Keep Us Strong WikiLeaks logo

Currently released so far... 97115 / 251,287

Articles

Browse latest releases

Browse by creation date

Browse by origin

A B C D F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S T U V W Y Z

Browse by tag

A B C D E F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S T U V W X Y Z
ETRD EAGR ETTC EAID ECON EFIN ECIN EINV ELAB EAIR ENRG EPET EWWT ECPS EIND EMIN ELTN EC ETMIN EUC EZ ET ELECTIONS ENVR EU EUN EG EINT ER ECONOMICS ES EMS ENIV EEB EN ECE ECOSOC EK ENVIRONMENT EFIS EI EWT ENGRD ECPSN EXIM EIAD ERIN ECPC EDEV ENGY ECTRD EPA ESTH ECCT EINVECON ENGR ERTD EUR EAP EWWC ELTD EL EXIMOPIC EXTERNAL ETRDEC ESCAP ECO EGAD ELNT ECONOMIC ENV ETRN EIAR EUMEM ENRGPARMOTRASENVKGHGPGOVECONTSPLEAID EREL ECOM ECONETRDEAGRJA ETCC ETRG ECONOMY EMED ETR ENERG EITC EFINOECD EURM EENG ERA EXPORT ENRD ECONEINVETRDEFINELABETRDKTDBPGOVOPIC EGEN EBRD EVIN ETRAD ECOWAS EFTA ECONETRDBESPAR EGOVSY EPIN EID ECONENRG EDRC ESENV ETT EB ENER ELTNSNAR ECHEVARRIA ETRC EPIT EDUC ESA EFI ENRGY ESCI EE EAIDXMXAXBXFFR EETC ECIP EIAID EIVN EBEXP ESTN EING EGOV ETRA EPETEIND ELAN ETRDGK EAIDRW ETRDEINVECINPGOVCS EPEC ENVI ELN EAG EPCS EPRT EPTED ETRB EUM EAIDS EFIC EFINECONEAIDUNGAGM EAIDAR ESF EIDN ELAM EDU EV EAIDAF ECN EDA EXBS EINTECPS ENRGTRGYETRDBEXPBTIOSZ EPREL EAC EINVEFIN ETA EAGER EINDIR ECA ECLAC ELAP EITI EUCOM ECONEFINETRDPGOVEAGRPTERKTFNKCRMEAID EARG ELDIN EINVKSCA ENNP EFINECONCS EFINTS ECCP ETC EAIRASECCASCID EINN ETRP EAIDNI EFQ ECOQKPKO EGPHUM EBUD ECONEINVEFINPGOVIZ ENERGY ELB EINDETRD EMI ECONEFIN EIB EURN ETRDEINVTINTCS EIN EFIM ETIO ELAINE EMN EATO EWTR EIPR EINVETC ETTD ETDR EIQ ECONCS EPPD ENRGIZ EISL ESPINOSA ELEC EAIG ESLCO EUREM ENTG ERD EINVECONSENVCSJA EEPET EUNCH ECINECONCS ETRO ETRDECONWTOCS ECUN EFND EPECO EAIRECONRP ERGR ETRDPGOV ECPN ENRGMO EPWR EET EAIS EAGRE EDUARDO EAGRRP EAIDPHUMPRELUG EICN ECONQH EVN EGHG ELBR EINF EAIDHO EENV ETEX ERNG ED
KMDR KPAO KPKO KJUS KCRM KGHG KFRD KWMN KDEM KTFN KHIV KGIC KIDE KSCA KNNP KHUM KIPR KSUM KISL KIRF KCOR KRCM KPAL KWBG KN KS KOMC KSEP KFLU KPWR KTIA KSEO KMPI KHLS KICC KSTH KMCA KVPR KPRM KE KU KZ KFLO KSAF KTIP KTEX KBCT KOCI KOLY KOR KAWC KACT KUNR KTDB KSTC KLIG KSKN KNN KCFE KCIP KGHA KHDP KPOW KUNC KDRL KV KPREL KCRS KPOL KRVC KRIM KGIT KWIR KT KIRC KOMO KRFD KUWAIT KG KFIN KSCI KTFIN KFTN KGOV KPRV KSAC KGIV KCRIM KPIR KSOC KBIO KW KGLB KMWN KPO KFSC KSEAO KSTCPL KSI KPRP KREC KFPC KUNH KCSA KMRS KNDP KR KICCPUR KPPAO KCSY KTBT KCIS KNEP KFRDCVISCMGTCASCKOCIASECPHUMSMIGEG KNNB KGCC KINR KPOP KMFO KENV KNAR KVIR KDRG KDMR KFCE KNAO KDEN KGCN KICA KIMMITT KMCC KLFU KMSG KSEC KUM KCUL KMNP KSMT KCOM KOMCSG KSPR KPMI KRAD KIND KCRP KAUST KWAWC KTER KCHG KRDP KPAS KITA KTSC KPAOPREL KWGB KIRP KJUST KMIG KLAB KTFR KSEI KSTT KAPO KSTS KLSO KWNN KPOA KHSA KNPP KPAONZ KBTS KWWW KY KJRE KPAOKMDRKE KCRCM KSCS KWMNCI KESO KWUN KPLS KIIP KEDEM KPAOY KRIF KGICKS KREF KTRD KFRDSOCIRO KTAO KJU KWMNPHUMPRELKPAOZW KEN KO KNEI KEMR KKIV KEAI KWAC KRCIM KWCI KFIU KWIC KCORR KOMS KNNO KPAI KBWG KTTB KTBD KTIALG KILS KFEM KTDM KESS KNUC KPA KOMCCO KCEM KRCS KWBGSY KNPPIS KNNPMNUC KWN KERG KLTN KALM KCCP KSUMPHUM KREL KGH KLIP KTLA KAWK KWMM KVRP KVRC KAID KSLG KDEMK KX KIF KNPR KCFC KFTFN KTFM KPDD KCERS KMOC KDEMAF KMEPI KEMS KDRM KEPREL KBTR KEDU KNP KIRL KNNR KMPT KISLPINR KTPN KA KJUSTH KPIN KDEV KTDD KAKA KFRP KWNM KTSD KINL KJUSKUNR KWWMN KECF KWBC KPRO KVBL KOM KFRDKIRFCVISCMGTKOCIASECPHUMSMIGEG KEDM KFLD KLPM KRGY KNNF KICR KIFR KM KWMNCS KAWS KLAP KPAK KDDG KCGC KID KNSD KMPF KPFO KDP KCMR KRMS KNPT KNNNP KTIAPARM KDTB KNUP KPGOV KNAP KNNC KUK KSRE KREISLER KIVP KQ KTIAEUN KPALAOIS KRM KISLAO KWM KFLOA
PHUM PINR PTER PGOV PREL PREF PL PM PHSA PE PARM PINS PK PUNE PO PALESTINIAN PU PBTS PROP PTBS POL POLI PA PGOVZI POLMIL POLITICAL PARTIES POLM PD POLITICS POLICY PAS PMIL PINT PNAT PV PKO PPOL PERSONS PING PBIO PH PETR PARMS PRES PCON PETERS PRELBR PT PLAB PP PAK PDEM PKPA PSOCI PF PLO PTERM PJUS PSOE PELOSI PROPERTY PGOVPREL PARP PRL PNIR PHUMKPAL PG PREZ PGIC PBOV PAO PKK PROV PHSAK PHUMPREL PROTECTION PGOVBL PSI PRELPK PGOVENRG PUM PRELKPKO PATTY PSOC PRIVATIZATION PRELSP PGOVEAIDUKNOSWGMHUCANLLHFRSPITNZ PMIG PREC PAIGH PROG PSHA PARK PETER POG PHUS PPREL PS PTERPREL PRELPGOV POV PKPO PGOVECON POUS PGOVPRELPHUMPREFSMIGELABEAIDKCRMKWMN PWBG PMAR PREM PAR PNR PRELPGOVEAIDECONEINVBEXPSCULOIIPBTIO PARMIR PGOVGM PHUH PARTM PN PRE PTE PY POLUN PPEL PDOV PGOVSOCI PIRF PGOVPM PBST PRELEVU PGOR PBTSRU PRM PRELKPAOIZ PGVO PERL PGOC PAGR PMIN PHUMR PVIP PPD PGV PRAM PINL PKPAL PTERE PGOF PINO PHAS PODC PRHUM PHUMA PREO PPA PEPFAR PGO PRGOV PAC PRESL PORG PKFK PEPR PRELP PREFA PNG PGOVPHUMKPAO PRELECON PINOCHET PFOR PGOVLO PHUMBA PRELC PREK PHUME PHJM POLINT PGOVPZ PGOVKCRM PGOVE PHALANAGE PARTY PECON PEACE PROCESS PLN PRELSW PAHO PEDRO PRELA PASS PPAO PGPV PNUM PCUL PGGV PSA PGOVSMIGKCRMKWMNPHUMCVISKFRDCA PGIV PRFE POGOV PEL PBT PAMQ PINF PSEPC POSTS PHUMPGOV PVOV PHSAPREL PROLIFERATION PENA PRELTBIOBA PIN PRELL PGOVPTER PHAM PHYTRP PTEL PTERPGOV PHARM PROTESTS PRELAF PKBL PRELKPAO PKNP PARMP PHUML PFOV PERM PUOS PRELGOV PHUMPTER PARAGRAPH PERURENA PBTSEWWT PCI PETROL PINSO PINSCE PQL PEREZ PBS

Browse by classification

Community resources

courage is contagious

Viewing cable 05BANGKOK4286, ENVIRONMENTAL JOURNALIST SHOT IN TSUNAMI-HIT AREA

If you are new to these pages, please read an introduction on the structure of a cable as well as how to discuss them with others. See also the FAQs

Understanding cables
Every cable message consists of three parts:
  • The top box shows each cables unique reference number, when and by whom it originally was sent, and what its initial classification was.
  • The middle box contains the header information that is associated with the cable. It includes information about the receiver(s) as well as a general subject.
  • The bottom box presents the body of the cable. The opening can contain a more specific subject, references to other cables (browse by origin to find them) or additional comment. This is followed by the main contents of the cable: a summary, a collection of specific topics and a comment section.
To understand the justification used for the classification of each cable, please use this WikiSource article as reference.

Discussing cables
If you find meaningful or important information in a cable, please link directly to its unique reference number. Linking to a specific paragraph in the body of a cable is also possible by copying the appropriate link (to be found at theparagraph symbol). Please mark messages for social networking services like Twitter with the hash tags #cablegate and a hash containing the reference ID e.g. #05BANGKOK4286.
Reference ID Created Released Classification Origin
05BANGKOK4286 2005-06-30 09:25 2011-08-25 00:00 UNCLASSIFIED//FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY Embassy Bangkok
This record is a partial extract of the original cable. The full text of the original cable is not available.
UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 02 BANGKOK 004286 
 
SIPDIS 
 
SENSITIVE 
 
DEPARTMENT FOR EAP/BCLTV, USPACOM FOR FPA HUSO 
 
E.O. 12958: N/A 
TAGS: PGOV PHUM KPAO TH
SUBJECT: ENVIRONMENTAL JOURNALIST SHOT IN TSUNAMI-HIT AREA 
 
 
 1. (U) SUMMARY:  A reporter for a popular daily newspaper 
survived an attempt on his life near his home in the 
tsunami-affected province of Phang Nga on June 1.  The attack 
 
SIPDIS 
occurred following his publication of articles about land 
encroachment on public forest lands by influential business 
and political interests.  The reporter tied increased illegal 
logging activities to local businessmen, who he claimed were 
taking advantage of lands vacated by villagers left homeless 
by the tsunami.  He said these local figures had ties to 
national-level politicians.  END SUMMARY. 
 
2. (U) On June 22, Public Affairs and Political officers met 
with Manop Ratanajaroonporn, a 10-year veteran of daily 
Thai-language newspaper, Matichon (Opinion of the People). 
Matichon is one of Thailand,s most respected papers, known 
for balanced responsible reporting.  Manop is an Embassy 
contact. 
 
Shot 
---- 
 
3. (U) Manop described how on June 1 he was driving away from 
his family home in Phang Nga, an area devastated by the 
Tsunami just north of Phuket province.  As he reached a 
 
SIPDIS 
T-intersection in a wooded area, two pickup trucks blocked 
the roads ahead.  Immediately, 3 to 4 men climbed out of the 
trucks armed with a shotgun and .45 caliber handguns, 
according to Manop.  As he jumped out the car, the gunmen 
began firing.  One bullet struck his thigh, but the 
ex-special forces specialist managed to run into the 
surrounding forest, even as the attackers continued firing. 
 
High-level Attention, Local Inaction 
------------------------------------ 
 
4. (U) The incident was widely reported in the Thai media, 
but Manop said he had not dared contact the local police as 
he suspected they were involved.   Instead, his editors 
contacted officials at the Ministry of Justice (MOJ) in 
Bangkok.  As Manop was recuperating in a Phang Nga hospital, 
both Minister of Justice Suwat Liptapanlop and Director 
General of the MOJ's Department of Rights and Liberties 
Protection Chanchao Chaiyanukit paid him a visit.  Poloff 
confirmed that the MOJ's Department of Special Investigations 
(DSI) had opened an investigation into the incident and was 
providing around-the-clock personal security for Manop. 
 
5. (U) Media reports quoted Governor of Phang Nga Province 
Anuwat Methiwiboonwut and the Regional Police Commissioner 
promising a "vigorous" investigation, but no suspects were 
named and no arrests have been made.  Manop claims that he 
suspects these officials were involved in the illegal 
activities he had reported, and he does not expect them to 
act decisively. 
 
Reporting on Post-Tsunami Logging Angers Local Interests 
--------------------------------------------- ----------- 
 
6. (U) Manop stated that the Director of DSI had said that 
they had concluded that the shooting was not motivated by a 
personal grudge, but by reports Manop had filed.  DSI 
contacts confirmed this assessment with Poloff. 
 
7. (U) In particular, DSI suspects Manop,s reports on 
illegal logging in parts of Phang Nga following the December 
tsunami had angered local interests.  In a series of articles 
 
SIPDIS 
published earlier this year, Manop alleged that as some large 
fishing interests had moved into forested areas to reclaim 
fishing vessels washed inland by the waves, they felled trees 
in large areas around the boats, using the recovery efforts 
as an excuse for illegal logging activity.  While individual 
and family fishermen were wiped out by the disaster and 
forced to relocate to refugee camps, larger fishing operators 
had built an entirely new fishing pier on encroached land. 
Manop cited one influential local businessman and politician 
that had gone from 40 vessels before the tsunami to over 120 
vessels in the six months following the tragedy. 
 
Not Backing Down 
---------------- 
 
8. (SBU) Since the shooting, Manop has been living in safe 
houses and monasteries in the region.  When he met with a 
public affairs officer earlier in the month, he insisted on 
coming to a neutral location, saying that he doesn,t trust 
anyone.  DSI officials seem to share Monop,s concerns, and 
sent a rotating team of 4 armed bodyguards to escort him to 
Bangkok to discuss his case on June 22. 
 
9. (U) Manop repeated that he will not quit reporting on this 
story.  He said powerful business interests related to 
current and former national-level political leaders, like 
former First Deputy House Speaker Suchart Thanchareon, and 
the current Governor of Phang Nga Province Anuwat 
Methiwiboonwut, were responsible for much of the illegal 
activity.  Manop reported that DSI had informed him that a 
web of at least 5 influential groups could be involved.  The 
defiant journalist said, "If I don't write these stories, no 
one else will dare to tell the truth," about land grabbing in 
Phang Nga. 
 
A Disconnect 
------------ 
 
10. (SBU) Comment.  Land encroachment and environment 
devastation are nothing new to the Andaman Sea area.  But 
using the tsunami disaster as an opportunity to do even more 
harm, to both poor villagers and the environment, is 
reprehensible.  Like so many public institutions in Thailand, 
this issue highlights the "growing pains" that Thai officials 
and the Thai policy making and implementation process are 
going through.  The actions of senior MOJ officials in 
Bangkok are encouraging and a sign that they understand the 
serious threat of local figures using violence to silence 
critical journalists.  Unfortunately, Bangkok is a long 
distance from Phang Nga, and the disconnect between Bangkok 
policy makers and local Phang Nga officials may be further. 
End Comment. 
 
BOYCE