Nasa Project May Be Delayed: Thai-US Ties

[crobe]

Although both sides are playing party politics, the main concern here is the government (PT) ineptitude.

The request has been with them for over a year - and I know for a fact that there have been constant contacts from the US side to ensure that the planning is on track, but these have not been responded to.

The PT government had not put this issue up for debate because they did not think they had to, but they also have not made any planning for the activity to go ahead - no planning with the Thai GISTDA agency had been set up, and when the story broke 3 weeks ago in the Nation newspaper, they also were waiting for the government to make a decision.

You could say that the government had other priorities, but this has now backfired spectacularly.

The story that Thai politicians cannot even make a decision on a bilateral test has now reverberated throughout the space and science community, and the plan that Thailand had to hold a major space conference in 2015 - with 5000 visitors and generating over $10m in revenues for the local tourism - has now been put in jeopardy.

So this is not now a purely domestic political issue, it has real world consequences for the Thai economy

Crobe

[Moruya]

Although both sides are playing party politics, the main concern here is the government (PT) ineptitude.

The request has been with them for over a year - and I know for a fact that there have been constant contacts from the US side to ensure that the planning is on track, but these have not been responded to.

The PT government had not put this issue up for debate because they did not think they had to, but they also have not made any planning for the activity to go ahead - no planning with the Thai GISTDA agency had been set up, and when the story broke 3 weeks ago in the Nation newspaper, they also were waiting for the government to make a decision.

You could say that the government had other priorities, but this has now backfired spectacularly.

The story that Thai politicians cannot even make a decision on a bilateral test has now reverberated throughout the space and science community, and the plan that Thailand had to hold a major space conference in 2015 - with 5000 visitors and generating over $10m in revenues for the local tourism - has now been put in jeopardy.

So this is not now a purely domestic political issue, it has real world consequences for the Thai economy

Crobe

That'll help see Yinglucks 2 trillion float down the Chao Praya

[LomSak27]

By building so many "stories" to discredit the PT government, I believe that in the (not so) long run the Democrats are just hurting themselves.

Little by little, more and more people, among the minority who still listen to them, get tired of their low level political games and realize that they are really not able to do anything else than barking.

The Democrats seem to have nothing left but the manufacture of incidents to descredit the PT. Why would you elect a party totally vacant of any real substantive ideas for the country ?

[binjalin]

Here are a few points that the PTP government should consider....

They had the details back in August/September last year. Why was it not put on the table until so late? Too busy with your pardon Thaksin bills?

Surapong - foreign minister - were you so busy helping Thaksin with passports and things?

Surapong and Plodprasop - do you not know parliamentary procedure well enough to have known that this needs to be dsicussed at parliament?

Yingluck - are you so naive to think that the PTP government can just do what the hell it wants because it has a mandate?

Quit blaming other people - the blame lies with you!!!!!

rubbish it was the Dems who caused all the fuss and recommended the delay:

Democrat Party and opposition leader Abhisit Vejjajiva yesterday said he agreed with the government's decision to seek parliamentarians' views on Nasa's request.

[binjalin]

By building so many "stories" to discredit the PT government, I believe that in the (not so) long run the Democrats are just hurting themselves.

Little by little, more and more people, among the minority who still listen to them, get tired of their low level political games and realize that they are really not able to do anything else than barking.

It is clear that they are putting all their energy in disturbing whatever they can, as well as jeopardizing any type of reconciliation.

I wish they would start a new strategy trying to make more people respect them and their ideas... if they have any, of course.

the Dems would call black 'white' or white 'black' just to cause trouble - they object to everything and anything just out of sour grapes because they were slaughtered at the elections (against the predictions of the TV 'experts' of course). It's nice to see some sensible posts on here. The Dems are looking more and more pathetic.

Stop ranting, whinging and crying and come up with some REAL alternative policies, some REAL opposition for REAL debate in the House or lose ALL credibility.

[gerry1011]

By building so many "stories" to discredit the PT government, I believe that in the (not so) long run the Democrats are just hurting themselves.

Little by little, more and more people, among the minority who still listen to them, get tired of their low level political games and realize that they are really not able to do anything else than barking.

The Democrats seem to have nothing left but the manufacture of incidents to descredit the PT. Why would you elect a party totally vacant of any real substantive ideas for the country ?

Well, the majority of the Thai people already know why they did not vote for them in the last election(s).

If I had to vote I would most probably not vote for a party like the Democrats either.

What I think a bit surprising is that - on this forum - so many people still defend the Democrats. These are the ones who hold Thailand to a standstill.

[EvilDrSomkid]

Cloudy Forecast for U.S.-Thai Ties?

The U.S. tilt back into Southeast Asia has made a hesitant start with Bangkok delaying a decision on a request for NASA to use the U-Tapao airstrip in Rayong, a former base used during the Vietnam War, for weather research and atmospheric studies.

The request is a very minor move in the overall scheme of diplomatic relations. But although the U.S. says it’s designed for weather research, critics argue there’s more to it than that – some mutter that the government in Thailand is aiming for some political gains, or else suggest that it’s really some kind of covert U.S. operation for peaking into China.

Neither claims have any credibility, but political head banging in Thailand got a whole lot louder when the opposition Democrat Party – which approved the project when in government – claimed the current government wanted a U.S. visa for the former leader Thaksin Shinawatra in exchange for the base.

Such an allegation was made all the more plausible with hints from Thaksin’s sister Yingluck, the current prime minister, at a possible return someday for her wayward brother, now a famously rich exile who can’t come home because of corruption convictions.

Yingluck told a throng of waiting journalists that this was a good project but that more details were needed, thus it would be put up for consideration by the cabinet at some point. The issue will also go before a joint sitting of parliament for debate, but without a vote.

NASA scientists had hoped to use U-Tapao in August and September as part of a regional collaboration that includes Cambodian airspace and Thailand’s Geo-Informatics and Space Technology Development Agency (Gistda).

Democrat Party leader and former Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva wants the government to make public all details of the project and have the proposal considered in parliament in accordance with Article 190 of the Constitution. He has his wish.

The article requires that all agreements with foreign countries be considered by parliament, particularly when they are related to a change in territory or sovereignty over territory. China popped up as an issue because some politicians fear use of the base will further heighten tensions that have accompanied Beijing’s bulging bottom line. And the Americans have said they would like to use the base for disaster relief.

Such a base would have proved handy during the rescue effort that followed the 2005 tsunami.

But Science Minister Plodprasop Suraswadi spoke plainly and made some sense, saying NASA had initiated this project two years ago and was planning to go ahead with it because it was useful for weather research.

“NASA has the technology that we don't have. If the project is successful, we will have more knowledge on meteorology, which will enable us to predict weather more correctly, so we can prepare for floods,” he told local media.

This is a simple weather project and its delay must be viewed with some consternation in Washington. After all, if they can’t raise a weather balloon without a joint sitting of parliament, then what hope for an entire shift in strategic policy which would have Thailand, an old ally, close to its side.

source: http://thediplomat.com/asean-beat/2012/06/27/cloudy-forecast-for-u-s-thai-ties/

[TPI]

How very sad! When the world has seen the results of EQ scores for Thai children at 45 against 50-100 as standard, and now, this insane decision to discuss something that they know will be cancelled by the time they discuss it? Is it finally proof that Thailand is a country of 12 year old emotional and intellectual idiots governed by 14 year old Cretan's? What could they hope to gain?

Could it be that Chalerm couldn't make a dollar out of it, so why do it? Perhaps the US wont be blackmailed into giving visas to convicted absconding felons?

[gerry1011]

How very sad! When the world has seen the results of EQ scores for Thai children at 45 against 50-100 as standard, and now, this insane decision to discuss something that they know will be cancelled by the time they discuss it? Is it finally proof that Thailand is a country of 12 year old emotional and intellectual idiots governed by 14 year old Cretan's? What could they hope to gain?

Could it be that Chalerm couldn't make a dollar out of it, so why do it? Perhaps the US wont be blackmailed into giving visas to convicted absconding felons?

Your comment is as pathetic as the attitude of the Democrats

[vijer]

Well the last I heard NASA was involved in the Kennedy assassinations so I can understand Thailand's reluctance to let NASA study the weather here.