Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
09BANGKOK1195
2009-05-15 08:14:00
CONFIDENTIAL
Embassy Bangkok
Cable title:
DARFUR PEACEKEEPING: THAI DEPLOYMENT APPROVED BUT
how-toVZCZCXRO5137 OO RUEHCHI RUEHCN RUEHDT RUEHHM DE RUEHBK #1195 1350814 ZNY CCCCC ZZH O 150814Z MAY 09 FM AMEMBASSY BANGKOK TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC IMMEDIATE 7029 INFO RUEHZS/ASSOCIATION OF SOUTHEAST ASIAN NATIONS IMMEDIATE RUEHKH/AMEMBASSY KHARTOUM IMMEDIATE 0031 RUCNDT/USMISSION USUN NEW YORK IMMEDIATE 5428 RUEKJCS/SECDEF WASHINGTON DC IMMEDIATE RUEKJCS/CJCS WASHDC IMMEDIATE RHEFDIA/DIA WASHDC IMMEDIATE RUEAIIA/CIA WASHINGTON DC IMMEDIATE RHEHNSC/NSC WASHDC IMMEDIATE RHHMUNA/HQ USPACOM HONOLULU HI IMMEDIATE
C O N F I D E N T I A L BANGKOK 001195
SIPDIS
E.O. 12958: DECL: 05/15/2019
TAGS: PREL KPKO MARR TH SU
SUBJECT: DARFUR PEACEKEEPING: THAI DEPLOYMENT APPROVED BUT
HELP WITH THE SUDANESE GOVERNMENT NEEDED ON SITE SURVEY
REF: BANGKOK 934
Classified By: Deputy Chief of Mission James F. Entwistle, reasons 1.4
(b) and (d)
SUMMARY, COMMENT, RECOMMENDATION
---------------------------------
C O N F I D E N T I A L BANGKOK 001195
SIPDIS
E.O. 12958: DECL: 05/15/2019
TAGS: PREL KPKO MARR TH SU
SUBJECT: DARFUR PEACEKEEPING: THAI DEPLOYMENT APPROVED BUT
HELP WITH THE SUDANESE GOVERNMENT NEEDED ON SITE SURVEY
REF: BANGKOK 934
Classified By: Deputy Chief of Mission James F. Entwistle, reasons 1.4
(b) and (d)
SUMMARY, COMMENT, RECOMMENDATION
--------------
1. (C) Summary and Recommendation: The Thai Peace Operations
Center has confirmed a May 7 media report that the Thai
Cabinet had given formal approval for Thai troops to join
UNAMID. Despite the approval, preparations by the Thai
military remain held back by Sudanese government refusal to
approve a requisite site survey in advance of deployment, as
well as issues connected with Sudanese delay in clearing
peacekeeper equipment and supplies through its port. Post
recommends Department press the UN and perhaps ask Beijing to
encourage Sudan to allow the Thai site survey contingent to
travel to Darfur soon and clarify port clearance procedures
soon, since these are prerequisites for the Thai deployment
to proceed.
2. (C) Comment: Thai Cabinet approval for the deployment is
an encouraging and positive step forward for deployment to
Darfur and appears to have cleared domestic political and
legal hurdles to the deployment. If the RTG had sought
Parliamentary approval due to concerns with Article 190 of
the Constitution, the deployment could have become subject to
domestic political wrangling. End Summary and Comment.
CABINET APPROVES DARFUR DEPLOYMENT, SITE SURVEY NEEDED
-------------- --------------
3. (C) Contacts at the Royal Thai Armed Forces Headquarters
Peace Operations Center have confirmed with us the May 6
announcement by the RTG that the Cabinet had approved of Thai
troops joining UNAMID. The Center told us that the Thai
military continues to plan for eventual deployment to Darfur,
but that the Sudanese government has refused to grant
permission for a Thai site survey team to visit the
UN-designated sector to which the Thais would deploy.
4. (C) The Thai military completed an initial site survey in
2008, but the UN decided to change the Thai sector after the
visit. It is our understanding that the UN agreed that
another site survey is necessary before deployment, as this
is standard operating procedure prior to peacekeeping
deployments. In addition, the Thai site survey is crucial
because the base from which Thai would operate in western
Darfur must be expanded, as it cannot currently accommodate
the planned Thai deployment and will require construction
upgrades.
5. (C) After Sudanese approval of the site survey, the Thai
timeline for pre-deployment training and deployment is 180
days from when the site survey is completed. Deployment to
UNAMID will likely be delayed until 2010 if the team cannot
conduct a survey soon. It is our understanding that the Thai
would join the Chinese as only the second Asian country to
deploy peacekeeping troops to UNAMID; we also recommend
considering engaging Beijing to influence Khartoum on this
matter.
6. (C) Beyond Sudanese intransigence on site survey approval,
the Thai continue to seek assurance from the UN that
equipment and supplies will be cleared through Sudan's port
without long delays (reftel). The Peace Operations Center
has sought such assurances, but has told us that they have
not yet received them from the UN. The Thai UNAMID
deployment will be at risk of further delay, through no fault
of the Thai, if this issue as well as the site survey remain
unresolved.
JOHN
SIPDIS
E.O. 12958: DECL: 05/15/2019
TAGS: PREL KPKO MARR TH SU
SUBJECT: DARFUR PEACEKEEPING: THAI DEPLOYMENT APPROVED BUT
HELP WITH THE SUDANESE GOVERNMENT NEEDED ON SITE SURVEY
REF: BANGKOK 934
Classified By: Deputy Chief of Mission James F. Entwistle, reasons 1.4
(b) and (d)
SUMMARY, COMMENT, RECOMMENDATION
--------------
1. (C) Summary and Recommendation: The Thai Peace Operations
Center has confirmed a May 7 media report that the Thai
Cabinet had given formal approval for Thai troops to join
UNAMID. Despite the approval, preparations by the Thai
military remain held back by Sudanese government refusal to
approve a requisite site survey in advance of deployment, as
well as issues connected with Sudanese delay in clearing
peacekeeper equipment and supplies through its port. Post
recommends Department press the UN and perhaps ask Beijing to
encourage Sudan to allow the Thai site survey contingent to
travel to Darfur soon and clarify port clearance procedures
soon, since these are prerequisites for the Thai deployment
to proceed.
2. (C) Comment: Thai Cabinet approval for the deployment is
an encouraging and positive step forward for deployment to
Darfur and appears to have cleared domestic political and
legal hurdles to the deployment. If the RTG had sought
Parliamentary approval due to concerns with Article 190 of
the Constitution, the deployment could have become subject to
domestic political wrangling. End Summary and Comment.
CABINET APPROVES DARFUR DEPLOYMENT, SITE SURVEY NEEDED
-------------- --------------
3. (C) Contacts at the Royal Thai Armed Forces Headquarters
Peace Operations Center have confirmed with us the May 6
announcement by the RTG that the Cabinet had approved of Thai
troops joining UNAMID. The Center told us that the Thai
military continues to plan for eventual deployment to Darfur,
but that the Sudanese government has refused to grant
permission for a Thai site survey team to visit the
UN-designated sector to which the Thais would deploy.
4. (C) The Thai military completed an initial site survey in
2008, but the UN decided to change the Thai sector after the
visit. It is our understanding that the UN agreed that
another site survey is necessary before deployment, as this
is standard operating procedure prior to peacekeeping
deployments. In addition, the Thai site survey is crucial
because the base from which Thai would operate in western
Darfur must be expanded, as it cannot currently accommodate
the planned Thai deployment and will require construction
upgrades.
5. (C) After Sudanese approval of the site survey, the Thai
timeline for pre-deployment training and deployment is 180
days from when the site survey is completed. Deployment to
UNAMID will likely be delayed until 2010 if the team cannot
conduct a survey soon. It is our understanding that the Thai
would join the Chinese as only the second Asian country to
deploy peacekeeping troops to UNAMID; we also recommend
considering engaging Beijing to influence Khartoum on this
matter.
6. (C) Beyond Sudanese intransigence on site survey approval,
the Thai continue to seek assurance from the UN that
equipment and supplies will be cleared through Sudan's port
without long delays (reftel). The Peace Operations Center
has sought such assurances, but has told us that they have
not yet received them from the UN. The Thai UNAMID
deployment will be at risk of further delay, through no fault
of the Thai, if this issue as well as the site survey remain
unresolved.
JOHN