EMBASSY/STATE DEPARTMENT HUMAN RIGHTS VETTING FOR

UNCLAS BANGKOK 002254 SIPDIS STATE FOR EAP/BCLTV, L/EAP, L/PM, PM/ISO, INR AND DRL PACOM FOR FPA HUSO E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: MASS MARR MOPS PREL PHUM TH HUMAN RIGHTS VETTING SUBJECT: EMBASSY/STATE DEPARTMENT HUMAN RIGHTS VETTING FOR EXERCISE BALANCE TORCH (BT) 05-2 REF: A. EAP/BCLTV E-MAIL DATED 3/30/05 ¶B. STATE 42012 ¶C. BANGKOK 1163 ¶1. (U) DOD (OSD/POLICY),per Ref A, has requested that the Embassy/State Department complete further human rights vetting for the 25th Infantry Regiment, 5th Infantry Division, 4th Army Area, a unit that has been selected to participate in Exercise Balance Torch (BT) 05-2 scheduled from 11 April - 3 June 2005. ¶2. (U) The Embassy has reviewed its previous vetting (Ref C) on the 25th Infantry Regiment, and made additional inquiries of an academic and an NGO that monitor human rights abuses involving security forces in Thailand. The Embassy possesses no credible evidence that the 25th Infantry Regiment or its personnel have committed gross violations of human rights. Please advise whether the Department has any relevant information on this unit. ¶3. (U) Embassy Bangkok Political Counselor Robert J. Clarke is the verifying officer for the Embassy/Department of State. BOYCE