Bangkok Post
Monday, August 09, 2010
He said the navy is ready in terms of personnel and equipment for the mission, but is still waiting for cabinet approval.
A source said the navy is interested in taking part in the suppression to gain experience in an international peace-keeping role. Moreover, Thai ships had earlier been hijacked by the Somali pirates.
Meanwhile, Col Sithichai Makkunchorn, the spokesman of the Royal Thai Armed Forces Command, said it was reported to a meeting of the armed forces commanders on Monday about the army's preparations to dispatch Task Force 980, a battalion or about 800 of troops, to Darfur, Sudan, to serve on the United Nations' peace-keeping mission.
Weapons and equipment will be transported by boat to Sudan on Sept 1. They are expected to arrive in Mukja on Sept 25.
The first group of 397 soldiers will leave for Sudan on a chartered flight on Oct 25 and the second group of 400 on Nov 23.
Source: Bangkok Post