Cablegate: Thailand: Requests for Funding Pko Projects In

This record is a partial extract of the original cable. The full text of the original cable is not available.

UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 04 BANGKOK 006088

SIPDIS

SENSITIVE

DEPARTMENT FOR EAP/MLS, EAP/RSP. PM (SKWAK)

DEFENSE FOR OSD/ISA (JPOWERS)

PACOM FOR FPA HUSO

E.O. 12958: N/A

TAGS: PREL PGOV MARR TH PKO

SUBJECT: THAILAND: REQUESTS FOR FUNDING PKO PROJECTS IN

SUPPORT OF THE WAR ON TERROR

REF: A. SECSTATE 143881

B. HIGGINS-LAMBERT EMAILS

1. (SBU) Post appreciates the opportunity to propose projects

supporting U.S. strategic peace keeping and counter terrorism objective

The Embassy outlines below several projects, in priority order, to impr

the Thai ability to thwart terrorism and to fulfill more effectively it

peacekeeping obligations. We offer three different categories of

projects. First, we propose funding the purchase of a number of items

that will improve the safety of flight operations at Utapao Naval Air

Station. Utapao is a Royal Thai Navy facility that services hundreds o

U.S. military flights to OIF, OEF or the region per year and was the hu

for our military relief operations during the Indian Ocean Tsunami

response. Second, we have been working with the Royal Thai military,

PACOM and Washington for some time to build a state-of-the-art National

Training Facility (NTF) that can by used by both Thai and U.S. forces

training for counter terrorism and peacekeeping operations and to ensur

that Thai forces have the proper training and equipment to conduct PKO

CT operations. We envision the NTF also becoming a key site for

joint/combined training with militaries from other countries and help u

to work with the Thai to strengthen our links with other militaries in

Asia. Finally, we propose a number of projects aimed directly at

promoting moderate responses by the Government and by local citizens to

the ongoing unrest in the southern provinces of Thailand.

2. (SBU) PROJECT: PURCHASING "STRIKER" AIRCRAFT RESCUE AND FIRE

FIGHTING (ARFF) VEHICLE AND OTHER SAFETY EQUIPMENT FOR UTAPAO NAVAL AIR

STATION THAILAND

Background: Utapao has served as one of the key transportation hubs in

support of the War on Terrorism. Key air refueling operations were

supported out of this base during the initial air operations in

Afghanistan. The air field also plays a key role today as a refueling

rest stop for air crews conducting support operations into the operatio

theater as well as the Strait of Malacca. This base served as the

regional staging hub for the multi-national response to the December 20

Indian Ocean Tsunami.

Current assessments of the air field indicate that its regional and

operational support role will likely increase in the future. The crash

and rescue equipment located at Utapao only marginally meets the

requirements for safe operations under U.S. Military safety standards.

Communications and lighting facilities should also be upgraded.

Increasing the crash and rescue readiness posture by providing modern f

fighting capabilities will increase the overall safe operations of the

field possibly saving the lives of U.S. air crews and limiting damage t

U.S. aircraft in an emergency. Initial assessments of Utapao indicate

that three modern fire fighting trucks are needed to optimize the safet

response capabilities there. In this proposal, we seek funding for one

Please see para. 6 for our request for a second truck and additional

safety equipment, should additional funds be made available.

Notional Use: The continued operation of this air field is critical to

the U.S. operational mission in prosecuting the War on Terrorism.

Cost: Currently under research -- a Striker fire fighting truck suitabl

for Utapao would cost roughly $500,000.

3. (SBU) PROJECT: UPGRADING CLOSE QUARTER BATTLE (CQB) TRAINING

FACILITY, SPECIAL WARFARE CENTER, LOP BURI, THAILAND

Background: Units assigned to the Thai Special Warfare Center are the

designated Counter Terrorism forces for the Kingdom of Thailand. This

project would upgrade the current CQB building, expanding the level and

quality of live fire training that can be conducted there. This facili

would be a key component of a National Training Facility designed to tr

Thai, U.S. and third country CT forces. The CQB would allow users to h

skills needed for direct action missions required during CT operations.

The CQB building will be co-located with an Exercise Related Constructi

project at Lop Buri designed to provide a realistic urban training

environment for U.S. and Thai Special Operations Forces. This directly

benefits the training resources available to U.S. forces in developing

realistic training in preparation for missions in support of the War on

Terrorism.

Notional Use: This facility will be used to train Thai and U.S. forces

skills sets that directly support counter terrorism. It could also be

used by other militaries in the region -- enhancing our ability to work

with the Thai to better integrate CT and PKO training in Asia.

Cost: Approximately $1,000,000

4. (SBU) PROJECT: NON-LETHAL WEAPONS (NLW) AND CIVIL DISTURBANCE

RESPONSE TRAINING FOR THAI MILITARY DEPLOYING TO THE SOUTH

Background: The Thai military seeks to improve its ability to respond

various civil disturbances in the three southern border provinces of Ya

Narathiwat, and Pattani, particularly in light of the incident at Tak B

in October of 2004 in which scores of Thai demonstrators suffocated whi

being transported in military trucks.

During the U.S. - Thailand Senior Leader Talks (an annual bilateral

military meeting between the U.S. Pacific Command and the Royal Thai

Supreme Command), the Director of Operations of the Royal Thai Supreme

Command, Lieutenant General Kemarat Kanchanawat, specifically requested

U.S. assistance regarding NLW training as it relates to civil unrest.

United States Marine Corps (USMC) is the DOD proponent for the training

and application of NLW. A USMC Special Operations Training Group (SOTG

has the ability to deploy to Thailand and conduct comprehensive NLW

training. However, due to U.S. Code Title 10 restrictions, it cannot u

its own operational funds for this deployment. Funding must come from

some other source.

Notional Use: The NLW training conducted by the USMC SOTG focuses on

rules of engagement and graduated response protocols in a practical

application environment. NLW training is a viable approach to address

issue of unrest in Southern Thailand.

Cost: Currently under research. Approximately $150,000.

5. (SBU) PROJECT: PUBLIC AFFAIRS TRAINING AND PROGRAMS AIMED AT SOUTH

THAILAND

Background: Thai scholars and journalists have asked for assistance to

improve their ability to promote peaceful resolution of the conflict in

Southern Thailand. We have a number of projects that we can offer to

assist them.

A. Study on People's Peace Movements

Moderate Narathiwat Muslim community activist Hama Mayunu has initiated

program to study populist anti-terrorism movements in other countries.

With support from the Thai Government, he has already traveled to

Indonesia and is seeking to expand the project to include the Philippin

Sri Lanka, Israel and Northern Ireland. His stated outcome is to share

approaches to peaceful conflict resolution with Southern community lead

in a series of conferences upon his return. We would propose partnerin

with the People's Peace Movement Narathiwat for this program.

Cost: $29,000 (Overhead and supplies $3000, Conference $2000, Philippi

travel and research $5000, Sri Lanka travel and research $5000, Norther

Ireland travel and research $7000, Israel travel and research $7000).

B. Promoting Journalistic Responsibility and Investigative Journalism

the South

Prominent Southern Muslim moderate Sampan Musordee has recently stated

that both the national and local level journalists covering the South n

training in two major areas. First, they tend to report all crimes as

terror incidents, confusing and exacerbating the situation. They need

training to understand their responsibility to report accurately and

fairly on incidents. Second, they do not tend to check into local clai

of corruption and prejudice before publishing. They need training to

understand the power and necessity of conducting good investigative

journalism in the South. Standard training in good journalistic practi

would encourage more accurate and worthwhile reporting. We would partne

with the Association of Yala Journalists to conduct training courses.

Cost: $5,000 per training session -- five sessions would cost $25,000.

C. Community Radio and Democracy

Media activist Supinya Kangnarong is promoting the concept of community

radio as a responsible, moderate force in the South. Community radio

stations broadcast a few hours per day and cannot be heard more than 10

15 km from the station. They carry local news, views and discussions,

frequently do not follow the government line. These small-time operato

in the South are influential, but also completely untrained and usually

lack any concept of journalistic responsibility. The quality of

broadcasting would benefit greatly from a program aimed at offering an

explanation of community broadcasting in the United States, including t

role of community radios to serve needs and interests of specific

audiences and how the stations can best serve their communities. We wo

partner with the Campaign for Popular Media Reform to conduct training

courses.

Cost: $5,000 per training session -- five sessions would cost $25,000.

D. Giving Power to Southern Muslim Women

According to a World Bank study, rural Southern Muslim women have littl

political or economic power. Many researchers have correlated poor

women's education and power with a rise in poverty, birth rates and

political radicalism. A nascent women's group in the South is seeking

give women an increased say in their lives, while staying within the

bounds of cultural and social norms. It is called Friends of Thai Musl

Women and is run by a female professor at Prince of Songkhla University

Pattani. In order for this grassroots organization to create a workabl

game plan, it will require assistance from an experienced NGO or

international consultant.

Cost: $7,000

E. Speaker Series on Terrorism.

The Department has recommended a number of U.S. experts, including Tom

Sanderson from CSIS, Richard Falkenrath from Brookings, Michael Radu fr

FPRI, William Rosenau and Bruce Hoffman from Rand, Audrey Cronin from N

Robert Lieber from Georgetown and Donald Emmerson from Stanford as pers

willing to give a series of lectures around the country to a variety of

audiences.

Cost: About $10,000 per iteration, we would propose a three-part serie

of lectures to take place over the course of a year for a total cost of

$30,000.

F. Speaker Series on Terrorism Financing.

Thailand is a regional transportation and financial hub. The State and

Treasury Departments have put together a series of courses to recognize

the patterns of terrorism financing. These courses could be based in

Bangkok, but also travel to Hat Yai to address financial workers in the

South.

Cost: About $15,000 per iteration -- two sessions would cost $30,000.

6. (SBU) PROJECT: A SECOND "STRIKER" AIRCRAFT RESCUE AND FIRE FIGHTI

(ARFF) VEHICLE FOR UTAPAO NAVAL AIR STATION THAILAND