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 08BANGKOK3747, NEW FINANCE MINISTER TELLS AMBASSADOR WE MUST

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. #08BANGKOK3747.
Reference ID Created Released Classification Origin
08BANGKOK3747 2008-12-24 09:56 2011-08-25 00:00 UNCLASSIFIED//FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY Embassy Bangkok
VZCZCXRO4450
OO RUEHCHI RUEHCN RUEHDT RUEHHM
DE RUEHBK #3747/01 3590956
ZNR UUUUU ZZH
O 240956Z DEC 08
FM AMEMBASSY BANGKOK
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC IMMEDIATE 5501
INFO RUEHZS/ASSOCIATION OF SOUTHEAST ASIAN NATIONS IMMEDIATE
RUEHBJ/AMEMBASSY BEIJING IMMEDIATE 6648
RUEHBY/AMEMBASSY CANBERRA IMMEDIATE 9312
RUEHLO/AMEMBASSY LONDON IMMEDIATE 1838
RUEHUL/AMEMBASSY SEOUL IMMEDIATE 5171
RUEHKO/AMEMBASSY TOKYO IMMEDIATE 1279
RUEHCHI/AMCONSUL CHIANG MAI IMMEDIATE 6010
RUEAIIA/CIA WASHINGTON DC IMMEDIATE
RHHMUNA/CDR USPACOM HONOLULU HI IMMEDIATE
RUEATRS/DEPT OF TREASURY WASHINGTON DC IMMEDIATE
RUEHC/DEPT OF LABOR WASHDC IMMEDIATE
RUCPDOC/DEPT OF COMMERCE WASHINGTON DC IMMEDIATE
RUEHRC/DEPT OF AGRICULTURE WASHINGTON DC IMMEDIATE
UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 02 BANGKOK 003747 
 
SENSITIVE 
SIPDIS 
 
STATE FOR EAP/MTS, EAP/RSP, EEB 
STATE PASS TO USTR (WEISEL/BISBEE) 
TREASURY FOR OASIA 
COMMERCE FOR EAP/MAC/OKSA 
SINGAPORE FOR FINATT BAKER 
 
E.O. 12958: N/A 
TAGS: ECON EFIN ELAB ETRD PGOV TH
SUBJECT: NEW FINANCE MINISTER TELLS AMBASSADOR WE MUST 
FIGHT PROTECTIONISM IN A "NEW WORLD" 
 
REF: A. BANGKOK 3746 (NEW ECONOMIC TEAM) 
     B. BANGKOK 3712 (NEW THAI CABINET APPOINTED) 
     C. BANGKOK 3648 (ABHISIT ELECTED) 
 
BANGKOK 00003747  001.2 OF 002 
 
 
1. (SBU) Summary: New Finance Minister Korn told the 
Ambassador in a courtesy call December 24 that he hopes both 
the U.S. and Thailand will avoid protectionism, which would 
erode the reservoir of goodwill that the incoming U.S. 
administration now enjoys internationally. Thailand avoided 
fallout from the collapse of the financial industry, Korn 
said, but is reeling from the worldwide recession in the real 
economy, where even Toyota is a risk.  "It is a new world." 
Korn told the Ambassador that the Prime Minister will head a 
new Economic Cabinet that will provide "a guiding hand" to 
ministries lacking expertise in their leadership and 
coordinate all economic policy.  Korn says he will consult 
closely with the private sector, including foreign companies, 
in policy formulation. The Ambassador raised several items of 
concern to U.S. companies, including labor unrest at the Ford 
factory. Korn said he would raise the issue with the Prime 
Minister later the same day.  End Summary. 
 
2. (SBU) Comment: Finance Minister Korn is an impressive 
figure -- sharp on the range of economic issues and 
well-disposed toward the U.S.  In contrast to criticisms 
levied against other members of Prime Minister Abhisit's new 
economic team, Korn appears very much capable and clearly 
eager to get down to the task at hand -- softening the 
effects of the global economic downturn on Thailand.  We look 
forward to working closely with him.  End Comment. 
 
2. (SBU) In response to the Ambassador's query whether the 
new government was feeling pressure from domestic interests 
to consider protectionist measures, newly appointed Finance 
Minister Korn  Chatikavanij responded no.  He said that he 
had met earlier in the day to hear the concerns of a large 
group of Thai business people and did not hear any appeals 
for protectionism.  There is a common belief that 
liberalization of the Thai market tends to benefit China, he 
noted, but, "our real concern is whether protectionism will 
rise in the U.S."  Korn said that President-elect Obama 
enjoys a huge reservoir of goodwill internationally, but a 
shift toward protectionism in the U.S. would change that. 
Korn said he hopes that both sides will retain liberal 
attitudes toward economics and trade. 
 
3. (SBU) The Ambassador asked Korn whether Thailand was 
facing the possibility of deflation as part of the economic 
crisis.  The new Finance Minister said that, fortunately, 
Thailand had no asset price bubble burst and had avoided 
serious fallout from the financial industry meltdown.  He 
observed that many of the problems now facing the U.S. were 
experienced by Thailand during the 1997 financial crisis. 
However, the downturn in the real economy is a serious 
challenge.  "Suddenly even Toyota and Honda are risks.  It's 
a new world." 
 
4. (SBU) Korn told the Ambassador that his government can 
only be successful dealing with the economic crisis if it 
works closely with the private sector, "both foreign and Thai 
-- that's just the way it is." He said that he and his staff 
expect to spend a lot of time with businessmen to get their 
views on proposed policies before they are enacted.  The 
Ambassador suggested that the "Meet the Minister" program, 
which lapsed in 2006, be revitalized, so that American 
business people can have the chance to provide input and 
build confidence in the Thai investment climate. Korn 
responded, "We should do that." 
 
5. (SBU) Korn noted the serious economic challenges facing 
his government in the new year, as GDP growth is likely to be 
negative for the fourth quarter of 2008 and the first quarter 
 
BANGKOK 00003747  002.2 OF 002 
 
 
of 2009, and overall growth for 2009 is expected to be 
between 0 and 2 percent.  He said that his government is 
determined to re-build confidence.  He noted that the 
government worked hard to get its policy program ready for 
presentation to the Parliament in record time.  The Thai 
people will begin their first working day of the new year, he 
said, knowing exactly what their government's plan is to deal 
with the crisis. "The first three months will be critical." 
 
6. (SBU) Tacitly acknowledging criticism of the appointment 
of "unqualified" appointees to other economic ministries, 
Korn said that because of the large group of seasoned 
politicians who have been banned by the courts from serving 
in the government, some coalition parties have had to rely on 
outside business people to fill their allocated cabinet 
posts.  "But this could work better than the previous 
system," he argued, in which a Deputy Prime Minister would 
loosely oversee the economic ministries.  Now the Prime 
Minister himself will head an "Economic Cabinet" which will 
meet Mondays ahead of the regular Tuesday cabinet meeting and 
coordinate economic policy-making.  All decisions of the 
minister of commerce, for example, will have to first go 
through the Prime Minister who will provide "a guiding hand." 
 
7. (SBU) The Ambassador raised a number of U.S. business 
community concerns, including recently increased excise 
taxes, our desire for an opening of the beef market, 
compulsory licenses, and labor relations.  He noted in 
particular the puzzling difficulties that Ford is having with 
its labor force, where normal negotiations have broken down 
and workers are taking aggressive illegal actions such as 
closing the plant and neighboring public roads.  Korn said he 
had spoken with both the Ford management and the labor unions 
and had urged them to talk, noting to the labor unions the 
particular difficulties that auto companies are having 
worldwide.  Good labor relations have long been an attraction 
for foreign investors in Thailand, especially the Japanese 
car companies, which have a huge presence.  He told the 
Ambassador he would raise the issue with the Prime Minister 
when he saw him later in the day. 
 
8. (SBU) Korn acknowledged a number of other problems that he 
is wrestling with, including rising unemployment as 
export-oriented factories around Bangkok lay off workers, who 
then return to economically depressed rural areas in the 
Northeast.  He hopes that agricultural support programs will 
help out, but "there will be suffering."  Collapsing rubber 
and other commodity prices, and the sharp downturn in the 
tourism industry are also causing difficulties, particularly 
in the South. 
 
JOHN