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 07BANGKOK6240, NLA FAILS TO PASS FOREIGN BUSINESS ACT AMENDMENTS;

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. #07BANGKOK6240.
Reference ID Created Released Classification Origin
07BANGKOK6240 2007-12-21 10:21 2011-08-25 00:00 UNCLASSIFIED//FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY Embassy Bangkok
VZCZCXRO7611
RR RUEHCHI RUEHDT RUEHHM RUEHNH
DE RUEHBK #6240/01 3551021
ZNR UUUUU ZZH
R 211021Z DEC 07
FM AMEMBASSY BANGKOK
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC 1188
RUCNASE/ASEAN MEMBER COLLECTIVE
RUCPDOC/USDOC WASHINGTON DC
UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 02 BANGKOK 006240 
 
SIPDIS 
 
SIPDIS 
 
SENSITIVE 
 
STATE PASS USTR 
USDOC FOR 4430/EAP/MAC/OKSA 
 
E.O. 12958:N/A 
TAGS: ECON EINV TH
 
SUBJECT:  NLA FAILS TO PASS FOREIGN BUSINESS ACT AMENDMENTS; 
INVESTORS RELIEVED 
 
1.  (SBU) Summary:  A parliamentary committee failed to report out 
proposed amendments to the Foreign Business Act in time for 
consideration by the full National Legislative Assembly (NLA), 
leaving any future changes to the next government.  Although foreign 
business groups overwhelmingly opposed the amendments, the 
amendments' failure returns foreign investors to an uncomfortable 
status quo.  Foreigners operating in restricted sectors will not be 
required to divest their holdings, but are wary of continuing the 
convoluted ownership structures used to comply with the Act's 
restrictions in the past.  End Summary. 
 
2.  (SBU) Foreign embassy and business representatives met again on 
December 20 with Mr. Somchai Sakulsurarat, deputy chair of the 
special NLA committee on the Foreign Business Act (FBA), for a 
post-mortem on proposed amendments that failed to clear his 
committee this week.  The amendments would have expanded the 
definition of foreigner as it relates to limits on foreign ownership 
of business in Thailand, proscribing certain ownership structures 
commonly used by foreign businesses to maintain management control 
of businesses in restricted service sectors.  The amendments were 
widely opposed by foreign investors as the new rules could have not 
only limited future investment opportunities but also require some 
companies to divest shares and give up company control.  U.S. 
business would have been less affected than European and Japanese 
companies as many if not most U.S. investors have invested under 
either the U.S.-Thailand Treaty of Amity and Economic Relations, 
which provides national treatment, or under Board of Investment 
promotions, which allow majority foreign ownership. 
 
3.  (SBU) The amendments met their premature end after NLA President 
Meechai Ruchupan decreed late last week that the NLA would cease 
voting on legislation on Friday, December 21, and all legislation 
would need to be out of committee by December 18.  Meechai moved up 
the NLA session's end date under pressure from civil society groups 
protesting passage of important legislation on the verge of a 
handover to an elected government.  Somchai explained that the NLA's 
ad hoc committee on the FBA hurriedly moved up a previously 
scheduled meeting to finalize the amendments, but with many members 
of the committee out on the hustings campaigning for election the 
committee was unable to achieve a quorum and failed to report out 
the bill before the deadline. 
 
4.  (SBU) Somchai said he regretted the failure of the amendments to 
pass, and predicted that the next government would be politically 
unable to undertake similar sweeping changes to the Act, some of 
which may have been favorable to foreign business.  Although the 
amendments included a tightening of business ownership rules that 
foreign investors opposed, Somchai said they had included a new 
provision to reduce the list of restricted sectors for foreign 
business within two years.  Somchai said that although the political 
parties vying for election on December 23 have espoused pro-business 
platforms and support foreign investment, he believes that a 
democratically elected government would be unable to take on local 
interests that would oppose any further opening to foreign 
investment. 
 
Back to the status quo ante? 
---------------------------- 
 
5.  (SBU) With the failure to pass the amendments, foreign business 
continues to be covered by the current Foreign Business Act, but 
with lingering uncertainty.  One foreign firm engaged in the retail 
trade, a sector restricted under the current FBA, told Econoff its 
subsidiary retail enterprises had formerly been structured as 
"nominee" firms, wherein a Thai would nominally hold a majority of 
shares without having a genuine investment in the company and 
without rights to profits.  The RTG considers the nominee structure 
contrary to the spirit of the FBA and, while quietly permitting the 
practice in the past, has pledged to initiate investigations into 
companies that may be using nominee ownership structures.  The 
foreign firm is restructuring its ownership to a preference share 
structure, which has a somewhat more solid legal footing. 
 
6.  (SBU) Comment: U.S. investors under the Treaty of Amity and 
Economic Relations (AER) are allowed majority control in all but a 
few service sectors and would have been relatively unaffected by the 
FBA amendments.  However, the AER is not in full compliance with 
Thailand's WTO commitments, pending the outcome of FTA negotiations, 
and could be subject to challenge by another country.  Some U.S. 
investors under the AER were relieved that the FBA amendments 
failed, fearing that their passage would have given such a clear 
advantage to U.S. investors that a WTO challenge would have become 
more likely.  With other foreign investors able to continue 
operating as before, there should be less pressure on the RTG to 
remove the AER privileges that U.S. investors enjoy. 
 
BANGKOK 00006240  002 OF 002 
 
 
 
BOYCE