Wikileaks: U.S. ambassador gives advice to coup supporters

Best buddies: Boyce and Surayud

In a Wikileaks cable dated 28 September 2006, Ambassador Ralph L. Boyce, who we have described in other posts as cheering for the end of Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra, takes on the role of informal adviser to coup perpetrators and supporters. Boyce seems to have no qualms about this support for an illegal putsch in a democratic ally.

It seems that when Boyce heard that “retired General and Privy Councilor Surayud Chulanont” was being cvonsidered as the military junta’s appointed prime minister, he nipped off to “the Privy Council Chambers on September 28.”

Boyce says that,

Surayud began by apologizing for telling me on the night of the coup that he did not know of anything going on that night. He maintains that when we spoke, he was on his way home from a palace religious ceremony–attended by Privy Council head Prem–for the Queen’s late mother. After returning home, he had turned on the TV and saw Thaksin’s attempt to declare emergency rule and fire Army Chief Sonthi.”

It seems that Boyce doesn’t really buy this. But even if it is true, Privy Council boss Prem Tinsulanonda was soon on the phone to Surayud and “instructed him to ‘come to the palace’.” Prem seems to have been quick off the mark.

Turning to his coming move to the prime ministership,

Surayud explained that on the evening of September 27, General Sonthi Boonyaratklin had come to his residence and asked him to be the interim Prime Minister. Surayud responded that he didn’t really want the post, but if the King approved it, he obviously would take the position.

It seems it didn’t take long for the king to agree to his privy councilor becoming the junta’s appointed prime minister. Boyce, seemingly very chummy with Surayud, responded

by saying that ‘you and I both know what will happen.’ Surayud will take the job. We shared a laugh over the frustrating nature of the position: a difficult job for 8-10 months that angers many people and then you get kicked out.

Surayud then made his position on the coup clear. Boyce states that Surayud:

reiterated the common assertion by many Thai that the coup was “the only way out.” Thai politics were at “a total stalemate.” Surayud hopes that the coup, in hindsight, will be seen as one step back, but two steps forward for Thai democracy.

That was pretty much the standard line by all those who supported the coup.

Boyce states that:

Surayud … is the right person for the job…. As PM, he will make it possible for the Council for National Security (CNS, the CDRM’s new name under the pending interim constitution) to step back and permit the interim civilian government to have more authority and leeway to pave the way towards the restoration of an elected government. If a civilian technocrat such as banker Pridyathorn or UNCTAD Chief Supachai had been selected, that may have sent a better initial signal to foreign observers, but would not have inspired the CNS to take a more hands-off role.

This sounds like Boyce advising the junta. He goes further:

I added that most people felt that it would be defensible for the CNS to retain certain, circumscribed powers, allowing them to guard against a counter-coup or to improve security in the troubled South.

It must have been galling for the State Department to find its ambassador supporting an illegal coup.

With just a couple of quibbles, Boyce concludes that junta leader General Sonthi was providing “positive signs that intends to make good on his pledge to ‘get out’ of politics.” Apparently “Surayud agreed, adding that he had argued that the CNS should step back as much as possible. According to Surayud, Sonthi does not want political power.”

Boyce advised Surayud “that some are likely to criticize the selection of a former Army Chief as Prime Minister. Others may criticize the selection of a sitting Privy Councilor as an indication that the King is calling the shots.”

He was right, but the royalists had the bit between their teeth and weren’t about to step back. Hence, Surayud responded that he was a civilian, adding, “I challenge anyone to look at my military record and find problems with it.” (For a comment at the time, see here).

Surayud also seemed well versed on what the junta was doing, telling Boyce that “the interim constitution is scheduled for release by Royal Proclamation on September 29, with the announcement of the new PM next Monday or Tuesday.”

Boyce then ran through the little slaps on the wrist that Surayud and the junta could expect from the U.S. Surayud wasn’t concerned and invited Boyce to be one of the first to greet him when he became premier.

Boyce sums up his position:

Surayud is a well-respected, non-partisan figure with a sterling track record as a  professional military officer…. The CDRM has obviously reached out to Surayud because he is one of the few individuals with the credentials and prestige to unite the country in this troubled period. Under the current circumstances, Surayud is arguably the best person to head the interim civilian government. He is trusted by the palace and the military, and enjoys widespread respect across a broad spectrum of Thai citizens because of his integrity and previous service. His appointment would be a very positive development for Thailand internally, as well as for Thai-U.S. relations, and we should welcome it if and when it is announced.

Goodness, Boyce is all aflutter and flushed with good feelings towards the palace’s man. No real attempt to assess the coup as anything but a “good coup.” Boyce has taken sides – admittedly the side that the U.S. developed and promoted from the Cold War – and was unable to understand that Thailand had already changed. In other words, he was supporting the institutions that were bastions of authoritarianism. Boyce appears stuck in a past era.

Advertisement