IPSTAR CONTROVERSY: US senator's charges labelled 'groundless'

Published on Mar 5, 2004

The Nation

A government official yesterday called US Senator Mitch McConnell's assertion that Thailand's policy towards Burma may have been shaped by Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra's family business interests as "irresponsible and groundless".

"Thailand's foreign policy is not based on the interests of any particular company," said Foreign Ministry spokesman Sihasak Phuangketkeow.

Government spokesman Jakrapob Penkair said McConell was entitled to voice his concern, but said Thailand's policy towards Rangoon was on the right track.

Leading lawmaker Senator Chirmsak Phinthong, however, said Thaksin must clear up the allegation to reasssure foreign businesses that investment in Thailand is not tainted by politics.

In a statement before Congress, McConnell - chairman of the US Senate Appropriations Committee - questioned Thaksin's "cosy relationship" with the military government in Rangoon in the face of narcotics pouring across the border.

"Some suspect that the raison d'etre can be summed up in a single word: iPSTAR," McConnell said, referring to the US$350-million (Bt14 billion) broadband satellite owned by Shin Satellite, a subsidiary of Shin Corp.

Shin Corp was founded by Thaksin and is still 53 per cent owned by his family.

Shin Satellite has been granted a concession to install 5,000 receiver stations in rural Burma.

McConnell also criticised the Bangkok Process - a multinational forum on Burma's national reconciliation that was launched last year - saying the gathering included neither the opposition National League for Democracy nor the United States.

Sihasak said McConnell's accusation was "self-righteous", "useless" and an attempt to "distort Thai foreign policies in expectation of some political gains".

"McConnell used to accuse Thailand of doing nothing to improve the situation in Burma. Now that we've started to do something, he is accusing us of being motivated by personal economic interests," Sihasak said.

"If the political situation in Burma improved, it would certainly benefit Thailand as its immediate neighbour and trade partners in the long run," he added.

OMG another toxic apologist making excuses for Toxic not being able to play the game on the world stage. I wonder how long before Captain Moonface will wake up to the fact the rest of the world sees him as what he is..a puppet to a lot of baht.

Short stature, liar, corrupt perhaps? I never said that officer.