VZCZCXRO3459
OO RUEHCHI RUEHDT RUEHHM RUEHNH
DE RUEHBK #3116 3450911
ZNR UUUUU ZZH
O 110911Z DEC 09
FM AMEMBASSY BANGKOK
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC IMMEDIATE 9240
INFO RUCNDT/USMISSION USUN NEW YORK IMMEDIATE 5472
RUEKJCS/SECDEF WASHINGTON DC IMMEDIATE
RHMFISS/CJCS WASHINGTON DC IMMEDIATE
RUEKDIA/DIA WASHDC IMMEDIATE
RUEAIIA/CIA WASHINGTON DC IMMEDIATE
RHEHNSC/NSC WASHDC IMMEDIATE
RHHMUNA/HQ USPACOM HONOLULU HI IMMEDIATE
RUCNASE/ASEAN MEMBER COLLECTIVE PRIORITY
RUEHKH/AMEMBASSY KHARTOUM PRIORITY 0037
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