ID :
181804
Thu, 05/12/2011 - 14:58
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Shortlink :
http://m.oananews.org//node/181804
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Thai navy to seek approval from the next government to buy submarines
BANGKOK, May 12 (TNA) - Thailand's Navy chief, Adm Kamthorn Phumhiran, has admitted that he is disappointed that his submarine procurement project did not reach the last meeting of the cabinet. He did say however that he will resubmit the project with the next government.
His request was for the purchase of six used submarines from Germany but was not even discussed at the last meeting. However, he said he was not discouraged and that the cabinet must have its reasons. He assured that the Navy had the greatest level of insight concerning the need for submarines and also had its own reasons to back the purchase. He promised to push the issue again and will ask Germany to wait for an order from Thailand.
“If the wait can be extended, I will ask the next government. If this fails again, it will have to wait for the following government,” the Navy chief said. He explained that submarine procurement was a normal matter and the Navy had planned to buy submarines for a long time but it could not afford them. In fact, over the past 60 years, the Navy has filed three requests to buy them.
Adm Kamthorn said that arming the Navy to enable it to defend the nation would be a good move with good intentions.
Asked if the latest request was rejected because the Defence Ministry prefers submarines from South Korea to those from Germany, Adm Kamthorn declined to comment. He only said that the defence minister never expressed a desire for submarines from South Korea or China and that the minister had visited both countries only for inspection trips. (TNA)
His request was for the purchase of six used submarines from Germany but was not even discussed at the last meeting. However, he said he was not discouraged and that the cabinet must have its reasons. He assured that the Navy had the greatest level of insight concerning the need for submarines and also had its own reasons to back the purchase. He promised to push the issue again and will ask Germany to wait for an order from Thailand.
“If the wait can be extended, I will ask the next government. If this fails again, it will have to wait for the following government,” the Navy chief said. He explained that submarine procurement was a normal matter and the Navy had planned to buy submarines for a long time but it could not afford them. In fact, over the past 60 years, the Navy has filed three requests to buy them.
Adm Kamthorn said that arming the Navy to enable it to defend the nation would be a good move with good intentions.
Asked if the latest request was rejected because the Defence Ministry prefers submarines from South Korea to those from Germany, Adm Kamthorn declined to comment. He only said that the defence minister never expressed a desire for submarines from South Korea or China and that the minister had visited both countries only for inspection trips. (TNA)
