DARFUR PEACEKEEPING: THAI TO DEPLOY, BUT REQUEST

UNCLAS BANGKOK 003116 SENSITIVE SIPDIS E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: PREL KPKO MARR MOPS TH SU SUBJECT: DARFUR PEACEKEEPING: THAI TO DEPLOY, BUT REQUEST ASSISTANCE WITH EQUIPMENT REF: BANGKOK 1195 ¶1. (SBU) Recent meetings with the Royal Thai Armed Forces Headquarters' (RTARF) Peace Operations Center have confirmed that Thailand plans to deploy an infantry battalion to Darfur in March 2010 to join UNAMID peacekeeping forces, with a possible extended deployment of three-four years. The Thai military has completed site surveys to the areas in Western Darfur that border Chad and the Central African Republic where the Thais will need to construct camps. Following the site surveys, RTARF has been able to identify equipment needed to insure a successful deployment. ¶2. (SBU) During a December 3 meeting with visiting Principal Director (Asia and Pacific) Office of the Deputy Undersecretary of Defense Brigadier General William Crowe, RTARF Director of the Peace Operations Center Major General Jerdwut Kraprayoon and RTARF Director of Operations Lieutenant General Suraphan Wongthai confirmed that the Thai military would begin deploying to Darfur in March 2010 with the deployment completed by July. That said, Jerdwut and Suraphan raised with BGen Crowe requirements with which RTARF hoped that USG could assist. These equipment requirements are in part the result from the Thai battalion being required to deploy to two separate camps that are approximately 180 kilometers apart. Jerdwut and Suraphan stated that RTARF was interested in exploring various means of assistance, including taking possession of the equipment or accepting the items on loan. ¶3. (SBU) Thai officials also stated that the planned timeframe in which Thailand plans to commit forces to the UNAMID mission could extend from three to four years via annual troop rotations. Each iteration of the Thai contingent would use the equipment, if provided by loan or grant, by transferring or leaving in place all said equipment for the replacement contingent. ¶4. (SBU) Per discussions with BGen Crowe, Post is transmitting the below confirmed list of equipment requested by RTARF. We request consideration be given for the Thai request via Global Peacekeeping Operations Initiative (GPOI) funds or by other means. (1). Major Items a. Four wheeled recovery vehicles capable of recovering eleven ton, four-wheeled APCs. b. Two forklifts capable of lifting a minimum of 4,000 pounds, preferably capable of handling rough terrain. c. Six diesel power generators - three with a minimum of 400 KVA and three with a minimum of 500 KVA (2). Communications Support a. One broadband hub station (antenna greater than 6 meters) with associated equipment: receiver, satellite modem, ethernet switch, router, encryptor, VoIP Gateway 8 port FXO/FXS, and UPS over three KVA and surge protection system. b. Two satellite terminals (flyaway antenna greater that 2.5 meters) with associated equipment: receiver, satellite modem, ethernet switch, router, encryptor, VoIP Gateway 8 port FXS, UPS over three KVA and surge protection system, and VTC conference set. c. Eight hand-held satellite mobile phones (3). Force Protection/Sustainment a. 500,000 liter total water storage capacity in portable bladders, capacity split between two camps. b. 800 sets of individual ballistic armor (IBA) capable of stopping AK-47 7.62mm round. c. Twenty each hand-held GPS devices capable of determining exact geographical position with real time response. d. Fifty each night vision goggles capable of passive or active infrared, thermal or image night-time line or sight observation detecting within a range of 1,000 meters in order to support night-time patrols. JOHN