(UNITS TO STATE) EMBASSY/STATE DEPARTMENT HUMAN

UNCLAS BANGKOK 005447 SIPDIS STATE FOR EAP/BCLTV, L/EAP, L/PM, PM/ISO, INR AND DRL PACOM FOR FPA HUSO, JIATF/WEST FOR COMMANDER BUSCH E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: MASS MARR MOPS PREL PHUM TH HUMAN RIGHTS VETTING SUBJECT: (UNITS TO STATE) EMBASSY/STATE DEPARTMENT HUMAN RIGHTS VETTING FOR: EXERCISE BALANCE TORCH (BT) 06-2 REF: A. JIATF WEST J33/JUSMAG-THAI MEMO DATED 15 JULY 2005 ¶B. STATE 021314 - GUIDANCE ¶C. 03 STATE 34981 - GUIDANCE ¶1. This is an action request. ¶2. Joint Interagency Task Force West J33/JUSMAG THAI has requested that the Embassy/State Department complete human rights vetting for units that have been selected to participate in Exercise Balance Torch 06-2 scheduled from 3 October to 3 December 2005. To meet internal DOD advance deployment deadlines, they have requested that the review of human rights reports and files be completed no later than August 29, 2005, if possible. ¶3. The Embassy possesses no credible evidence that any of the units listed below in paragraph four have committed gross violations of human rights. Please advise whether the Department has any relevant information on the units listed below. ¶4. Participants in the Exercise are as follows: Royal Thai Army Infantry Center -- Special Forces Training Company (10 pax) Royal Thai Army Special Warfare Command -- HQ Company (10 pax) -- 1st Battalion, 3rd Special Forces Regiment (20 pax) -- PSYOPS Battalion, 2nd Special Forces Regiment (81) pax 1st Army Area -- 1st Special Forces Training Battalion (20 pax) 2nd Army Area -- 2nd Special Forces Training Battalion (20 pax) 3rd Army Area -- 3rd Special Forces Training Battalion, (20 pax) 4th Army Area -- 4th Special Forces Training Battalion, (20 pax) BOYCE