reminded that CTAG member countries are willing to waive
diplomatic immunity, on a case by case basis, to enable
embassy staff to give evidence or expert testimony in cases
involving home country document fraud. The RTG should also
understand that testimony by embassy personnel should not be
viewed as an impediment to prosecution. Ambassador Fall
agreed to also raise this issue with the Attorney General.
TERRORIST FINANCING
7. (SBU) Members exchanged information on how the CTAG can
build Thai capacity to counter terrorist financing,
especially informal remittance systems connected to ongoing
separatist violence in the far south of Thailand. The RTG is
particularly sensitive to the issue because of press reports
that southern militants may be receiving financial support
from abroad. CTAG members agreed to continue individual
efforts to build capacity within the RTG in order to bring
them up to international standards.
UN CT CONVENTIONS
8. (SBU) Thailand is a party to five of the UN Conventions
relating to CT -- following RTG ratification of the
Convention on Suppression of the Financing of Terrorism in
September 2004 -- but has made little progress towards
ratification of the remaining seven UN CT Conventions (eight
if the 2005 Convention for the Suppression of Acts of Nuclear
Terrorism is included). The MFA has repeatedly stated that
Thailand intends to implement all UN CT Conventions (reftel
A). The Ambassadors agreed that all CTAG members should
continue to encourage the RTG to adopt the remaining
conventions. In his May 2 meeting with Ambassador Fall, MFA
Permanent Secretary Krit acknowledged that Thailand has yet
to ratify the eight conventions. Krit noted that the Cabinet
passed a resolution in December 2004 urging Thai agencies to
expedite ratification, but the process was interrupted by the
tsunami. Krit did not offer a clear timetable for