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Cablegate: Saprang Softens His Tone

VZCZCXRO4662
PP RUEHDT RUEHHM
DE RUEHCHI #0165 2721118
ZNR UUUUU ZZH
P 291118Z SEP 06
FM AMCONSUL CHIANG MAI
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC PRIORITY 0286
INFO RUEHZS/ASSOCIATION OF SOUTHEAST ASIAN NATIONS
RUEHBK/AMEMBASSY BANGKOK PRIORITY 0559
RUEHCHI/AMCONSUL CHIANG MAI PRIORITY 0324
RHHJJPI/PACOM IDHS HONOLULU HI

UNCLAS CHIANG MAI 000165

SIPDIS

SENSITIVE

SIPDIS

E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: PGOV TH
SUBJECT: SAPRANG SOFTENS HIS TONE

REF: A) BANGKOK 5949 B) CHIANG MAI 159

1. (SBU) Outspoken Third Army Commander LTG Saprang
Kalayamitra has continued to consolidate control in the northern
region, winning marks for showing restraint in his dealings with
a police investigation and for a softer tone in his meetings
with local officials.

2. (SBU) According to a local journalist, the 3rd army has
pinpointed those responsible for arson attacks Wednesday on five
schools in Kamphaengphet (ref a), but is leaving the case for
police and district authorities under the Ministry of Interior
to investigate and handle through legal channels. Reports
suggest that the attacks were designed to discredit Saprang,
hoping he would overreact and damage his chances for promotion.
According to this theory, the Sept. 28 announcement of the
military reshuffle list, including the expected appointment of
Saprang as Assistant Army Chief, reduces the risk of any further
such challenges.

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3. (U) Saprang and his 3rd army colleagues reportedly have
worked to strengthen alliances with local government-appointed
leaders (Kamnan). As the lowest level of officials under the
Ministry of Interior, this group provides a counterbalance to
the local elected officials in the Tambon Administration
Organizations (TAO), who are mostly linked with former Prime
Minister Thaksin Shinawatra's Thai Rak Thai (TRT) party.

4. (SBU) Saprang also met this week with over 1,000 TAO heads
as well as directors and presidents of educational institutions
from the north. Using a tone softer than that of his address
to heads of government agencies last Friday (ref b), Saprang
gave as causes of the coup the need to counter lese majeste, the
bad conduct of the caretaker government, and unprecedented
national disunity.

5. (U) Claiming to have been misquoted in remarks about the
7-8 months of planning that preceded the coup, Saprang said he
was referring to the escalation of internal divisions in Thai
society. During this period, he explained, many people had
called for military intervention while the armed forces had
exercised restraint.

CAMP

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