Agreement allows Singapore to Station Military Personnel in Udon Thani
AIR BASE ACCESS: RTAF admits S’pore deal
Published on November 19, 2004
Agreement allows island state to station military personnel in Udon Thani
The Royal Thai Air Force (RTAF) yesterday admitted it had struck an agreement with Singapore that would allow military personnel from the island state to train at an airbase in Udon Thani.
RTAF commander-in-chief ACM Kongsak Wanthana told a press conference at its headquarters yesterday morning that the deal was fair as the RTAF would get military materiel and know-how as well as the right to use Singapore’s air-base facilities in return.
The admission came amid concerns that the deal with Singapore would sour the Kingdom’s ties with other neighbours like Malaysia and Laos.
Democrat MP Piraphan Salirat-vipak said during yesterday’s House meeting that the deal might violate the Constitution as it required parliamentary approval.
He also called for disclosure of the deal’s details.
An RTAF source said that in a memorandum of understanding signed last Friday, the air force agreed to allow Singapore to use its Wing 23 Base in Udon Thani three times a year in exchange for seven second-hand F-16 fighter jets worth more than Bt1 billion.
“Normally the Singapore military holds training at the Korat air base two times a year. Three more visits at the Wing 23 Base won’t be a problem,” the source said.
ACM Kongsak yesterday said Singaporean personnel would be allowed to train for three sessions a year, for no more than 60 days a session and involving no more than 20 aircraft each time. He dismissed the prospect of Singapore establishing a permanent air base here.
Kongsak said the deal was in line with a Cabinet resolution in 1983 to allow military personnel from member countries of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations to use RTAF facilities for training.
The air force chief said that although the MoU would expire in 15 years, a review could be made every five years.
Defence Ministry spokesman Maj-General Palangkoon Klahan said yesterday that the deal with Singapore, which is viewed as a close ally of the US, was not to pave the way for a return of American air bases in Thailand.
Panya Thiewsangwan, Bancha Khaengkhan
The Nation
Another lightning fast movement secretive move from our armed forces, which is typical in our current government era which practically controls all aspect of our daily life. This latest episode, by allowing a 15 year license to be allowed to conduct military exercies in Thai soil for over half a year(3 sessions, 60 days, and 20 aircraft limit) with full autonomy. What worries me, is that for a few fighter jets, it seems that our current armed forces are willing to give autonomy over our homeland to a neightboring country. This is no longer the typical military cooperation, but it seems like our country is more and more becoming a colony and a precursor for more prosperious countries as Singapore - and I suspect on a later stage - USA to set up full military bases in our country. We can learn through history, such as in the Romance of the Three Kingdoms - Lu Bu, the great warlord was invited to be a guest of Liu Bei. As Lu Bu was a great warrior, he later betrayed his benefactor, Liu Bei and took over his land with his superior army. That is a classic example of why military bases placed by a 3rd party country should never be allowed to extended stay unless the country is willing to place a risk on the guests to be civilized enough not to take advantage of the hospitility.
I do believe Singaporians to be trustworthy, but what worries me as a Thai citizen is that with military bases like this, I am sure that sometime in the future there might be a high-profile fugitive from Singapore might get safe passage out of Thailand based on this military agreement. A good example would be of the numerous cases in Okinawa, where US soldiers have used military immunity to escape from the local law, though at the late due to relationships between the country, have been allowing local judicial courts to trial these soldiers. I am afraid something on the same lines may happen soon based on this agreement.
Other than that, I have a reason to believe our relationships with our immediate behaviors would further slide down. Singapore and Malaysia have bad diplomatic relationships at this moment due to numerous spats especially over water resources which they had a public verbal spat on the Asian WallStreet Journal between the two government. By siding with Singapore on a military standpoint, it seems as if we are at odds with Malaysia. The countries in the north of our borders had past spats with the USA, and would certain feel more insecure with Singapore, a close allied nation with USA, operating in Thailand closer to their borders.
I wonder how short sighted our military leaders are in their decisions? I don't think they should be blamed alone. The Interior Ministry which deals directly with this matter own a huge explanation to the Thai public. Our PM who have handpicked the who military brass should no lnoger claim innocence like he has done on numerous occasions before and explain why would he allow his government to risk the Indepence of our country for just a few used F16? What did our airforce chief, ministers, and PM gained from this deal?
I believe our the Thai Public needs a better explanation than the common phrase our PM always say:
I always do what is good for the country.
Maybe I should paraphrase it into my interpretation of his misguided quote:
What is good for me and my cronies' business is good for the country.
2 comments:
It scares me to realize that the TRT will be in the government for another term. While the opposition remains hopeless, this dictatorial government starting to practice more and more daring, openly selfish and hostile policies. With this and the situation in the South, Thailand is heading towards a very dark future. Just wait when the economy goes down, the people will start to realize how far backwards this government has brought Thailand towards a better long term governance.
Quote from news:
“Normally the Singapore military holds training at the Korat air base two times a year. Three more visits at the Wing 23 Base won’t be a problem”
I used to chat with one of Singapore’s military who used to base in Thailand and have worried that how much they know about our internal. If my memory serve me right, it’s not only in “Korat” which the air force base. So, How’s about the army base and the sailor base in another provinces?
Quote from Pisal:
I do believe Singaporians to be trustworthy.
But I don’t think so, remember that Singaporeans are merchant more than us.
As my 8 days experience there, from my faced situation made me conclude that “The Prepaid-Refund System” was use in everywhere (even with the cart in the supermarket) should be a good conclusion of the habit of their people.
In my opinion, Thailand isn’t that loiter than Singapore. What I’ve found there is nothing than a better image.
And now Thailand will became more distinct in ASEAN also, What I suspecting now is not only this military deal but it is some situation at our “~ ^” !
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