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UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 02 BANGKOK 003115 
 
SENSITIVE 
SIPDIS 
 
STATE FOR EAP/MLS, NSC FOR WALTON 
 
E.O. 12958: N/A 
TAGS: PREL PGOV TH
SUBJECT: THAILAND: RED CONSTITUTION DAY RALLY PEACEFUL 
 
REF: A. BANGKOK 3067 (RED-SHIRTS SET THEIR SIGHTS ON 
        DECEMBER) 
     ¶B. BANGKOK 2405 (THAILAND'S MARCHING SEASON) 
 
BANGKOK 00003115  001.2 OF 002 
 
 
Sensitive but unclassified, please treat accordingly. 
 
¶1. (U) Summary: The United Front for Democracy Against 
Dictatorship (UDD, or "red-shirts") rallied at the Democracy 
Monument in downtown Bangkok December 10 to mark Thailand's 
Constitution Day holiday.  The gathering, which at its peak 
included over 20,000 people, was peaceful and largely free 
from the vitriolic rhetoric that has marked previous UDD 
rallies.  As promised, red-shirt agitator Maj. Gen. Khatthiya 
Sawasdiphol, aka Seh Daeng, was present, as were dozens of 
black-clad guards identified by Khattiya as thahan phraan 
(paramilitary rangers).  Former Prime Minister Thaksin 
Shinawatra addressed the crowd via video link and led a 
candle-lighting ceremony in honor of King Bhumibol's December 
5 birthday.  Red-shirt core leader Vira Musikapong announced 
during the rally that he would step down from his position as 
UDD Chairman next year, while promising more vigorous action 
to force the Abhisit government from office in 2010. 
 
¶2. (SBU) Comment: The subdued nature of this meeting--welcome 
given the highly charged talk that has come out of the 
red-shirt camp of late--should not be mistaken as a sign that 
the UDD is backing off.  With the King's birthday festivities 
only recently concluded--indeed, the rally interrupted the 
week-long festivities marking the birthday along 
Ratchadamnoen Avenue--there was a palpable tone of reverence 
for the monarchy present during the rally, as well as a 
notable reduction in the vitriol usually aimed at Prime 
Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva, Deputy Prime Minister Suthep 
Thuaksuban, and Privy Council President Gen. Prem Tinsulanond 
(with the latter attacked, but not by name this time).  With 
the government's decision to not invoke the Internal Security 
Act (ISA) for this rally, there were no soldiers present, 
contributing to a more relaxed atmosphere.  UDD leaders 
promised to continue their efforts in January, portending a 
return to their usual fiery rhetoric aimed at bringing down 
the Abhisit administration; red leader Jaran told us at an 
evening event December 8 to expect February to be a truly hot 
month.  We will continue to reiterate our basic message 
advocating peaceful expression of political views and 
non-resort to violence in meetings with red leaders (REF A). 
End Summary and Comment. 
 
GENERALLY SUBDUED ATMOSPHERE 
---------------------------- 
 
¶3. (SBU) The red-shirt movement held its largest rally in 
Bangkok since September (REF B), gathering at the Democracy 
Monument on December 10.  This rally lacked the tense 
undercurrent that has marked many previous UDD protests.  The 
significantly reduced security presence, a function of the 
government's decision not to invoke the ISA, was one factor; 
several people at the protest told us that the lack of a 
military presence helped reduce the tension.  Proximity to 
the King's birthday, in the space used by the public to 
celebrate his life the previous week, was another. 
Crowd-control police were deployed around the immediate 
perimeter of the protest site, and worked side-by-side with 
UDD guards--identified by black armbands emblazoned with the 
word "guard"--to inspect the bags of people entering the 
area, and regular police were also stationed a few blocks 
further out from the site. 
 
¶4. (U) Many of the speeches focused on the UDD,s goal of 
reinstating the 1997 Constitution.  The harsh criticisms of 
PM Abhisit, DPM Suthep, and Privy Council chairman Prem that 
have been staples of recent rallies were notably muted at 
this one, though Prem came in for some unnamed criticism. 
Keeping with the spirit of the week surrounding the King's 
birthday, speakers emphasized the UDD's commitment to 
upholding the monarchy as a central pillar to the Thai 
system.  Several UDD core leaders also implored members of 
the red-shirt movement to ensure that the protests remained 
free of violence, a message that Mission has repeatedly 
underscored in recent meetings with the UDD leadership, 
 
BANGKOK 00003115  002.2 OF 002 
 
 
including December 8 with red leader Jaran, who complained 
that, "every time we see you, you tell us to avoid violence." 
 One UDD speaker from the stage castigated vendors who were 
selling alcohol, saying that the red-shirts needed to avoid 
any appearance of impropriety that the government could then 
use against them. 
 
¶5. (SBU) As is the case with most red-shirt gatherings, the 
crowds were initially relatively small, before swelling after 
6 PM.  The Bangkok police, who have reliably estimated crowd 
sizes at previous protests, told us that there were 
approximately 23,000 at the rally's peak during Thaksin's 
phone-in.  Red self-estimates were, as usual, overstated. 
UDD spokesman Sean Boonpracong claimed there were over 30,000 
people in attendance.  One ranger/thahan phraan we spoke with 
went so far as to claim at least 100,000 people attended the 
rally. 
 
THAKSIN ADDRESSES CROWD, VIRA ANNOUNCES RETIREMENT 
--------------------------------------------- ----- 
 
¶6. (SBU) Thaksin's 35-minute address focused largely on the 
constitution, the theme of this rally on the national holiday 
commemorating the 1932 constitution marking Thailand's 
transition from an absolute to a constitutional monarchy.  In 
contrast to previous video addresses in which he had dressed 
casually, Thaksin appeared wearing a dark suit with a red 
tie, and stood in front of a large portrait of King Bhumibol. 
 He then led the crowd in a candle-lighting ceremony to honor 
the King's 82nd birthday, followed by singing of songs for 
both the King and the Queen.  One yellow-leaning contact 
caustically SMSed us after the appearance, noting that 
Thaksin had been advised to wear a pink tie, the color chosen 
this year to honor the King and his recovery from extended 
illness, yet went "red" instead. 
 
¶7. (SBU) UDD Chairman Vira spoke after Thaksin.  Vira 
promised that the UDD rallies would pick up in intensity in 
the New Year, with the aim of restoring the 1997 Constitution 
and chasing out the Abhisit administration.  He then 
announced his intent to resign as head of the UDD, stating 
that it was necessary for democratic development and 
stressing that the movement should not follow one single 
person.  (Note: Vira told us in September 2008 that, as the 
eldest red leader, now over 60, it was time for him to step 
aside and allow a new generation to take over.  However, the 
opposite occurred--his prominence within the red-shirt 
movement proceeded to increase, a likely sign of the respect 
he has across the spectrum, even among non-red-shirts.  End 
Note.) 
 
SEH DAENG AND THE RANGERS 
------------------------- 
 
¶8. (U) Trouble-making renegade MGEN Khattiya, aka Seh Daeng, 
was also present at the rally, but he did not address the 
crowd directly, nor did he appear on the stage.  His 
reception among the crowd, however, was like that of a rock 
star.  Surrounded by a human chain to hold people back, he 
signed t-shirts and other red paraphernalia as he worked his 
way through the mass of people. 
 
¶9. (SBU) The thahan phraan who attended the gathering were 
notable in their black fatigues.  In general, thahan praan, 
or rangers, are a paramilitary organization under the 
leadership of the army, which usually provides commissioned 
army officers to lead units.  One thahan phraan told us he 
was one of ten that had come down from Mae Sot, along the 
Burma border, to provide protection for the red-shirts.  In 
contrast to the UDD guards who mingled with Thai police, the 
thahan phraan around the outer perimeter stood apart from the 
police.  Seh Daeng claimed that 1,000 thahan phraan would 
attend the protest, and thahan praan we spoke to also made 
that claim.  Media reports estimated that only about 200 
rangers were present, however. 
JOHN