Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
05BANGKOK703
2005-01-27 06:37:00
CONFIDENTIAL
Embassy Bangkok
Cable title:  

THAILAND SUPPORTS TIMETABLE FOR WITHDRAWAL OF U.S.

Tags:  EAID ECON PREL MARR MOPS TH POL MIL 
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This record is a partial extract of the original cable. The full text of the original cable is not available.
C O N F I D E N T I A L BANGKOK 000703 

SIPDIS

DEPARTMENT FOR EAP, EAP/BCLTV, P
PACOM FOR FPA HUSO

E.O. 12958: DECL: 01/26/2015
TAGS: EAID ECON PREL MARR MOPS TH POL MIL
SUBJECT: THAILAND SUPPORTS TIMETABLE FOR WITHDRAWAL OF U.S.
MILITARY ASSETS FROM TSUNAMI AFFECTED REGION

REF: A. SECSTATE 15234 NOTAL

B. BANGKOK 508

C. BANGKOK 524

D. BANGKOK 525

Classified By: Ambassador Ralph L. Boyce. Reason 1.4 (b and d)

C O N F I D E N T I A L BANGKOK 000703

SIPDIS

DEPARTMENT FOR EAP, EAP/BCLTV, P
PACOM FOR FPA HUSO

E.O. 12958: DECL: 01/26/2015
TAGS: EAID ECON PREL MARR MOPS TH POL MIL
SUBJECT: THAILAND SUPPORTS TIMETABLE FOR WITHDRAWAL OF U.S.
MILITARY ASSETS FROM TSUNAMI AFFECTED REGION

REF: A. SECSTATE 15234 NOTAL

B. BANGKOK 508

C. BANGKOK 524

D. BANGKOK 525

Classified By: Ambassador Ralph L. Boyce. Reason 1.4 (b and d)


1. (C) Reftel A requests Post query the RTG for its views
of the planned withdrawal of U.S. military assets from the
tsunami affected region. Utapao naval air base, which is

SIPDIS
located in Thailand, serves as the regional hub for Combined
Support Force 536 (CSF 536). Nodes from that hub, known as
Combined Support Groups, in Sri Lanka, Southern Thailand, and
Indonesia have coordinated relief from Utapao and U.S. Naval
ships. Reftel B outlined the Country Team's concurrence with
the drawdown of Combined Support Group Thailand (CSG-THAI)
which took place on January 22.


2. (C) On January 15, Deputy Secretary of Defense Wolfowitz
explained to the Defense Minister that CSF 536 would draw
down once relief efforts could be handed over fully to
civilian agencies, NGOs and International Organizations
(reftel D). From January 17-19, PACOM Commander ADM Fargo
briefed the proposed timetable for withdrawal of forces from
Utapao to the Thai Defense Minister, Supreme Commander,
Foreign Minister and Prime Minister (reftel C and septels).
All concurred with the timetable. ADM Fargo explained to PM
Thaksin Shinawatra that relief units could all be redeployed
from Utapao by the end of February or early March. Thaksin
approved of the plan and said that if the US needed to
maintain its deployment of relief-related forces at Utapao a
short while past its anticipated redeployment from Indonesia
it would be "no problem." We have emphasized to our Thai
interlocutors that, although CSG-THAI's mission has been
accomplished, a number of U.S. military relief operations
remain underway or are planned. These tasks are being
undertaken under the supervision of JUSMAGTHAI and the
Embassy with the full support of PACOM. They include
forensic work underway by teams from the Joint POW/MIA
Accounting Command, Civil Affairs projects, engineering
assessments and upgrades and improvements at Utapao. The
Thai Government is aware of these and has expressed
appreciation.


3. (C) Post is in regular contact with representatives of
third-country militaries embedded in the Multinational
Planning Augmentation Team (MPAT) based at CSF-536 HQ at
Utapao. Those officers have been regularly briefed on
redeployment and transition plans and have not indicated any
objections to us.


4. (C) Post has conducted a comprehensive media campaign to
highlight work being done in Thailand and being conducted
from Utapao to assist Indonesia and Sri Lanka. A few fringe
newspapers have claimed that our work at Utapao and in Aceh
is designed to create a permanent base presence in the region
but the vast majority of Thai media support U.S. relief
efforts. We will continue to monitor media developments but
do not anticipate any adverse reaction to a planned
withdrawal from Utapao as outlined in reftel A.
BOYCE