Thai Cabinet To Discuss US Proposals On U-Tapao

[webfact]

THAI-US TIES

Cabinet to discuss US proposals on U-Tapao

The Nation

Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra meets with Deputy Prime Minister Gen Yuthasak Sasiprapha and armed forces chiefs at a hotel in Pattaya yesterday to discuss a request by Nasa

Opposition claims push for relief base, Nasa project tied to visa for Thaksin

BANGKOK: -- The Cabinet will today consider US proposals to use U-tapao airbase for weather research, plus disaster relief and humanitarian assistance, Foreign Minister Surapong Towichukchaikul said yesterday.

He has dismissed claims by the opposition that the projects are part of a deal in exchange for a visa to allow former prime minister Thaksin Shinawatra to enter the United States.

Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra discussed the matter yesterday at a hotel in Pattaya with Deputy Prime Minister Yuthasak Sasiprapha, Defence Minister Sukampol Suwannathat, Surapong and heads of the Army, Navy and Air Force.

There were two separate proposals to use U-tapao. One was from the US National Aeronautics

and Space Administration (Nasa), which wants to use the Chon Buri airstrip for climate-research aircraft. The other is an idea to use facilities at the airbase for humanitarian assistance and as a disaster-relief training and readiness centre.

The two matters are now mixed up in "security concerns" that the US may like to use U-tapao, which saw a lot of action during the Vietnam War, as a base to contain China in the Asia-Pacific region.

The Democrat Party and some senators say the government must submit the proposal to Parliament in accordance with Article 190 of the Constitution. Use of U-tapao may have implications in regard to Thai sovereignty, they said.

No Thaksin link: Surapong

Local media have put some domestic political flavour into reports on the matter, saying the

government might exchange the right to use U-tapao for a visa so Thaksin can visit the US. But Surapong said Thaksin had no link to these matters.

"The allegation is totally groundless. I believe that former prime minister Thaksin would never exchange personal interest with national interest."

Sukampol said he agreed with the Foreign Ministry that the Nasa proposal was purely about scientific research without any tie to security concerns.

"Don't worry, I take care of security matters. I will never allow anything to affect our security. Nasa's project is similar to one that has already been conducted in many countries," he said.

Asked whether the Nasa aircraft and its satellites would spy on Thailand, Sukampol said every location in the country could be seen via Google Earth. There was no need for the US to do that.

Nasa's request

Surapong said Nasa asked in March if its three weather-research aircraft could use U-tapao for two months - August and September. The Science, Technology and Environ-ment Ministry's Geo-Informatics and Space Technology Development Agency would work closely with them, he said.

Nasa is not a military agency and its proposal has no connection with military operations, he said.

China has no doubts about the proposal, as a similar project was conducted in Hong Kong recently, Surapong said. But Cabinet may discuss the Nasa project in its meeting today and he will brief other ministers about the other proposal to use the Chon Buri airbase as a humanitarian-assistance and disaster-relief centre.

Surapong has just returned from the fourth Thai-US Strategic Dialogue in Washington, and it agreed to set up a working group to develop the aid and relief centre jointly at U-tapao. But this was simply an idea and many countries could join the project, he said.

"We might invite China, Australia and many countries that have advanced technology for humanitarian assistance and disaster relief to join the scheme," he said.

Navy Commander Admiral Surasak Runroengrom said both proposals on weather research and humanitarian assistance would be really useful for Thailand.

"We have already consulted with China and other neighbouring countries on the projects and no country had any objection," he said.

However, Senators Pichet Sountharapipit and Somchai Sawaengkan and Democrat MP Thaworn Senneam said any move by Cabinet to allow the US to use U-tapao without permission from Parliament might go against the Constitution.

Ombudsman Sriracha Charoe-npanich also said the government needed to discuss the issue in Parliament, as per Article 190 of the Constitution.

-- The Nation 2012-06-19

[theblether]

But Surapong said Thaksin had no link to these matters.

"The allegation is totally groundless. I believe that former prime minister Thaksin would never exchange personal interest with national interest."

Comedy quote of the year

There's only one interest TS is interested in, and that''s not the national interest, he only cares about one thing. Himself

[noitom]

Last week this wasn't a government issue because Thai soverignty wasn't affected.

[SuneeTH]

I like Ombudsman Sriracha Charoenpanich

The current cabinet is "Kai Chart".

Not sure how to say in English, so I use Google translate:

verb

betray one's country ขายชาติ, ขายบ้านขายเมือง

commit treason ขายชาติ, ขายบ้านขายเมือง

adjective

traitorous ขายชาติ, ทรยศ, หักหลัง, เป็นกบฎ

treasonable ขายชาติ, หักหลัง, เป็นกบฏ

treacherous ทรยศ, ขายชาติ, หักหลัง, ลวงตา, อกตัญญู, อาสัตย์

treasonous

http://www.naewna.com/politic/10731

Edited June 19, 2012 by SuneeTH

[BobHG46]

Weather research, disaster relief and humanitarian assistance looks too much like disinformation to me. What information can 'planes gather that can't be divined from satellites? I have to wonder what the real reason is for the US to fly 'planes from U-tapao.

[webfact]

Ex-premier Abhisit asks Cabinet to reveal details on US request to use U-Tapao Airport

BANGKOK, June 19 -- Opposition Democrat Party leader Abhisit Vejjajiva on Tuesday called on the Cabinet to publicise the details of the Foreign Ministry plan proposed to the Cabinet to approve the United States space agency's request to use U-Tapao military airport as a base from which to conduct atmospheric studies.

Mr Abhisit said that the government announced that the request involved disaster management so that there should not be any problem to reveal the details of the agreement.

He said there was an idea in the past to use the airport as a regional centre for handling natural disasters.

Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra on Monday met with ministers of defence, foreign affairs, and the country’s top armed forces officers to consider the plan for a centre to be named the Humanitarian Assistance Disaster Relief Centre (HADRC) at U-Tapao and the US National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) request to use the airport to conduct atmospheric studies.

Foreign Minister Surapong Tovichakchaikul said after the meeting that it agreed in principle to the US request to set up a disaster response centre at the sprawling U-Tapao base, which straddles Chon Buri and Rayong provinces.

He said the project idea was initiated in 2010 by Thailand’s then prime minister Abhisit Vejjajiva when he attended the ASEAN-UN Summit.

As for the request by NASA to use U-Tapao for a regional climate study, he said, the issue would be forwarded for Cabinet consideration today.

He said the study would benefit Thailand for weather forecast information, including data on the origination of typhoons and monsoons.

As the NASA request does not involve Thai sovereignty it does not require parliamentary approval under Section 190, Clause 2 of the Constitution which stipulates that any international treaties and agreements must first be approved by Parliament.

However, Mr Surapong said, the foreign ministry believed that it needs Cabinet approval under Section 190, Clause 1 of the Constitution and the Council of State would be asked to confirm this.

Defence Minister ACM Sukumpol Suwanatat said prior to Tuesday’s Cabinet meeting that it would request the Council of State to consider whether the United States' request to use U-Tapao would need the Parliament approval or not.

If the request needs parliamentary approval, the government would have no objection, he said, adding that NASA operation would benefit Thailand and the region and it was carried out in Hong Kong and have no any problem.

He said NASA focuses on scientific operations, not military, and the issue was transparent and the government was ready to give details to the public. (MCOT online news)

-- TNA 2012-06-19

[h90]

Weather research, disaster relief and humanitarian assistance looks too much like disinformation to me. What information can 'planes gather that can't be divined from satellites? I have to wonder what the real reason is for the US to fly 'planes from U-tapao.

And if they need airplane, why don't the fly from Don Muang and the researcher stay in some nice Bangkok condo?

But the weather over oil fields is always the most interesting weather.

[rotary]

US proposals to use U-tapao airbase for weather research, plus disaster relief and humanitarian assistance

^{I thought the USA was broke. How will they pay? I guess with money borrowed from China}

[h90]

US proposals to use U-tapao airbase for weather research, plus disaster relief and humanitarian assistance

^{I thought the USA was broke. How will they pay? I guess with money borrowed from China}

They opened a lot new bases in Africa.....Ask why they are broke.....Overspending for war.

[GruF]

My view of the world, when ever or where ever the USofA is involved you have to watch for the knife in the back.

I say it as I see it.

[webfact]

Cabinet not discuss U-Tapao request

The Nation

BANGKOK: -- The Cabinet did not deliberate Nasa's request to use U-Tapao airbase for studying clouds Tuesday as earlier expected, Government Spokesperson Sansanee Nakpong said.

Earlier, Foreign Minister Surapong Towichukchaikul said the Cabinet would deliberate the request after the armed forces were not opposed to it.

Sansanee said the Cabinet decided to further seek opinions of security agencies and other government agencies before taking up the project for consideration.

-- The Nation 2012-06-19

[webfact]

THAI-US RELATIONS

Cabinet leaves U-Tapao request off agenda

The Nation

Nation Graphic

BANGKOK: -- The Cabinet did not deliberate Nasa's request to use U-Tapao airbase for studying clouds Tuesday as earlier expected, Government Spokesperson Sansanee Nakpong said Tuesday.

Earlier, Foreign Minister Surapong Towichukchaikul said the Cabinet would deliberate the request after indications that the armed forces were not opposed to it.

Sansanee said the Cabinet decided to further seek the opinions of security agencies and other government agencies before taking up the project for consideration.

Critics have called on the government to send Nasa's request to Parliament, pointing out that Article 190 of the Constitution requires any contract that would affect the sovereignty of the country to be endorsed by Parliament.

But Surapong insisted on Monday that the project would not affect the government's sovereignty and would be carried out for scientific purpose that would benefit Thailand, allowing the kingdom to have greater expertise in weather forecasting.

Political observers said Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra changed her mind at the last minute and decided not to consider the Nasa request this week for fear that her Pheu Thai Party would be dissolved for violating Article 190.

-- The Nation 2012-06-19

[SuneeTH]

Foreign Minister Surapong Towichukchaikul barter deal.

In exchange for Thaksin visa to USA.

Just ask any PAD, or TUL; it is common knowledge.