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C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 03 BANGKOK 000113 
 
SIPDIS 
 
NSC FOR WALTON 
 
E.O. 12958: DECL: 01/13/2020 
TAGS: PGOV PREL PREF PHUM APEC SMIG TH LA
SUBJECT: THAILAND: AMBASSADOR ENGAGES NEW MFA PERMANENT 
SECRETARY ON BILATERAL RELATIONS, HMONG, ASEAN 
 
REF: A. STATE 2965 
     ¶B. BANGKOK 86 
 
Classified By: Ambassador Eric G. John, reasons 1.4 (b) and (d) 
 
¶1. (C) Summary.  During a January 12 meeting with the new MFA 
Permanent Secretary Theerakun Niyom, the Ambassador and 
Theerakun explored opportunities for U.S. engagement in 
Thailand and the region, agreeing that additional U.S. 
involvement would be valuable for both nations.  The 
Ambassador previewed Secretary Clinton's upcoming speech on 
the U.S. policy of multilateral engagement in Asia, as well 
as a series of high-level visitors.  Theerakun made a pitch 
for both an Abhisit visit to Washington in 2010, as well as a 
Presidential stop in Thailand as part of the expected 
Indonesia visit this summer.  The Ambassador expressed USG 
disappointment regarding the recent repatriation of thousands 
of Lao Hmong and requested an update on the promised return 
of four vulnerable Hmong.   Theerakun described plans for him 
to take a more prominent administrative role in the Ministry, 
"cleaning house" while delegating policy responsibilities to 
his Deputy Permanent Secretaries.  Ref B reported the 
Ambassador's conversation with Theerakun on Burma.  End 
Summary. 
 
¶2. (C) COMMENT.  Even though we were pre-briefed on the 
PermSec's increased administrative role, Theerakun proved 
more than willing to engage credibly on substantive issues. 
More importantly, his interest in increased U.S. engagement 
and willingness to consider U.S. approaches to regional 
issues seems a promising start to his tenure.  In particular, 
his strong interest in Lower Mekong issues should make him a 
valued partner as we move forward with our Lower Mekong 
Initiative.  END COMMENT. 
 
PROMOTING U.S.-THAI RELATIONS 
----------------------------- 
 
¶3. (C) The Ambassador had a January 12 introductory meeting 
with newly-appointed MFA Permanent Secretary Theerakun Niyom. 
 Theerakun started the meeting by emphasizing the 
long-standing U.S.-Thai bilateral relationship, combined with 
close people-people ties, and expressing hope that such 
relations would continue to be positive and substantive. 
Theerakun noted with pleasure recent re-engagement by the 
U.S. in the region as demonstrated by the visits of both 
Secretary Clinton in Phuket and President Obama in the 
Leaders' Meeting in Singapore. 
 
¶4. (C) The Ambassador highlighted a series of upcoming 
high-level U.S. planned visits to Thailand over the next 
month that would further meaningful bilateral relations, 
including PM A/S Shapiro, CJCS Mullen, DASD Scher, PACOM 
Commander Willard, and OSD A/S Gregson.  The annual, 
multinational Cobra Gold exercise starting February 1 
remained the largest of its kind in Asia.  The Ambassador 
stressed that the military alliance delivered benefits to 
both countries; Theerakun interjected that he felt the same 
way.  The Ambassador also reinforced U.S interest in fixing a 
date for the Strategic Dialogue between the two nations. 
 
¶5. (C) Theerakun made a pitch for PM Abhisit to be invited 
for a working visit to Washington, as well as a Presidential 
visit to Thailand in the summer on the margins of the planned 
visit to Indonesia.  Ambassador replied that high-level 
exchanges are important. 
 
MUTUAL AGREEMENT ON MULTILATERAL ENGAGEMENT IN ASIA 
--------------------------------------------- ------ 
 
¶6. (C) The Ambassador previewed for Theerakun Secretary 
Clinton's speech on the U.S. vision for multilateral 
engagement in the Asia-Pacific region, drawing on points in 
ref A.  The U.S. would  encourage regional institutions, such 
as ASEAN and APEC, to pursue concrete goals and to be 
inclusive, flexible and transparent.  The Ambassador 
highlighted USG hopes for Thailand to play an active role in 
 
BANGKOK 00000113  002 OF 003 
 
 
shaping U.S. engagement in Asia.  Theerakun replied  that he 
hoped the U.S. could support ASEAN's centrality in Asian 
architecture, as well as ASEAN connectivity, both 
infrastructure and people-people ties.  The Ambassador 
assured  Theerakun of continued U.S. interest in engaging 
with the region, noting the plan to place an Ambassador to 
ASEAN in Jakarta and the Lower Mekong Initiative (LMI). 
 
¶7. (C) The PermSec said that Lower Mekong issues were "close 
to his heart," having started in the Thai MFA 30 years ago as 
the desk officer for Lower Mekong issues.  He emphasized the 
pivotal role the LMI could play in "narrowing the gap between 
old and new members of ASEAN."  That in turn would help the 
region and its partners better address challenges exacerbated 
by the gap, such as refugees/displaced people, human 
trafficking, and illegal drugs.  The Ambassador highlighted 
how this cooperation could offer the U.S. a new way to engage 
substantially with Laos, while at the same time having 
Thailand,  Cambodia and Vietnam at the table as well. 
Theerakun said the RTG would be happy to assist the U.S. in 
engaging the region.   Laos, Vietnam, and Burma, in 
particular, have their own pace and way of thinking, causing 
difficulty at times even for the RTG's bilateral relations 
with these nations.  Patience was necessary, he concluded. 
 
NO WORD YET ON STATUS OF FOUR VULNERABLE HMONG 
--------------------------------------------- 
 
¶8. (C) While recognizing that the RTG had welcomed huge 
numbers of refugees for decades, the Ambassador expressed 
U.S. disappointment with the decision in late December to 
forcefully repatriate two groups of Lao Hmong, despite PM 
Abhisit's assurances to Secretary Clinton last July, and in 
the face of widespread international criticism.  The PermSec 
noted that the RTG had stressed two points to Laos before 
making their decision to repatriate the Hmong groups: ensure 
the safety of the returnees; and grant the international 
community direct access to begin the process of resettlement. 
 Theerakun also highlighted the importance to Thai-Lao 
bilateral relations of the GOL following through on these two 
promises. 
 
¶9. (C) The Ambassador requested an update on the status and 
location of the four Hmong for whom PM Abhisit had granted 
last minute approval not to repatriate for compelling 
humanitarian reasons, only to see them sent back as well. 
Three were children without parents and one an adult female 
who had been a victim of sexual assault by the military when 
in Laos.  The PermSec explained that RTARF LTG Nipat Thonglek 
had received assurances from the Lao Deputy Joint Chief of 
Staff regarding their return but had asked for more 
time/consultations. 
 
¶10. (C) Ambassador expressed concern that if the Lao handled 
those four cases in that manner, it would be difficult to 
rely on their word for the hundreds of other of cases for 
which there were also humanitarian concerns.  Theerakun 
pledged to keep the Ambassador posted, urged direct U.S. 
contact with the Lao, but indicated FM Kasit would raise this 
matter with his Lao counterpart at the ASEAN FM retreat in 
Danang January 13-14.  Theerakun said that the RTG had 
pointed out to Laos that the RTG had "done its part." 
Thailand remained committed to humanitarian principles, 
dating back 30 years ago, when he started in the Thai foreign 
service and there were 250,000 refugees in camps along the 
Cambodian border..  Ambassador acknowledged this record, 
noting that the Embassy calculated that the U.S. had 
resettled almost 500,000 refugees out of Thailand in the past 
three decades.  Theerakun said that development assistance 
could act as a preventative measure to such flows, but that 
Thailand remained prepared to deal with the protection aspect. 
 
A SHIFT IN RESPONSIBILITY FOR NEW PERMANENT SECRETARY 
--------------------------------------------- -------- 
 
¶11. (C) PermSec Theerakun explained in more detail the new 
role FM Kasit had assigned him to play.  Kasit had recalled 
 
BANGKOK 00000113  003 OF 003 
 
 
him from Seoul after only five months with a charge to "clean 
house." He would focus on resolving administrative and 
organizational issues within the Ministry and strengthening 
the MFA's interagency partnerships with other ministries.  As 
a result of this new focus, he would delegate policy-making 
responsibilities to the four Deputy Permanent Secretaries. 
The Ambassador told Theerakun that he nevertheless looked 
forward to working with him.  In particular, the PermSec's 
emphasis on dialogue and interagency coordination could 
assist on economic issues, given the difficulties in securing 
timely meetings with key economic policymakers.  The U.S. 
remained Thailand's largest single export market and the 
second largest source of foreign direct investment.  U.S. 
companies were increasingly wondering whether the RTG and 
Thailand were open for business or not.  Better access and 
communication would benefit both countries, but specifically 
the Thai economy. 
JOHN