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 09CHIANGMAI132, REDSHIRTS, YELLOWSHIRTS DOWNPLAY RECONCILIATION CALL

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. #09CHIANGMAI132.
Reference ID Created Released Classification Origin
09CHIANGMAI132 2009-09-18 07:18 2011-08-25 00:00 UNCLASSIFIED//FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY Consulate Chiang Mai
VZCZCXRO8678
PP RUEHCN RUEHDT RUEHHM
DE RUEHCHI #0132/01 2610718
ZNR UUUUU ZZH
P R 180718Z SEP 09
FM AMCONSUL CHIANG MAI
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC PRIORITY 1152
INFO RHEHAAA/NSC WASHINGTON DC
RUEHZS/ASSOCIATION OF SOUTHEAST ASIAN NATIONS
RUEHCHI/AMCONSUL CHIANG MAI 1236
UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 02 CHIANG MAI 000132 
 
SENSITIVE 
SIPDIS 
 
NSC FOR WALTON 
 
E.O. 12958: N/A 
TAGS: PGOV ECON PHUM TH
SUBJECT: REDSHIRTS, YELLOWSHIRTS DOWNPLAY RECONCILIATION CALL 
 
CHIANG MAI 00000132  001.2 OF 002 
 
 
Sensitive but unclassified; please handle accordingly. 
 
------------------------------- 
Summary and Comment 
------------------------------- 
 
1.  (SBU) According to both anti-government redshirt and 
anti-Thaksin yellowshirt groups based in Chiang Mai, the joint 
private sector-academic community's call for political 
reconciliation to facilitate economic recovery issued in August 
was "misdirected" and does not carry any weight.  While both 
sides expressed a willingness to sit down and work through their 
differences, neither expect the joint statement to have any real 
effect on Chiang Mai's economy.  For their part, redshirt 
leaders see the statement as one-sided, blaming them for 
Thailand's ills, while the yellowshirts wonder why the statement 
named them, arguing they have done nothing to cause trouble for 
local communities in Chiang Mai. 
 
2.  (SBU) Comment: While admirable, the joint efforts of the 
private sector and respected academics are unlikely to put a 
stop to redshirt and yellowshirt antagonism in Chiang Mai.  Even 
if they could, we doubt that an economic revival would take root 
as a result.  Though groups on both sides have caused local 
disturbances, blame for the downturn in northern Thailand's 
tourism sector rests more with the global recession (and 
influenza worries) than clashes.  Nonetheless, representatives 
of one redshirt and one yellowshirt group confirmed to us they 
will hold a low-profile meeting the week of September 21 to see 
if they can find some common ground.  End Summary and Comment. 
 
--------------------------------------------- ------------- 
Private Sector, Academics Call for Compromise 
--------------------------------------------- ------------- 
 
3.  (U) At an August 11 press conference,  the Presidents of 
seven local universities and representatives from several 
business groups -- including the Federation of Thai Industries, 
the Chiang Mai Chamber of Commerce, Chiang Mai Tourism Business 
Association, and the Thai Hotel Association -- issued a public 
statement calling on all political groups to put their 
differences aside to "build unity for economic confidence for 
Chiang Mai".  The statement asserts that activities of political 
groups have had a negative impact on investment in the province, 
as well as the tourism and export sectors.  It affirms support 
for the peaceful expression of political views, repudiates 
violence, calls for law and order to be respected and law 
enforcement to be carried out equitably, and appeals for 
political groups not to obstruct the government's efforts to 
provide services to the people. 
 
4.  (SBU) Payap University President Dr. Pradit 
Takerngrangsarit, who signed the statement on behalf of the 
seven university presidents, told us that the initial draft of 
the statement read like an anti-redshirt diatribe, and he had 
impressed upon his colleagues that for the statement to be 
effective, it needed to be more balanced.  The final version 
names neither redshirt nor yellowshirt groups, and in our 
estimation, is objective.  (We will e-mail the statement to 
Embassy Bangkok and EAP/MLS.)  Nevertheless, groups on both 
sides have criticized the text, claiming that it singles them 
out, blaming them for Chiang Mai's economic woes. 
 
5.  (SBU) Private sector contacts spearheading the effort 
asserted that they were spurred on by a 50-70 percent drop in 
Chiang Mai's tourism-related business since the April 2009 
redshirt riots in Bangkok.  They therefore reached out to the 
presidents of seven local universities, who expressed support 
for their reconciliatory efforts.  The aim of the press 
conference, they said, was to get both sides to keep their 
political differences from negatively impacting Chiang Mai's 
economy.  The opposition redshirts' disruption of the late 
August visits to Chiang Mai of the Finance and Commerce 
Ministers was, in their view, the last straw.  While skeptical 
about the likely impact of their efforts, these contacts hope 
that the website they launched shortly after the press 
conference (http://www.peacechiangmai.com) will help raise 
public awareness of the political conflict's impact on the 
economy. 
 
-------------------- 
Redshirts React 
-------------------- 
 
6.  (SBU) The leader of the Rak Thaksin (Love Thaksin) redshirt 
group reacted harshly, noting that Chiang Mai's economic 
difficulties were a function of the global economic crisis 
rather than redshirt-spawned instability.  If investment and 
tourism in Thailand are down overall, he asserted, the decline 
 
CHIANG MAI 00000132  002.2 OF 002 
 
 
will affect Chiang Mai too.  He also claimed that several of the 
contributors to the statement are known to be sympathetic to the 
anti-Thaksin yellowshirts. 
 
7.  (SBU) For his part, the editor of the pro-redshirt "Red 
Front" magazine questioned the timing of the statement, 
wondering why Chiang Mai businesses were feeling the pinch now, 
but failed to speak up during the November 2007 seizures of 
Bangkok's two airports by the yellowshirt People's Alliance for 
Democracy (PAD) or the redshirt riots in Bangkok and surrounding 
areas in April 2009.  Meanwhile, the grassroots Confederation 
for Democracy highlighted the need for Chiang Mai law 
enforcement authorities to crack down with equanimity on both 
sides, noting that while action was taken against the region's 
pro-redshirt community radio stations in the wake of the April 
2009 riots, none was taken against the area's pro-yellowshirt 
community radio station for broadcasts in which it incited 
violence. 
 
--------------------------------------------- ---- 
Yellowshirts Somewhat Less Displeased 
--------------------------------------------- ---- 
 
8.  (SBU) Three Chiang Mai figures associated with the 
pro-yellowshirt People's Alliance for Democracy (PAD) also 
shared their views with us.  The leader of the Campaign for 
Popular Democracy said he did not see what blame the PAD bore 
for the economic downturn, aside from the broadcasts of one 
community radio station claiming to represent the PAD that have 
on occasion incited violence.  Our contact characterized the 
operator of that station as "an opportunist," saying he is not a 
true PAD supporter. 
 
9.  (SBU) A pro-PAD journalist viewed the reconciliation effort 
as ineffective, arguing that the academics and private sector 
representatives wanted merely to be seen as taking some action 
to arrest the region's economic slide.  He pointed out that the 
heads of several organizations that signed the public statement 
failed to appear at the press conference, perhaps out of fear of 
retribution by redshirt groups.  Though he supports tolerance of 
different opinions, he opined that pro-reconciliation stickers 
and the Peace Chiang Mai website were insufficient to get the 
message across.  He suggested that the radio stations of 
participating universities use airtime to actively promote 
political reconciliation, and that universities allow overtly 
political meetings to be held on their campuses as a sign of 
commitment to the effort.  (Note: Payap's Dr. Pradit was 
non-committal when we asked if his group would attempt to broker 
a reconciliation meeting between Chiang Mai's redshirts and 
yellowshirts.) 
 
10. (SBU) Another local PAD figure, who is also a businessman, 
and who lays blame for the downturn in Chiang Mai's tourism 
squarely on the redshirts, opined that the statement will not 
have a strong impact because it does not specify who needs to 
reconcile with whom.  He asserted that what was really needed 
was greater pressure on local law enforcement authorities to 
take decisive action against Chiang Mai's redshirts.  He also 
highlighted the need to restrict political content on community 
radio stations, so as to prevent them from being used to foment 
political disunity.  (Note: Northern groups on both sides of the 
spectrum have used their community radio stations to incite 
violence.) 
 
11. (U) This cable was coordinated with Embassy Bangkok. 
MORROW