Prayut complains submarine briefing to the public 'too open' in providing details

[webfact]

Prayut complains submarine briefing to the public 'too open' in providing details
By WASAMON AUDJARINT
THE NATION

 

 

BANGKOK: -- PRIME MINISTER General Prayut Chan-o-cha yesterday said that a press briefing by the Royal Thai Navy on the controversial submarine purchase, which has been publicly criticised for being too expensive, might have been “too open” as information on national security should be kept confidential.

 

“No other country reveals their military hardware this much. Their qualifications shouldn’t be brought into the open air,” Prayut said after a Cabinet meeting.

 

The premier spoke a day after the Navy held a two-and-a-half-hour press conference explaining the reasoning behind the Bt36-billion deal for three Yuan Class S26T submarines from China.

 

The session was held two weeks after the Cabinet confidentially approved a purchase proposal for the first Chinese submarine worth Bt13.5 billion. The deal, which is expected to be signed this month, would bind the Thai government to 17 instalment payments over at least seven years.

 

The secret approval was met by public fury, with critics saying that Thailand did not need expensive submarines as the economy languishes, especially as the Kingdom does not face any major maritime threats.

 

To resolve public doubts, five high-ranking Navy officers on Monday went into detail about the technical advantages of the Chinese submarines over those from other countries, what the Chinese package would include, and the overall payment process.

 

However, Prayut said the procurement had proceeded appropriately and should not have required such an elaborate public explanation.

 

“[The public] shouldn’t simply assume the submarine to be of poor quality. We want it to boost our maritime capability,” the premier said. “The procurement process went through thorough consideration to make sure that [the submarines] will not fall below standards.”

 

Prayut also rejected politicians’ suggestion that the money should have been spent on other national priorities. “Everything can’t simply be solved by money, it has to be fixed at a structural level,” he said. “Domestic security is also important.”

 

He also claimed that the Office of Auditor-General and the Office of the National Anti-Corruption Commission had already reviewed the procurement process and given suggestions at almost every step of the way.

 

However, Auditor-General Pisit Leelavachiropas has said that his office planned to review the Cabinet’s approval and assign senior officers to investigate the Navy, given that the deal was highly confidential and could not be exposed to public scrutiny.

 

Srisuwan Janya, secretary-general of the Association to Protect the Thai Constitution, has urged Prayut to exercise his authority under Article 44 of the interim charter to set up an independent body to investigate the Navy’s plan to buy the submarines.

 

He said the investigatory committee should consist of impartial representatives from the judiciary and academia to ensure the plan was transparent and legal. The government has not yet fully disclosed information on the acquisition scheme, including the bidding terms of reference and payment plan.

 

The Navy has said it would pay for the first submarine in instalments over a seven-year period while Deputy Prime Minister and Defence Minister Prawit Wongsuwan said the government would use the state budget to pay over an 11-year period.

 

Srisuwan also accused Prawit of misleading the public by saying that Thailand would get three submarines for the price of two, adding that Prayut should consider setting up an independent body to provide factual information to the public.

 

Source: http://www.nationmultimedia.com/news/national/30314049

 

-- © Copyright The Nation 2017-05-03

[steven100]

26 minutes ago, webfact said:

“No other country reveals their military hardware this much. Their qualifications shouldn’t be brought into the open air,” Prayut said after a Cabinet meeting.

agree ....  The media can be a pest some times .....    Khun Prayuth  

[ezzra]

Yep, why should the public know anything about the government spending

billions of it's money? it's a privilege reserved for the elite only, the rest of

them tax payers are nothing but a stupid buffalos right?.....

[tracker1]

Can't wait for Royal Thai Navys submarines RTN Prayut 1 RTN Prayut 2 RTN Prayut 3 a lasting legacy

[yellowboat]

1 hour ago, webfact said:

However, Prayut said the procurement had proceeded appropriately and should not have required such an elaborate public explanation.

The procurement was done by a rubber stamp committee under a government who automatically pardoned for misdeeds.  The reason why Thailand needs submarines remains unclear. 

 

Western military organizations procure based on a reasonable threat.  They tend use the most advanced equipment where less advance equipment would do a better more cost effective job. 

 

Most military organizations procure poorly.  Thailand being the most glaring of examples. 

[darksidedog]

1 hour ago, webfact said:

Prayut should consider setting up an independent body to provide factual information to the public.

That kind of suggests that we are not alone in believing that the PM is overly economic with the truth, and less than forthcoming with actual facts.

[anon467367354]

Maybe he took a tip from the US, "it's classified, we can't discuss it".

 

[Stargeezr]

I wished Canada would have done his before buying 4 submarines from  Britain, as the subs are

just junk. They did not even sail from England to Canada, so be cautious Thailand and do not get

taken like Canada did.

Geezer

[mtls2005]

Seems odd that five senior RTN "officials" are unaware of their own rules re: secrecy and national security?

 

Maybe the PM should just do everything.

[Jimbo2014]

Why fund schools, build hospitals, fix roads and electrical cabling, invest in social development, assist the poor...  when you can get frickin Submarines.... YAY (Toys for the Boyz in charge)

[Farang99]

2 hours ago, ezzra said:

Yep, why should the public know anything about the government spending

billions of it's money? it's a privilege reserved for the elite only, the rest of

them tax payers are nothing but a stupid buffalos right?.....

Not buffaloes - mushrooms - keep them in the dark and from time to time shovel some shit on them.

[worgeordie]

Dont let Thai people know,it's only their tax money they are spending.

regards worgeordie

[williamgeorgeallen]

he should be voted out of power for wasting public money. oh yea thats right he cant be.

[TheFishman1]

Kept It a secret still wondering why he is pushing so hard for subs they don't need maybe there a Big Pay day there

[Alexpho]

Buying submarines from a potential adversary is also not too smart. Sure, China and Thailand are friendly towards each other for now. We see it at face value. Things can change real quick in the future. Who is the main antagonist in all of Asia and making retarded claims in all of South China Seas? I don't even buy a toaster thats made in China.

[klauskunkel]

4 hours ago, webfact said:

Yuan Class S26T

I googled this U-Boat type:

"Royal Thai Navy (RTN) formally selected China's Yuan-class (Type 041) platform to meet a requirement for three submarines. The RTN's procurement committee voted unanimously in favour of purchasing the submarine, which has been designated S26T (Thailand), a modified export version of the Yuan-class. As the 039A has very little resemblance to the 039 it is commonly referred to as the Type 041."

 

This means the Yuan S26T is actually a Yuan 039A, just renamed for export purposes.

 

Now, these are some comments on Yuan 039A:

"Yuan is a large conventional submarine, only marginally smaller than a Soryu-class boat—on the order of 15 percent smaller. Perhaps a better comparison would be with the PLAN’s (People’s Liberation Army Navy) other large conventional submarine, the Russian-built Project 636 Kilo. That comparison shows the Yuan comes out as being slightly bigger than a late model Kilo. Thus the Type 039 A/B Yuan is not a small submarine at all. It is one of the largest conventional combat submarines in the PLAN inventory, and is no more maneuverable in shallow water than other large conventional submarine designs, such as the Kilo or Soryu-classes. If a navy truly wishes to invest in a “coastal submarine,” or SSC, then it would look at submarines like the German Type 205 and 206, and the North Korean Sango, all of which come in at less than 500 tons submerged displacement."

 

So, the argument to use this sub as a shallow water sub has now been torpedoed. blub, blub, blub, blrrrp!

 

Edited May 3, 2017 by klauskunkel

[Eric Loh]

29 minutes ago, williamgeorgeallen said:

he should be voted out of power for wasting public money. oh yea thats right he cant be.

 But but the Navy said that the money is from the Navy budget and will therefore not waste public money.  LOL. Idiots.

[NCC1701A]

“No other country reveals their military hardware this much. Their qualifications shouldn’t be brought into the open air,” Prayut said after a Cabinet meeting.

 

yes like knowing the subs pose no threat at all to anyone except the people inside them.

 

 

 

[sawadeeken]

the public is best kept uninformed and stupid............. Not that hard to do when they don't even have decent education for 'their' Public......

I say --- "Pay for schools and colleges, not Submarines.............

 

And, the reason they told before was just a matter of gloating and excitement they couldn't contain...... They couldn't wait for the world to know so their 'FACE' would glow in the dark......  all about Face.................

[owl sees all]

You lot are so cynical. Give the guy a break.

 

The PM is simply trying to protect Thailand and Thai subjects (almost typed citizens then).  

Edited May 3, 2017 by owl sees all
spelling error

[marko kok prong]

Looks like something from world war 2,hope they have a good ventlation system to remove the stink of the palaa.

[Chip Allen]

Why, exactly, does Thailand NEED a military, except to mount coups? They are in no danger of invasion from surrounding countries. Thailand has about as much need for a standing army as Costa Rica.

[marko kok prong]

7 minutes ago, Chip Allen said:

Why, exactly, does Thailand NEED a military, except to mount coups? They are in no danger of invasion from surrounding countries. Thailand has about as much need for a standing army as Costa Rica.

Plus the fact if say the vietnamese decided to invade,the Thai army would be beaten in about 3 days,due to their inability to fight more than 2 hours without stopping for food.

[realenglish1]

"No other country reveals their military hardware this much. Their qualifications shouldn’t be brought into the open air,” Prayut said after a Cabinet meeting."

 

How wrong you are great leader The USA talks openly about its capabilities and hardware they have Short of talking about torpedo evasive maneuvers.

 

As a matter of fact I was on a tour of one of the battle ships a few years back and they openly talked about a lot I asked the  tour guide why they

talked about he he said  " Oh we want the enemy to know what are capability is so they will think twice about an attack "

 

You are only worried about the public push back this stupid sub deal is creating

 

Your military and you want your toys regardless of how it hurst Thai society even though the public do not want a sub Its that simple

 

Yield to the wish of the public  ( They really do know best)

 

[williamgeorgeallen]

1 hour ago, Eric Loh said:

 But but the Navy said that the money is from the Navy budget and will therefore not waste public money.  LOL. Idiots.

i suppose the navy may have been using their boats to do some commercial fishing to raise funds for the subs. actually that sounds ok although i doubt their fishing was done sustainably.

 

[baboon]

24 minutes ago, realenglish1 said:

"No other country reveals their military hardware this much. Their qualifications shouldn’t be brought into the open air,” Prayut said after a Cabinet meeting."

 

How wrong you are great leader The USA talks openly about its capabilities and hardware they have Short of talking about torpedo evasive maneuvers.

 

As a matter of fact I was on a tour of one of the battle ships a few years back and they openly talked about a lot I asked the  tour guide why they

talked about he he said  " Oh we want the enemy to know what are capability is so they will think twice about an attack "

 

You are only worried about the public push back this stupid sub deal is creating

 

Your military and you want your toys regardless of how it hurst Thai society even though the public do not want a sub Its that simple

 

Yield to the wish of the public  ( They really do know best)

 

"As a matter of fact I was on a tour of one of the battle ships a few years back and they openly talked about a lot I asked the  tour guide why they

talked about he he said  " Oh we want the enemy to know what are capability is so they will think twice about an attack ""

 

Maybe the Thai military DON'T want the enemy to know what the capibility is so they will think twice about an attack? If they did...?

[Eric Loh]

1 hour ago, klauskunkel said:

I googled this U-Boat type:

"Royal Thai Navy (RTN) formally selected China's Yuan-class (Type 041) platform to meet a requirement for three submarines. The RTN's procurement committee voted unanimously in favour of purchasing the submarine, which has been designated S26T (Thailand), a modified export version of the Yuan-class. As the 039A has very little resemblance to the 039 it is commonly referred to as the Type 041."

 

This means the Yuan S26T is actually a Yuan 039A, just renamed for export purposes.

 

Now, these are some comments on Yuan 039A:

"Yuan is a large conventional submarine, only marginally smaller than a Soryu-class boat—on the order of 15 percent smaller. Perhaps a better comparison would be with the PLAN’s (People’s Liberation Army Navy) other large conventional submarine, the Russian-built Project 636 Kilo. That comparison shows the Yuan comes out as being slightly bigger than a late model Kilo. Thus the Type 039 A/B Yuan is not a small submarine at all. It is one of the largest conventional combat submarines in the PLAN inventory, and is no more maneuverable in shallow water than other large conventional submarine designs, such as the Kilo or Soryu-classes. If a navy truly wishes to invest in a “coastal submarine,” or SSC, then it would look at submarines like the German Type 205 and 206, and the North Korean Sango, all of which come in at less than 500 tons submerged displacement."

 

So, the argument to use this sub as a shallow water sub has now been torpedoed. blub, blub, blub, blrrrp!

 

The German and Korean (South) submarine were considered by the Thailand Navy. Eventually they opted for the Chinese because of 'great value" and more freebies. Pretty small minds more akin to decision making buying a car. But we know it is more due to the political fact of kissing up to China and maybe because China is less transparent and can keep secrets better when palms are greased.  

[starky]

46 minutes ago, marko kok prong said:

Plus the fact if say the vietnamese decided to invade,the Thai army would be beaten in about 3 days,due to their inability to fight more than 2 hours without stopping for food.

Dont forget nap time as well..

[Krataiboy]

. . . Prayut should consider setting up an independent body to provide factual information to the public.

 

Dream on. The last thing any authoritarian government needs is somebody telling the prols what is really going on.

 

That's the job of a free press.

 

And that is precisely why the junta wants to make all journalists apply for licenses to tell us what is really going on. 

 

It's how you turn a watchdog into a lapdog and another significant step towards totalitarianism. 

[tuktuktuk]

I just hope they don't do any Thai style electric system modifications.