VZCZCXRO8808
PP RUEHCN RUEHDT RUEHHM
DE RUEHCHI #0172/01 3200950
ZNR UUUUU ZZH
P R 160950Z NOV 09
FM AMCONSUL CHIANG MAI
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC PRIORITY 1209
INFO RUEHZS/ASSOCIATION OF SOUTHEAST ASIAN NATIONS
RUEHCHI/AMCONSUL CHIANG MAI 1300

UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 03 CHIANG MAI 000172 
 
SENSITIVE 
SIPDIS 
 
DEPARTMENT FOR EAP/MLS, EAP/EX, AND DS/IP 
 
E.O. 12958: N/A 
TAGS: PGOV PHUM PREL ASEC TH
SUBJECT: RED-SHIRTS CALL FOR U.S. TO BOYCOTT RTG 
 
REF: A. NOVEMBER 16, 2009 SPOT REPORT 
     ¶B. CHIANG MAI 106 (REDSHIRTS PROTEST AT CONSULATE) 
 
CHIANG MAI 00000172  001.2 OF 003 
 
 
Sensitive but unclassified; please handle accordingly. 
 
------------------------------- 
Summary and Comment 
------------------------------- 
 
¶1.  (SBU) Capitalizing on the on-going visit to Chiang Mai of 
former U.S. President Jimmy Carter, over 50 members of red-shirt 
groups protested in front of Consulate Chiang Mai on November 
16, strongly criticizing the current Royal Thai Government 
(RTG), and asking the U.S. to "boycott and not support" the RTG. 
 The demonstration was peaceful, and ended shortly after 
representatives handed a letter to a Consulate officer conveying 
the group's views about the state of democracy in Thailand. 
Separately, the same group abandoned plans to "greet" Minister 
for Public Health Witthaya Kaewparadai as he arrived in Chiang 
Mai for meetings. 
 
¶2.  (SBU) This is the second red-shirt demonstration at 
Consulate Chiang Mai since July.  It was clearly timed to 
coincide with the visit of FPOTUS Carter, who is in Chiang Mai 
heading a Habitat for Humanity delegation that is building 82 
houses in the Province, and to capitalize on the publicity his 
presence has generated.  Both demonstrations have been peaceful, 
and we have no indication these events are intended to stir up 
anti-American sentiment.  Nonetheless, we will monitor future 
protests carefully.  End Summary and Comment. 
 
-------------------- 
Abhisit Get Out 
-------------------- 
 
¶3.  (SBU) At approximately 10:40 local time on November 16, 
60-70 red-shirted supporters of fugitive former Prime Minister 
Thaksin Shinawatra belonging to a group named Lanna Red (a 
reference to the former independent Kingdom of northern 
Thailand)began protesting at Consulate Chiang Mai.  Dressed in 
red t-shirts sporting the "Truth Today" logo, they shouted 
"Abhisit Get Out," (Note: The current PM is Abhisit Vejjajiva.) 
and displayed several placards with a variety of messages 
including "Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra is the present and 
future," "We do not support double-standard no justice 
government," "puppet of the aristocratic government," and "Give 
democracy back to Thailand."  The demonstration was peaceful, 
and ended at approximately 11:05 a.m. local time after 
representatives of the group handed a letter addressed to FPOTUS 
Carter to a Consulate officer that expresses the group's views 
about the situation in Thailand.  The full text of the letter is 
at para 6. 
 
¶4.  (SBU) Comment: Truth Today refers to a talk show hosted on D 
Station, a satellite television channel set up by the UDD 
(United Front for Democracy Against Dictatorship -- the umbrella 
organization for Thailand's pro-Thaksin red-shirt groups).  The 
references to no justice and double-standard convey the 
red-shirts' view that numerous court cases involving Thaksin and 
other figures of his now-banned Thai Rak Thai Party were decided 
on political rather than legal grounds. The words "puppet" and 
"aristocratic" take aim at the leaders of the 2006 coup that 
deposed then Prime Minister Thaksin, and, in the eyes of the 
red-shirts, paved the way for the current coalition to take 
office.  They also target Thailand's elite bureaucracy and 
influencial figures, most of whom support the current governing 
coalition. 
 
---------------------------- ------------------ 
No Danger to Consulate or Personnel 
---------------------------- ------------------ 
 
¶5.  (SBU) As was the case during the July 2009 demonstration 
(Reftel), the protest was peaceful throughout.  Post received 
excellent support from the Royal Thai Police, who dispatched 
several dozen officers to man barricades and otherwise augment 
security.  Separately, RSO briefed U.S. Secret Service Personnel 
about the demonstration before it took place (Post had been 
informed on November 15 of the likelihood of the protest), as 
well as FPOTUS Carter's personal staff. 
 
¶6.  (U) Begin text of letter: 
 
Chiang Mai Province 
16 November 2009 
 
To Former President of the United States, Mr. Jimmy Carter 
Thru the United States Consulate in Chiang Mai 
 
Subject: Explanation of current situation in Thailand 
 
 
CHIANG MAI 00000172  002.2 OF 003 
 
 
For your plans to come join the charitable project for Thai 
people 
through Habitat for Humanity in building houses for poor, 
underprivileged 
people in Chiang Mai, we are thrilled and thank you for the 
honor of selecting 
Chiang Mai as a site for this charity. On behalf of the people 
of Chiang Mai, we 
are very pleased to welcome you and your wife. 
 
Thailand is governed by a democratic system like the United 
States. However, when a coup on 19 September 2006 overthrew the 
democratic 
government of Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra, which was 
elected by a 
majority voice of the people because it was able to truly work 
for the benefit of the 
people to the extent that it was able to form a single party 
government for the first 
time in Thai history, it was revolted against by military 
dictators and he has been 
unjustly hunted for arrest ceaselessly ever since. The current 
situation is that the 
government of Aphisit Wetchachiwa lost the election and did not 
come from the 
direct acceptance of the people. He became the prime minister 
from stealing 
power from the people and cooperating with a clique of military 
leaders who had 
seized power, destroyed the government of the people, and 
established a 
government that was not in accordance with the democratic 
process. The actions 
of these military dictatorial warlords, who were all intimate 
associates with the 
President of the Privy Council, have been working to destroy the 
country ever 
since the coup against the government of the people on 10 
September 2006. Over 
three years have passed, and at present they have not ceased. 
They are still 
enforcing a silent coup, holding the country, the Thai people, 
and the monarchy, 
which is deeply respected by the people, hostages so they can 
maintain power to 
govern the affairs of the country in their hands, by 
establishing a nominee 
government to come in and maintain their own interests, without 
any 
consideration of the people and the world at large that is 
interested in the affairs 
of Thailand at the present time. 
Inasmuch as you once held the position of President of the 
United States, which is the pattern of democratic rule by the 
power of the voice of the people, and are well-known and 
accepted internationally for dedicating yourself after leaving 
office to working to solve disputes in society, fostering human 
rights and democracy all over the world, to the extent that you 
won the Nobel Peace Prize in 2002, you probably already know the 
truth about the terrible situation of the Thai people. They are 
unable to peacefully live their lives. They lack love and 
harmony in their country. They don't have the opportunity to 
develop their country and don't have the ability to develop the 
quality of life of the people to overcome poverty and lack of 
opportunity according to the purpose of the charity that you, 
President Mr. Jimmy Carter aspire to. 
On behalf of the Thai people, we request through Former 
President Mr. Jimmy Carter to take the facts of the current 
troubles of the Thai people and present them to the people and 
president of the United States, Mr. Barack Obama, as well as the 
people and leaders of civilized countries all over the world, to 
boycott and not support the government of Mr. Aphisit 
Wetchachiwa, which would not have been formed through a 
democratic process, if it had not had a military dictatorship 
supporting it behind the scenes. It is deceiving the world. 
Please do not join in the activities of and do not recognize 
this dictatorial and evil government 
 
Respectfully, 
Citizens of Chiang Mai who Love Democracy 
The Thai People 
 
End Text. 
 
¶7.  (SBU) We note that the Thai language version of the letter, 
which was delivered at the same time as the English text, 
included some sentences not present in the English translation. 
In paragraph two, the Thai version contains a sentence berating 
the government for appointing as Foreign Minister a "terrorist 
and criminal," who was allegedly involved in the 2008 seizure of 
 
CHIANG MAI 00000172  003.2 OF 003 
 
 
Bangkok's two airports by the Peoples' Alliance for Democracy. 
The Thai version also stated that the current aristocratic 
government seized power to look after its own "vested" interests. 
MORROW