US Cost d’Affaires Michael Heath rejected as unfaithful a string of rumours starting from the USA constructing a secret missile base at a brand new compound in Chiang Mai to pressuring the Thai air power to purchase stealth fighter jets from the nation.
The US envoy, who at the moment serves because the US diplomatic mission chief, responded to the rumours whereas assembly with reporters on the US ambassador’s residence in Bangkok.
He mentioned the brand new consulate common being constructed within the northern province of Chiang Mai has a price ticket of US$280 million (9.3 billion baht) resulting from high-security necessities and using inexperienced know-how.
US embassies or consulates are designed to be extremely safe and in a position to defend towards explosions, he mentioned. The brand new campus will not be designed or constructed to accommodate any “secret or missile base”, he insisted.
In response to Mr Heath, the Chiang Mai Consulate Normal is taking care of about 17,000 American nationals residing within the northern area.
He additionally denied a hearsay that David Eubank, founding father of Free Burma Rangers, was despatched by US authorities to offer weapons coaching to Karen villagers towards Myanmar forces.
Mr Eubank, a former US Special Forces officer, grew to become a missionary after retirement and the Free Burma Rangers is a reduction organisation that gives humanitarian help, not weapons, he mentioned.
Mr Heath dismissed as false, stories circulating on social media that Gen Mark A Milley, chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Workers, made a secret go to to the dominion and met Gen Chalermpol Srisawat, chief of Thailand’s defence forces.
In reality, Gen Chalermpol and his delegation, invited by the Pentagon, made an official go to to the USA final December to debate cooperation in schooling and coaching amongst points, he mentioned.
