIMEFRAME: Post proposes September 22-26, 2008 as tentative 
program dates. 
 
¶3.   PROGRAM PURPOSE:  To increase awareness, interest and 
understanding among local media, students, academics, think-tanks, 
and civil society on issues related to the 2008 U.S. Presidential 
Elections with a special focus on the role of the media.  This 
program will further advance the Mission Strategic Plan goals of 
Governing Justly and Democratically and Promoting International 
Understanding. 
 
Proposed Program details: 
 
(a) Conduct round-table discussions with local media and civil 
society activists on the 2008 U.S. elections and the importance of a 
free and transparent media in the democratic process. 
 
(b) Participate in one-on-one interviews with local Thai media on 
the 2008 U.S. elections. 
 
(c) Speak to groups of local media, university students, academics, 
think-tanks, and civil society activists on the 2008 U.S. elections 
in general, including possible implications of a new administration 
on foreign policy, particularly security and trade. 
 
¶4.   AUDIENCE:  Local media, academics, students, think-tanks, and 
civil society in Thailand. 
 
¶5.   LANGUAGE:  English.  Post will arrange for Thai-English 
interpretation as needed. 
 
¶6.   OTHER MATERIALS REQUESTED:  Post requests IIP assistance in 
obtaining relevant documents from the speaker for the information 
packet Post will prepare and distribute.  We appreciate your 
assistance in obtaining this information at least six weeks in 
advance of program for translation into Thai. 
 
¶7.  PROGRAM OFFICER: 
 
Assistant Information Officer Cynthia A. Brown 
Telephone: 66-2-205-4415 
Fax: 66-2-650-8919 
E-Mail: brownca@state.gov 
 
Information Specialist Subhabhong Rarueysong 
Telephone: 66-2-205-441566-2-205-4388 
Fax: 66-2-650-8919 
E-Mail: subhabhong@state.gov 
 
¶8.   FUNDING:  All standard U.S. Speaker funding to be provided by 
IIP through I-bucks. 
 
¶9.   COMMENT:  Post requests this program be funded through I-bucks 
in order to leverage the unique opportunity presented by the 2008 
presidential elections to promote better understanding on the role 
in a free press in the democratic process, which is of particular 
importance as Thailand only recently returned to a 
democratically-elected government in February 2008. 
 
 
JOHN