Thailand to send troops to UN peacekeeping mission in Sudan

Jan 28, 2006 (BANGKOK) — Thailand will send troops and a police force to join a United Nations-led peacekeeping mission in Sudan, said the Thai News Agency.

The Thai cabinet approved the international mission at its weekly meeting on January 27, Defence Ministry Spokesman Maj. Gen. Chakkrit Intratat told journalists here on Friday.

The Ministry of Defence and the Royal Thai Police are preparing a squad of Thai troops and police officers to join the mission.

“The United Nation will later inform the Thai government how many Thai officers should join the mission and how long they will be in Sudan,” Maj. Gen. Chakkrit said after a meeting of the Defence Council in which the issue was considered.

Maj. Gen. Chakkrit said the Defence Council also approved a Royal Thai Army plan on the restructuring of its development division in the deep South to become a light infantry in charge of both development and security tasks.

“When the restructuring, expected to take at least four years, is completed, the new infantry will be ready to serve the local residents in both development projects and defence operations when necessary,” said the defence ministry spokesman.

(ST)