SG may lose Thai training camp
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S'pore may lose army training site Thursday January 18, 2007,http://www.bangkokpost.com/News/18Jan2007_news02.php
Army chief Sonthi Boonyaratkalin is considering reviewing and possibly cancelling a contract for Singapore to use a military training base in Kanchanaburi if the city-state fails to cooperate on the issue of ousted prime minister Thaksin Shinawatra, a highly-placed source said. Singapore would be seriously concerned about a termination of the contract, as it is a small island country without space for military training, the source added. The island republic has been paying to use the military camp in Kanchanaburi province for at least 20 years.
2.PRC sure ask SG go to HAINAN Is.!
The source added Singapore's army has signed an agreement to use the camp for a joint military exercise, known as ''Crescendo'', with its Thai counterparts in Kanchanaburi. The ongoing exercise, which is organised every three years, will end in July.....
The disclosure came amid a souring of relations following Singapore's recent reception of Mr Thaksin.
Gen Sonthi, who led the coup that ousted Mr Thaksin, yesterday blasted the ousted premier's family for selling their telecommunications business to Singapore, saying it could pose a threat to national security.
The army is also in trouble. Our communications and information sent over mobile phones or via satellite could appear in Singapore,'' he said.
''Although Singapore is not our enemy, we are economic rivals. They could be informed of secrets in the army and in the economic sector.''
Gen Sonthi, who is also chairman of the Council for National Security, said the army would adopt certain measures to deal with Singapore. But he promised they would be subtle, and not include a boycott of bilateral military cooperation.
The two countries have maintained cordial military relations, and the army has been trying to keep politics out of military affairs, he added.
CNS spokesman Col Sansern Kaewkamnerd said CNS members had expressed concern over the issue at their meeting yesterday .
A source said ACM Chalit Phukphasuk, CNS deputy chief, would use the current joint military exercise to express Thailand's concern.
Singapore is paying up to a billion baht a year for the use of the army camp in Sai Yok district. The contract is renewed every 10 years.
The Thaksin government also allowed Singapore to lease part of Wing 23 air base in Udon Thani for military flight training.
Former foreign minister Surin Pitsuwan, currently a legislator, cautioned that diplomatic friction could get out of hand.
He raised concerns over possible complications from excessive patriotism, which could be generated by the Singapore issue.
Surachart Bamrungsuk, a security expert at Chulalongkorn University, was critical of the suspension of a civil service exchange programme and retraction of the invitation to Singapore Foreign Minister George Yeo.
The response showed the government ''was overly concerned'' with Mr Thaksin's movements.
Thailand had never before resorted to such retaliation, which showed that Asean members were unable to settle disputes through dialogue, Mr Surachart added.
Prime Minister Surayud Chulanont said the Foreign Ministry's response had been carefully considered.
Government spokesman Yongyuth Mayalarb emphasised that other cooperation programmes with Singapore would continue.
Democrat party leader Abhisit Vejjajiva said the so-called ''personal matter'' brought up during talks between Singapore Deputy Prime Minister S. Jayakumar and Mr Thaksin concerned business which would have adverse repercussions for Thailand.
He called on the Surayud government to explain its response to Singapore in terms of facts and principles. -
aiyah thailand the stupid government now cannot make it one lah duh!!
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I think Thailand have more to lose should they suspend this military training cooperation which have been around for years. The money contributed can help to fund their military development and our soldiers(the number is quite substantial) will also contribute to their economy during R&R. We also donated our old F-16 A/B to their Air Force( i think 7).
If they are to cut all this then they will have a harder time than us. I guess with our financial resources, other ASEAN countries will be interested in hosting us. An example, will be Hainan island provided by PRC. This way they can stop us from continuing to go to ROC and make some money in the process.
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woohoo! no more Ex. Crescendo!
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Next, Ex Hainan Island!Originally posted by kalangkabo:woohoo! no more Ex. Crescendo! -
Then can we have our F16s back please?
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cannot eat anymore calamari with prawns with pork cutlet and chicken nuggets french fries with rice for $3 liao -
Why are they gripping us by the balls? I mean its already been stated that Thaksin came on a private visit not in some official capacity right? Also, if Sonthi is so capable, he should issue a friggin warrant of arrest for Thaksin. Have him brought back to Bangkok and hang him by the balls for all to see.
Quite frankly, the entire episode the way I see it is merely a business transaction. If Thaksin could profit by selling his mother, I suppose he would do it too. Sonthi is actually just trying to hide his incompetency of handling the Thaksin issue as he's unable to reach out and grab him. So Sonthi obviously has to do something else,to finger somebody. Why didn't he finger the Brits. for letting him reside in the UK? Sonthi is simply just trying to protect his popularity by giving the Thai population what they want, fanatical leadership so that they will be distracted by the fact that he can't handle Thaksin whom has made a fool of him the very day he ousted him. -
now u have $1 hainanese chicken rice.Originally posted by Advante_101: cannot eat anymore calamari with prawns with pork cutlet and chicken nuggets french fries with rice for $3 liao -
My concern is that we have managed the get the only country in SE Asia who actually like Singapore, to become yet another potentially hostile neighbour.
The Malaysians, Indonesians, though friendly, as potential enemies. Filipinos hate us. And now, even the Thais have turned against us.
Though I see this relationship easier to repair than those with the other three, it is still a bad sign.
Sure, we can keep saying that everybody else is wrong and we are right. Or that they are trying to bully us etc.
But sometimes, I do wonder.... In this case it looked like Thaksin really was in our pockets. Shameful.
Losing a training camp is nothing. But losing the trust of a strong, powerful ally is bad news. -
Curious...why does the Filipinos hate us?Originally posted by moca:My concern is that we have managed the get the only country in SE Asia who actually like Singapore, to become yet another potentially hostile neighbour.
The Malaysians, Indonesians, though friendly, as potential enemies. Filipinos hate us. And now, even the Thais have turned against us.
Though I see this relationship easier to repair than those with the other three, it is still a bad sign.
Sure, we can keep saying that everybody else is wrong and we are right. Or that they are trying to bully us etc.
But sometimes, I do wonder.... In this case it looked like Thaksin really was in our pockets. Shameful.
Losing a training camp is nothing. But losing the trust of a strong, powerful ally is bad news. -
We hung one of theirs before.Originally posted by SpecOps87:Curious...why does the Filipinos hate us? Acherly hor, Oz also don't like us, same reason. -
We also rotan a yank before what...The Yanks don't hate us do they?
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That's coz we gave them a discount on the rotan.Originally posted by SpecOps87:We also rotan a yank before what...The Yanks don't hate us do they? -
I suppose in this new age, a friend can become an enemy and an enemy can become a friend. Don't know who you can really trust. As I see it, SG govt is very wise to build up a strong defence force. This will be a great opportunity for SG to continue strengthening its' defence capability!!
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come on, in international politics theres no like; theres just benefits.Originally posted by moca:My concern is that we have managed the get the only country in SE Asia who actually like Singapore, to become yet another potentially hostile neighbour.
The Malaysians, Indonesians, though friendly, as potential enemies. Filipinos hate us. And now, even the Thais have turned against us.
Though I see this relationship easier to repair than those with the other three, it is still a bad sign.
Sure, we can keep saying that everybody else is wrong and we are right. Or that they are trying to bully us etc.
But sometimes, I do wonder.... In this case it looked like Thaksin really was in our pockets. Shameful.
Losing a training camp is nothing. But losing the trust of a strong, powerful ally is bad news. -
Sacarli tat Sonthi (Thai-muslim race) is being paid by the malaysian government to one-man-show caused hard feelings in singapore
Then malaysia with her PAskal can attacck sg liao -
thailand is screwed up.
thai king is even more screwed up. that dumbass just supports everything the gen does. i think he scared the next coup remove his position as king -
Taken from the movie Jarhead : "The mother of battle is upon us..Kuwait is the branch tat must be return to the tree..The bloods of the Infidels will flow like a river..Jihad is the way to go
Sub kuwait for SG Sacarli Malaysia been reciting this for decades liao..Now the time has come to strike
And u all still think it has to do with the Thai Government -
I think ur are quite dumb to even said tat urself...The chances of the thai pple staging a coup to remove their king is almost zero to noneOriginally posted by OO_OO_OO:thailand is screwed up.
thai king is even more screwed up. that dumbass just supports everything the gen does. i think he scared the next coup remove his position as king What an idoit -
Like the Indonesians, they have a deeply-ingrained dislike of the Chinese race, though they mostly keep it under the surface. Their own Filipino Chinese are seen as profiteers who gave nothing back to the nation.Originally posted by SpecOps87:Curious...why does the Filipinos hate us?
And then they get bullied by China all the time especially over the Spratlys and other fishing issues. And many feel China may invade them.
And it didn't help that we hung one of their women whom they saw as a victim of evil Singaporeans right from the start.
But then, the Filipinos keep mostly to themselves in this region anyway. They don't like the Malaysians or Indonesians as they are Muslims vs Filipinos being Catholic.
And lastly, they seem to suffer from a low self-esteem on a national scale.
The only friend they want is the "cano" - Pinoy for "Americano". -
o rly?Originally posted by Advante_101:I think ur are quite dumb to even said tat urself...The chances of the thai pple staging a coup to remove their king is almost zero to none What an idoit
you're a thai?
that general is quite power hungry. but he knows that the thai ppl respect the king. so the only way is to suck the king if he wants support. And the king wont want trouble my disagreeing with the army chief. makes sense?
doesnt? why dont u offer your explanation?
the king wasnt on any bad terms with thaksin why would he allow the elected president to be outsted so easily? -
Does this all mean we get our F16s back ?
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what benifit malaysia have by paying sonthi?Originally posted by Advante_101:Sacarli tat Sonthi (Thai-muslim race) is being paid by the malaysian government to one-man-show caused hard feelings in singapore
Then malaysia with her PAskal can attacck sg liao
as i can see, thaksin is corrupt, look what happen at tak bai
and southern thailand
coup de tat is in right time but is in wrong way
malaysia will never attack sg
we're defensive, but we will pay badly people who attack us
very bad -
Is yr brain in yr butt? No one dare to upset the king in Thailand. He is almost revered as a god there. Just look at Thailand second last coup. When the King said that he doesn't support the general. All the general's underlining all left him and thus the coup ended.Originally posted by OO_OO_OO:thailand is screwed up.
thai king is even more screwed up. that dumbass just supports everything the gen does. i think he scared the next coup remove his position as king