PACOM COMMANDER ADMIRAL FARGO MEETING WITH PRIME

C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 02 BANGKOK 000704

SIPDIS

E.O. 12958: DECL: 01/20/2015
TAGS: EAID MOPS PREL TH POL MIL
SUBJECT: PACOM COMMANDER ADMIRAL FARGO MEETING WITH PRIME
MINISTER THAKSIN, JANUARY 19, 2005


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


1. (C) Summary: Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra told
PACOM Commander Admiral Thomas Fargo that last month's
tsunami demonstrated the need for increased emphasis on

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disaster response in future Thai/US military exercises.
During the January 19 meeting, Thaksin told Fargo that if the
US needs to maintain its deployment of relief-related forces
at Utapao a short while past its anticipated
end-of-February/early March redeployment from Indonesia it
would be "no problem." Fargo told the Prime Minister that
the U.S. is prepared to help Thailand in the establishment of
a tsunami early warning system. Turning to Thailand's south,
Thaksin said that many of the instigators have now been
identified and that there was no link to the JI or other
international terrorist organizations. End Summary.


2. (U) Pacific Command Commander Admiral Thomas Fargo
visited Thailand on January 17-19. On January 19, Admiral
Fargo called on Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra.

Participants:

U.S.

Admiral Fargo
Ambassador Boyce
PACOM Foreign Policy Advisor Huso
Chief JUSMAG CO. Dibrell
US Defense Attache Col. Page
Executive Assistant Col. Twomey
Public Affairs Officer Capt. Singley
Aide-de-Camp LTC Madkins
PACOM Country Desk Officer Maj. Ton
Embassy notetaker

Thailand

Prime Minister Thaksin
Foreign Minister Surikiart
NSC General Secretary General Winai
MFA America Director General Nongnuth
Notetakers


3. (U) Prime Minister Thaksin expressed appreciation for
the assistance the US has provided Thailand following the
tsunami. He thanked President Bush for calling him in the

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aftermath and stated that the U.S. played an especially
important role in helping Thailand to cope with the disaster.
Admiral Fargo thanked Thaksin for his sympathy for those
Americans killed in the tsunami and offered condolences for
the Thai victims. He added that Thailand's willingness and
ability to participate the international relief effort has
saved many lives.

NEED TO INCORPORATE DISASTER RELIEF IN EXERCISES


4. (SBU) Admiral Fargo attributed the effectiveness of
Thai-U.S. relief cooperation on the long years of friendship
and military cooperation, exemplified by the annual Cobra
Gold exercises. Thaksin agreed and said that future joint
exercises such as Cobra Gold should have an increased
emphasis on disaster relief. He said that Thailand has had
"too many incidents" that have highlighted the need for
better civil-military coordination and disaster drills.
Fargo said that civic action projects connected with this
year's Cobra Gold exercise are being moved forward and
directed towards the areas worst hit by the tsunami. He
noted that the Combined Support Group (CSG) that coordinated
the U.S. relief effort demonstrated that civil and military
structures can operate in concert. Fargo added that a
scenario including mass disaster humanitarian relief will be
included in the Cobra Gold exercise.

THAKSIN SAYS THAILAND NEEDS CAPACITY BUILDING, NOT FINANCIAL
ASSISTANCE


5. (SBU) Observing that Thailand was not as severely
damaged as Indonesia and Sri Lanka, Thaksin said that direct
financial assistance should go to those countries, not
Thailand. What Thailand needs is capacity building and
expertise, especially in establishing a tsunami early warning
system (EWS) and in rehabilitating damaged natural resources.
Thaksin added that other small projects, such as rebuilding
destroyed village schools, would be welcome. Fargo told
Thaksin that the United States can assist in setting up a
tsunami EWS, having logged considerable experience in

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operating such a system in Hawaii. He added that Thailand's
leadership in pushing for a regional EWS is very important.

DIRECT MILITARY ASSISTANCE WINDING DOWN OVER COMING WEEKS


6. (SBU) Fargo told the Prime Minister that direct military
assistance in Thailand and Sri Lanka should wind up by
month's end. He added that a military forensics team can
remain in country as long as Thailand needs it. Operations
in Indonesia, including much-needed helicopter support,
should end by mid-to-late February. The relief units should
all be redeployed from Utapao by the end of February or early
March. In response, Thaksin said that if the US needs to
maintain its deployment of relief-related forces at Utapao a
short while past its anticipated redeployment from Indonesia
it would be "no problem."


7. (C) Thaksin said that his government is trying to
expedite the process of identifying and repatriating the
remains of foreign victims of the tsunami. He expressed
concern that relatives of Burmese victims are not showing up
to claim the remains. Thaksin commented that it is "a little
bit more difficult" coordinating with Burmese authorities
than it would have been if Khin Nyunt was still the PM. He
added that he finds that Than Shwe is firmly in control.
GETTING A HANDLE ON VIOLENCE-WRACKED SOUTH

8. (C) In answer to Fargo's query on the southern
situation, Thaksin stated that his administration will be
able to control the violence in the near future. He said
that his security agencies have identified a number of the
instigators of the violence. Thaksin said that these
individuals are all Thais and that there are no direct links
between the separatists and international terrorist groups
such as the JI. He added that some of those suspected of
inciting Thai Muslim youths to violence may have been in
contact with terrorists while at school abroad, but Thaksin
emphasized that there were no JI or other international
terrorists in Thailand. He added that money donated by
Muslims from abroad for mosques or schools in Thailand may
also have been misappropriated by Thai separatists. Admiral
Fargo told Thaksin that the U.S. assessment was the same as
the Prime Minister's - there are no signs of a JI presence in
Thailand.


9. (C) Thaksin said that his government will beef up the
security forces presence in the deep southern provinces by
basing a new division there. Thaksin said that this large
permanent security force presence will demonstrate that the
government will be able to protect the general population.






BOYCE