US embassy cable - 05BANGKOK2743

C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 02 BANGKOK 002743 
 
SIPDIS 
 
DEPARTMENT FOR EAP/BCLTV 
DEFENSE FOR OSD/ISA (POWERS AND STERN). PLEASE PASS TO 
DSCA/AP (NMORGAN) 
PACOM FOR FPA HUSO 
 
E.O. 12958: DECL: 04/20/2015 
TAGS: MASS, MARR, PREL, PGOV, TH, IRAQ, Southern Thailand, BURMA, POL/MIL 
SUBJECT: AMBASSASOR DISCUSSES SECURITY ISSUES WITH DEFMIN: 
SOUTH THAILAND, OIF, F-16 ET AL. 
 
REF: BANGKOK 2010 
 
Classified By: Ambassador Ralph L. Boyce.  Reason 1.4 (a and d) 
 
 1.  (C)  In an April 20 meeting with the Ambassador, Defense 
Minister Gen. Thamarak Isarangura Na Ayutthaya welcomed the 
recent Iraqi elections and noted his long-held belief that 
setting up the Iraqi Government will reduce anti-American 
violence there.  The Ambassador noted keen interest in 
Washington in having Thailand renew its support of OIF. 
Thamarak stated that much of the unrest in the predominately 
Muslim far southern part of Thailand could be reduced by 
improving education and social programs there.  He also noted 
the need to expose southerners to the rest of the country 
saying it was more important for Thai soldiers from the far 
south to be posted in other, more developed parts of the 
country, than it was to have them posted closer to home. 
Thamarak said that, on an official level, Thailand's 
relations with Malaysia are good, but acknowledged problems 
at the local level where illicit trade often fosters 
corruption.  The Ambassador expressed his condolences over 
the recent killing of a Thai Border Patrol officer along the 
Burmese border.  Thamarak noted the hazard of serving along 
the Thai-Burma border and the violence caused by Wa Deng, 
Shan State and Burmese regular forces.  The Ambassador made a 
strong pitch for Thailand to select F-16 block 52 in its 
upcoming fighter purchase.  In response to Thamarak 
suggesting that the financial aspects of the fighter deal are 
the most important, the Ambassador reminded Thamarak that 
Lockheed Martin is offering 100 percent offsets as part of 
its package.  END SUMMARY. 
 
 
IRAQ 
 
2.  (C)  Thamarak began the meeting by congratulating the 
United States on helping to bring about a fair election in 
Iraq.  He told the Ambassador that he had been a long 
advocate of quickly turning over power to the Iraqis and 
suggested that anti-American violence in Iraq should decrease 
as a result.  The Ambassador noted keen U.S. interest in 
having Thailand renew its commitment to help in Iraq, perhaps 
by sending staff officers to man the international 
headquarters for OIF. 
 
VIOLENCE IN THE SOUTH 
 
3.  (C)  Turning to the continued violence in Thailand's 
southernmost region, Thamarak noted the danger of outside 
influences in the south like Wahhabism and expressed his 
personal belief that the best long-term solution to the 
problem is to improve social services and the education 
system in southern Thailand.  He said that the Peacekeeping 
and Prosperity Command is working well, but still sorting out 
roles and duties.  In response to the Ambassador's question 
whether local Muslim soldiers are in Thai Army units serving 
in the south, Thamarak said that some are, but went on to say 
that he thought more young men from the South serving in the 
Royal Thai Army would benefit by serving in other parts of 
Thailand and learning the importance of modernization and 
development. 
 
THAI-MALAYSIA BORDER ISSUES 
 
4.  (C)  Thamarak claimed that official relations between 
Bangkok and Kuala Lumpur were quite good.  Nonetheless, the 
situation on the border was cause for concern.  Given the 
large amount of illegal border traffic, corruption and graft 
are major concerns, he noted. 
 
BURMA 
 
5.  (C)  The Ambassador offered his condolences for the 
recent killing of a Thai Border Police officer serving along 
the Burmese border.  Thamarak noted the difficulties Thai 
officers have serving along -- facing possible violence from 
the Wa Deng, the Shan State Army and Burmese regulars.  He 
also pointed out geographic anomalies that sometimes cause 
parts of Thai territory along the border to be bordered on 
three sides by Burma.  Sometimes, Thais living or serving in 
those areas are killed in cross-fire between rival Burmese 
groups.  The Ambassador pointed out that RTG policy towards 
Burma is not well-received in the West, where it is sometimes 
construed as propping up Rangoon's junta.  Thamarak 
acknowledged this but pointed out that critics don't live in 
Thailand's neighborhood. 
 
F-16 
 
6.  (C)  The Ambassador made a strong case for Thailand 
selecting F-16 in its upcoming planned purchase of 18 new 
fighters.  Thamarak noted that F-16 was the preferred 
candidate of most RTAF officers over rivals SAAB Gripen and 
Sukhoi SU-30, but that the RTG had little money for the 
purchase and would thus be most influenced by the financial 
aspects of any possible deal.  The Ambassador seized on this 
point and reminded Thamarak that Lockheed Martin was prepared 
to offer 100 percent commercial offsets to assist with the 
fighter purchase. 
 
BOYCE