EMBASSY SUPPORTS M16A4 SALE

C O N F I D E N T I A L BANGKOK 004090

SIPDIS

SIPDIS

SECDEF FOR DSCA/OPS/ERP
SECSTATE FOR PM/RSAT AND EAP/MLS

E.O. 12958: DECL: 07/26/2017
TAGS: MASS TH
SUBJECT: EMBASSY SUPPORTS M16A4 SALE

REF: CHJUSMAG BANGKOK TH 090419ZMAR07

Classified By: Charge d'Affaires a.i. James F. Entwistle, reason 1.4 (b
) and (d).


1. (SBU) Post understands that there may be some uncertainty
about EMBASSY position on the FY07 requested M16A4 sale to
Thailand. EMBASSY Country Team expressed its support for the
sale in reftel.


2. (U) EMBASSY still supports the sale. This purchase is
part of a basic equipment modernization. It upgrades
internal capabilities from earlier versions of the M16 and
will improve interoperability with US forces. It ensures
that Royal Thai Army elements deployed in multi-national
forces are logistically supportable. Thailand's current
situation requires a reliable weapon to ensure effective
counter-insurgency and support to GWOT objectives.


3. (U) This case was established by Letter of Request on
2/21/07; the case is a follow up to support the modernization
of RTA weapons systems initiated in April 2005.


4. (SBU) In the wake of the September 2006 coup, US agencies
agreed that, in addition to the imposition of sanctions
required under Section 508 of the Foreign Assistance Act, we
would consider further measures, such as the suspension of
defense article transfers, if the Thai government did not
move forward on the necessary elements of the restoration of
democratic government, or if it crossed identified redlines,
such as cracking down on peaceful protest or the
extrajudicial detention of opponents. Defense transfers have
subsequently been reviewed on a case by case basis.


5. (SBU) Since then, we believe that the progress of the
Thai government has been satisfactory, if uninspiring. The
new constitution has been drafted, the referendum is
scheduled, and the new elections are expected before the end
of the year. We urged, and would have preferred, faster
progress on each of these measures. However, we believe that,
if Thailand continues on the current path, it should lead to
the restoration soon of civilian, democratically-elected
government, which is our goal.


6. (C) Post recognizes that there are valid human rights
concerns to be considered in this transfer. We note that the
September coup d'etat was accomplished without loss of life,
and that the interim government has not used force against
peaceful demonstrators. Police did not use firearms even
when confronted with a group of stone-throwing protesters on
July 22. This sale would result in delivery of the arms
after the reinstallation of an elected civilian government.
We recommend that this sale be approved.

ENTWISTLE