THAILAND INTERESTED IN SUPPORTING DARFUR MISSION

UNCLAS BANGKOK 002524 SIPDIS SIPDIS E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: PREL UNSC KPKO SU TH SUBJECT: THAILAND INTERESTED IN SUPPORTING DARFUR MISSION REF: SECSTATE 51828 ¶1. On May 4, the DCM delivered reftel demarche to MOD Permanent Secretary GEN Winai Phattiyakul and emphasized our hope that Thailand will support the Heavy Support Package being designed for Darfur. Winai acknowledged the interim nature of the present Royal Thai Government (RTG) makes it difficult for Thailand to support some missions but expressed his belief that the Royal Thai Army (RTA) might consider supporting the Darfur Mission given the wide-spread international desire to help the people of that region. Winai said that he would meet with the Defense Minister and urge him to direct the MOD and RTA to seriously explore the feasibility for Thailand to provide support for the mission. ¶2. MOD Deputy Director of Plans and Policy LTG Naraset Israngura indicated that the RTA Liaison Officers (LNOs) based at CENTCOM Headquarters had briefed the RTA on our desire for Thailand to support the Darfur mission. Naraset suggested that the RTA might be able to provide engineering support for the mission but asked whether the Embassy could provide greater detail on what requirements Thailand could best fill. Naraset also indicated that the Thai might need logistic support from the United States or others for any deployment and noted the UN's tendency to reimburse expenses in a less than timely way. Winai also asked for details on what type of assistance the USG intends to provide in the way of troops or support for Darfur. ¶3. Post seeks additional details we can share with the Royal Thai Government. We will keep the MFA informed of our discussions with the MOD and RTA and suggest USUN and CENTCOM follow-up with the Thai Mission in New York and the RTA LNO at CENTCOM. BOYCE