DEPARTMENT CLEARANCE FOR THAILAND LEAHY REQUEST - DAO

UNCLAS STATE 004369 SENSITIVE SIPDIS E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: MARR MASS MOPS PHUM PREL SNAR KCRM TH SUBJECT: DEPARTMENT CLEARANCE FOR THAILAND LEAHY REQUEST - DAO BANGKOK - JCET TEAK TORCH 09-2 AND BALANCE TORCH 09-3 EXERCISES IN UDON THANI, LOP BURI, AND DON MUANG REF: BANGKOK 4 ¶1. (SBU) The Department of State reviewed its files and found that, to date, it possesses no credible evidence of gross violations of human rights committed by the units and commanders listed below. These units and commanders are candidates to participate in DAO Bangkok JCET Teak Torch 09-2 and Balance Torch 09-3 exercises in Udon Thani, Lop Buri, and Don Muang. DAO Bangkok planned the exercises from April 27, 2009 to May 22, 2009. ¶2. (U) Units and Commanders: Unit: Royal Thai Air Force, Wing 2 Commander: Chalermvong Keeranond DPOB: 31 August 1959; Bangkok, Thailand Title/Rank: Commander, Group Captain Unit: Royal Thai Air Force, Wing 23 Commander: Napadej Thupathemiya DPOB: 26 January 1962; Nakhon Ratchasima, Thailand Title/Rank: Commander, Group Captain Unit: Royal Thai Air Force, Special Operations Regiment Commander: Jirawat Moolsatr DPOB: 27 January 1975; Bangkok, Thailand Title/Rank: Commander, Group Captain ¶3. (U) Post may provide the following statement to authorized parties: Embassy verifies that the Department of State possesses no credible information of gross violations of human rights by the units and commanders identified above, as of this date. Post may cite this cable in response. ¶4. (U) If, in the future, post becomes aware of possible human rights violations by the units and commanders listed above, post should inform the Department and not proceed with training. ¶5. (U) POC for this action is Jameson DeBose: -Email: DeBoseJL@state.gov -Phone: 202-647-2989 RICE