Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
06BANGKOK1174
2006-02-27 09:30:00
CONFIDENTIAL
Embassy Bangkok
Cable title:  

SENATOR FEINGOLD'S MEETING WITH THAI DEFENSE

Tags:  PREL PGOV PTER PINS TH POL MIL 
pdf how-to read a cable
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 SECTION 01 OF 02 BANGKOK 001174 

SIPDIS

DEPARTMENT FOR EAP, EAP/MLS, H
PACOM FOR FPA (HUSO)

E.O. 12958: DECL: 02/21/2016
TAGS: PREL PGOV PTER PINS TH POL MIL
SUBJECT: SENATOR FEINGOLD'S MEETING WITH THAI DEFENSE
MINISTER THAMMARAK

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

C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 02 BANGKOK 001174

SIPDIS

DEPARTMENT FOR EAP, EAP/MLS, H
PACOM FOR FPA (HUSO)

E.O. 12958: DECL: 02/21/2016
TAGS: PREL PGOV PTER PINS TH POL MIL
SUBJECT: SENATOR FEINGOLD'S MEETING WITH THAI DEFENSE
MINISTER THAMMARAK

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


1. (C) Summary. In a February 20 meeting with visiting
Senator Russell Feingold and the Ambassador, Defense Minister
Thammarak Issarangkul Na Ayutthaya outlined Thai military
modernization efforts, explained that the RTG has not yet
made a decision on the purchase of new fighter aircraft and
voiced optimism on RTG efforts to combat violence in the
South. End Summary.


2. (SBU) On February 20, Senator Russell Feingold,
accompanied by the Ambassador, called on Thai Minister of
Defense Thammarak Issarangkul Na Ayutthaya. Thammarak began
by thanking Senator Feingold for visiting and observed that
the large number of senior Thai officers in the room who had
received U.S. training signified the close and "very good"
U.S.-Thai relationship. Senator Feingold concurred, citing
U.S.-Thai collaboration in response to the 2004 tsunami and
the importance of the annual Cobra Gold exercise. The
Senator emphasized that the close U.S.-Thai partnership would
be important in tackling new regional and global threats.

MILITARY MODERNIZATION
--------------


3. (SBU) Senator Feingold asked Thammarak for an outline of
Thai military modernization efforts. Thammarak explained
that the Royal Thai Armed Forces had been structured to
combat the communist threat of years past, leading to an
"oversized" force. The first goal of modernization was to
downsize excess personnel. Second, the military must improve
its internal education and training. Third, the military
must have the right weapons and equipment to meet new threats
and challenges. MOD has instituted a new three year
procurement and planning cycle to meet this third objective.
New equipment procurement must also focus on logistics and
long term maintenance needs. In particular, the Thai
military was interested in technology transfers with friendly
nations.

NO DECISION ON F-16'S, BESIDES, MOD "NOT INVOLVED"
-------------- --------------


4. (C) In response to Senator Feingold's query on future
Royal Thai Air Force (RTAF) procurement, Thammarak explained
that the RTG is focused on upgrading the current fleet of
F-16s. That said, the RTAF will be looking to replace their
aging fleet of F-5's, which may involve consideration of
several different offers. Thammarak was quick to emphasize,
however, that no decision had been made yet. The Defense
Minister went on to outline the lengthy procurement process,
which he suggested was rooted in a formal RTAF procurement
board that would eventually report to a special cabinet
committee. "We're (MOD) not involved." Any media reports
that a decision has been made already are untrue, he claimed.

THE SOUTH
--------------


5. (C) Senator Feingold asked for Thammarak's assessment on
the violence in the South and the efficacy of RTG strategy
and tactics there. Thammarak began by emphasizing that,
based on his own "investigation" into the situation, the
violence in the South remained an internal affair with no
clear links to outside terrorist groups. "We think that we
can solve this problem." The southern insurgency arose from
the misconduct of state officials. That said, "we have never
suppressed Muslims in the South." Thai Muslims have lived
under Thai administrative control for years in peace. "Some
groups" have used politics, drugs and southern locals to
conduct violence. Thammarak emphasized the lack of a
specific, unified group behind the violence.


6. (C) When asked if there was a terrorist link to piracy in
the Malacca Strait, Thammarak responded no. There are
several nationalities involved in piracy there, including
Malays and Indonesians, but terrorists "could not control the
pirates." Senator Feingold asked Thammarak about the
importance of Malaysia to the problem in the South. The
Defense minister responded that, given the shared border and
history, Malaysia played a key role in any solution to the
southern violence. Thai authorities were working closely
with their Malay counterparts, in particular on the issue of
dual-citizens involved in the unrest.


7. (C) According to Thammarak, the Southern Province Peace
Building Command is playing a key role in coordinating the
multiple agencies and ministries involved in the South. The
government will consider the recommendations of the National
Reconciliation Commission (NRC),but, in truth "their ideas
won't fix everything."

8. (U) Senator Feingold's office cleared this message.
BOYCE