Duty of every Thai to see satellites returned: Sonthi

The Nation, February 19, 2007
Panya Thiewsangwan,
Bancha Khaengkhan


Taking back Thai satellites from the Singapore operators is a patriotic duty for every Thai, the junta head said yesterday, although he claims a simple business deal need not harm relations with the island state.

Clarifying Friday's remarks that claimed the telecom satellites were "national assets" and should revert to Thai control, Council for National Security chairman General Sonthi Boonyaratglin said he was calling for patriotism.

But the Army boss said his statement was aimed at Thais - not outsiders. Asked whether he used the satellites as a metaphor, Sonthi said: "Yes, but the telecom satellites are national assets, which should not be simply taken away from the Thai people."

Sonthi said the Thaicom satellite, one of many operated by a Singaporean operator after Temasek took over the majority of Shin Corp shares last year, was Thailand's first and the name was chosen by His Majesty the King.

"An asset of the Thai people is being used by another country and we just want it back. But by what means remains to be seen," he added.

Asked whether Singapore's call for clarification of his remarks would hamper bilateral relations, Sonthi said: "It's a completely different matter. It's purely a business deal. The Thaicom satellite can be sold and bought back.

"If it can be bought back, do it."

He said bringing back the satellites was a duty for every Thai and the government must act, although the CNS would play no part in it, he added.

Meanwhile, the Democrat Party is proposing the government use an ongoing legal case to pressure Singapore into returning the five satellites.

Alongkorn Pollabutr, the party's deputy leader, said the Cabinet should consider the issue of satellite concessions tomorrow and plan to hold formal but friendly negotiations with Singapore.

He said the Kularb Kaew nominee case, concerning one of the companies that allegedly allowed the former government to bypass Thai ownership laws, could be speeded up to pressure Singapore.

The company stands accused of being used as a nominee to circumvent the Foreign Business Act to buy Shin Corp shares.

Singapore wants to unload 47 per cent of its Shin Corp shares because Temasek Holdings now holds more than the 49-per-cent stake permitted under Thai law, the Democrat said.

The satellites will be a bone of contention between the two governments until the matter is resolved, he added.

He proposed the government assign CAT Telecom to issue bonds to raise funds to buy back the five satellites.

A poll by Rajabhat Institute Suan Dusit of 1,116 Bangkok residents found that 78 per cent of respondents agreed with Sonthi that the government should reclaim the satellites from Singapore while around 17 per cent did not agree. Four per cent made no comment.

Around 72 per cent said relations with Singapore would be affected by the dispute, with 16 per cent saying there would be no effect.

On Saturday, Singapore demanded clarification of the remarks made by the junta leader regarding his intention to take back control of the satellites.

"Singapore was surprised about what Sonthi Boonyaratglin was reported to have said about getting back Thai national assets," a Foreign Ministry spokesman said on Friday. "We should wait for the government to clarify those remarks."

Yesterday, Information and Communications Technology Minister Sitthichai Pookaiyaudom said he would announce measures today to reclaim the satellite concessions from Temasek.

He said the measures would prevent foreign investors from claiming that the Thai government persecuted Temasek. He said Prime Minister Surayud Chulanont would be asked for his approval.

Also yesterday, Thai Rak Thai Party legal expert Wichit Plungsrisakul said the government should take care if it attempted to take back the satellite concessions from Temasek. He said if the deals were revoked unfairly, it could affect the confidence of foreign investors.