Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
07BANGKOK3648
2007-07-03 00:21:00
CONFIDENTIAL
Embassy Bangkok
Cable title:
THAI TROOPS FOR DARFUR: AWAITING UN RESPONSE, THEN
how-toVZCZCXRO1562 PP RUEHCHI RUEHDT RUEHHM DE RUEHBK #3648 1840021 ZNY CCCCC ZZH P 030021Z JUL 07 FM AMEMBASSY BANGKOK TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC PRIORITY 8030 INFO RUEHZS/ASSOCIATION OF SOUTHEAST ASIAN NATIONS PRIORITY RUEHGG/UN SECURITY COUNCIL COLLECTIVE PRIORITY RUEHNR/AMEMBASSY NAIROBI PRIORITY 0278 RUCNDT/USMISSION USUN NEW YORK PRIORITY 5169 RUEAIIA/CIA WASHINGTON DC PRIORITY RHEFDIA/DIA WASHDC PRIORITY RUEKJCS/SECDEF WASHINGTON DC PRIORITY RHHMUNA/USCINCPAC HONOLULU HI PRIORITY
C O N F I D E N T I A L BANGKOK 003648
SIPDIS
SIPDIS
E.O. 12958: DECL: 07/02/2017
TAGS: PREL KPKO UNSC MASS SU TH
SUBJECT: THAI TROOPS FOR DARFUR: AWAITING UN RESPONSE, THEN
CABINET APPROVAL
REF: A. STATE 90022
B. BANGKOK 2632 (THAIS FOR DARFUR)
Classified By: Political Counselor Susan M. Sutton, reason: 1.4 (b) and
(d).
C O N F I D E N T I A L BANGKOK 003648
SIPDIS
SIPDIS
E.O. 12958: DECL: 07/02/2017
TAGS: PREL KPKO UNSC MASS SU TH
SUBJECT: THAI TROOPS FOR DARFUR: AWAITING UN RESPONSE, THEN
CABINET APPROVAL
REF: A. STATE 90022
B. BANGKOK 2632 (THAIS FOR DARFUR)
Classified By: Political Counselor Susan M. Sutton, reason: 1.4 (b) and
(d).
1. (C) The Thai military hopes to provide an engineering
company of 315 troops for peacekeeping under UN auspices in
Darfur, according to Colonel Nattapol Saeksaan of the Royal
Thai Supreme Command (RTSC) center for peacekeeping
operations. Drawing on ref A, we inquired whether these
troops were intended for the UN's Heavy Support Package or
the Hybrid Operation. Nattapol said the RTG had not
determined which element the troops would support (although
we note their engineering skill set seems to fit with the
former); he seemed unconcerned by the distinction. When
asked whether the RTG might be able to provide more troops,
especially infantry, for the Hybrid Operation, Nattapol said
the RTSC was considering devoting an infantry battalion
(approximately 800 troops) for PKO, but the RTG preferred
that this battalion go to Chad or the Central African
Republic, rather than Sudan. However, Nattapol added that
the RTG might prove willing to provide the battalion for PKO
in Sudan, if it were to become clear that the UNSC would not
approve PKO missions in Chad or the Central Africa Republic.
2. (C) Nattapol said his office was in direct contact with
the UN's office for peacekeeping operations and had conveyed
RTG interest in providing the engineering company for Darfur.
The UN had not yet provided an official response, however.
Nattapol said the RTSC would put the deployment decision
before the cabinet after receiving an official response from
the UN. Nattapol stressed that, until the cabinet's
approval, the decision to provide troops for Darfur was not
final. Given that the RTG had not yet made a final decision
on the matter, Nattapol urged that we not discuss publicly
RTG plans for Darfur PKO.
3. (C) Comment: We believe the most effective way to bolster
Thai participation in Darfur PKO would be encourage the
relevant UN office to be in direct contact with the RTSC,
both to provide formal acceptance of the engineering company
and to advise of its preference that the infantry battalion
be devoted to Darfur.
BOYCE
SIPDIS
SIPDIS
E.O. 12958: DECL: 07/02/2017
TAGS: PREL KPKO UNSC MASS SU TH
SUBJECT: THAI TROOPS FOR DARFUR: AWAITING UN RESPONSE, THEN
CABINET APPROVAL
REF: A. STATE 90022
B. BANGKOK 2632 (THAIS FOR DARFUR)
Classified By: Political Counselor Susan M. Sutton, reason: 1.4 (b) and
(d).
1. (C) The Thai military hopes to provide an engineering
company of 315 troops for peacekeeping under UN auspices in
Darfur, according to Colonel Nattapol Saeksaan of the Royal
Thai Supreme Command (RTSC) center for peacekeeping
operations. Drawing on ref A, we inquired whether these
troops were intended for the UN's Heavy Support Package or
the Hybrid Operation. Nattapol said the RTG had not
determined which element the troops would support (although
we note their engineering skill set seems to fit with the
former); he seemed unconcerned by the distinction. When
asked whether the RTG might be able to provide more troops,
especially infantry, for the Hybrid Operation, Nattapol said
the RTSC was considering devoting an infantry battalion
(approximately 800 troops) for PKO, but the RTG preferred
that this battalion go to Chad or the Central African
Republic, rather than Sudan. However, Nattapol added that
the RTG might prove willing to provide the battalion for PKO
in Sudan, if it were to become clear that the UNSC would not
approve PKO missions in Chad or the Central Africa Republic.
2. (C) Nattapol said his office was in direct contact with
the UN's office for peacekeeping operations and had conveyed
RTG interest in providing the engineering company for Darfur.
The UN had not yet provided an official response, however.
Nattapol said the RTSC would put the deployment decision
before the cabinet after receiving an official response from
the UN. Nattapol stressed that, until the cabinet's
approval, the decision to provide troops for Darfur was not
final. Given that the RTG had not yet made a final decision
on the matter, Nattapol urged that we not discuss publicly
RTG plans for Darfur PKO.
3. (C) Comment: We believe the most effective way to bolster
Thai participation in Darfur PKO would be encourage the
relevant UN office to be in direct contact with the RTSC,
both to provide formal acceptance of the engineering company
and to advise of its preference that the infantry battalion
be devoted to Darfur.
BOYCE