When the Partner Stages a Putsch

BANGKOK/BERLIN (Own report) - With a degree of apprehension, Berlin is watching developments in Thailand following last Thursday's putsch. Foreign Minister Frank-Walter Steinmeier immediately and strongly condemned the coup and demanded that "new elections be soon" held. Observers warn that otherwise the situation could escalate and lead to uncontrollable controversies, which, strategically, would be a blow to Berlin, since the German Foreign Ministry considers Thailand to be "one of its most important political partners" in Southeast Asia. The region plays a very important role in the power struggle between western countries and the People's Republic of China. To insure its influence, Germany has been cooperating with the Thai armed forces for a long time, in spite of the numerous coups it has staged. The putschists have also benefited from the training Thai military personnel have received in Germany and the German arms supplies to the Thai armed forces. Four years ago, German assault rifles had been used to suppress democratic protests in Bangkok.

The Old Elites

With a degree of apprehension, Berlin is watching developments in Thailand following the putsch. Last Thursday, the military seized power in Bangkok and declared Army Commander Prayuth Chan-Ocha "Prime Minister." The putsch was preceded by months of a power struggle involving Yingluck Shinawatra's elected government opposed by the country's old establishment - comprised of royalty, major industries, the justice system and the military. The monarchist elites were no longer able to stand their ground using democratic means. With social programs, Yingluck, like her brother, Thaksin Shinawatra, before her - who had been Prime Minister from 2001 to 2006 and was also overthrown - had won the support of a large majority of the population particularly in the impoverished north of the country and in the poor neighborhoods of the capital. Aiming to oust Yingluck's government, the old Thai establishment had begun fomenting protests already in the fall of last year. The Democrat Party, a longtime partner of cooperation with the German FDP-affiliated Friedrich Naumann Foundation, had played a significant role. (german-foreign-policy.com reported.[1]) With the May 7 Constitutional Court removal of Yingluck from office and the military seizing power last week, the old elites had finalized their coup.

Best Relations

According to Peter Pauels, a former German military attaché in Bangkok, the Bundeswehr has "good relations" with the Thai military, which has staged nineteen coup d'états since the end of the absolute monarchy in 1932. Pauels explained that "training relationships" have existed for more than 50 years. Every year, from seven to ten Thai officer cadets learn German at the Federal Office of Languages followed by officer training with the Bundeswehr and studies "at the Bundeswehr's universities in Hamburg or Munich," according to the ex-military attaché. "About 150 officers of the Thai armed forces" have received their training in Germany, including "a number of high-ranking generals ..., who - because of their positive experiences in Germany - seek and maintain contact."[2] For example, following the putsch in 2006, one officer, who had been trained at the German Armed Forces Staff College in Hamburg, worked in the junta's Prime Minister's office. As a staff member of Bangkok's defense ministry, he used an official trip to the Krauss-Maffei Wegmann arms manufacturer in 2009, to also visit a CDU affiliated Konrad Adenauer Foundation information event. (german-foreign-policy.com reported [3].)

Close Contacts

Thai officers, who had been trained in Germany, maintain close contacts both to one another, as well as to their colleagues in Germany. For example they have regular "alumni meetings." The German embassy in Bangkok reports of "varied and close friendships that many Thai officers have maintained with the Bundeswehr," which is also expressed in a carefully nurtured relationship to the German military attaché staff in the Thai capital.[4] According to information furnished the German parliament by the German government, following the September 2006 military putsch, all high-ranking military policy and military contacts had officially been suspended for a period of 16 months.[5] In the fall of 2013, cooperation encompassed also training a Thai soldier at the Bundeswehr Academy for Information and Communication (AkBwInfoKom) in Strausberg. This had been a "course in public affairs," training its students to be better spin doctors for awkward occurances. Following a putsch, these qualities will be very much in demand vis à vis the international media.

With German Weapons

Thailand's military have also been equipped with West German weaponry. Since the German government began compiling an Arms Export Report, it has indicated, for example, that planes from Bundeswehr stocks, as well as instruments for the Air Force and Navy have been delivered to Thailand. Firearms have repeatedly been provided. In May 2010, parliamentarian, Jan van Aken (Die Linke) reported that Thailand had bought "581 German-made rifles and submachine guns over the past decade."[6] In 2010, the German government approved the export of still more submachine guns to that country, in spite of the fact that, at the time, the military was brutally repressing demonstrations.[7] Judging from an analysis of photographic material made in Bangkok, MP5 and HK33 assault rifles (both manufactured by "Heckler and Koch") were among the submachine guns used against the demonstrators.[8] Decades ago, Germany had provided Thailand the license to manufacture the HK33s, on its own.

"Observe China"

The Federal Republic of Germany has always supported Thailand's armed forces, to insure influence in Southeast Asia. "Thailand is one of Germany's most important political partners in this emerging region," announced the German Foreign Ministry. It also plays a "key role" in the ASEAN, Southeast Asian alliance.[9] In addition, Thailand is a solid component of the western alliance system. "The traditionally close security partnership with the USA is an important pillar of Thailand's foreign and military policy."[10] Whereas, during the period of the bi-polar system confrontation, the objective was to halt the expansion of socialism in Southeast Asia, today, the focus is on the power struggles with the emerging world power, China. "We have China's arms buildup under observation and are establishing situation assessments" explained Peter Pauels, the above-mentioned former defense attaché, a few years ago. The People's Republic of China furnishes "certain countries with military hardware" and insures itself "access to the southern seas with significant infrastructure projects." Explaining German-Thai military cooperation he said, "We must keep an eye on all of these developments."[11]

Double-Edged Power Politics

The eighteen previous putsches have not prevented the Federal Republic of Germany from continuing cooperation with the Thai military. However, this time Germany is getting worried. Observers note that opponents of the old monarchist establishment, who have grown stronger over the past few years, will possibly not tolerate the coup d'état any longer and could organize serious resistance. Berlin has no interest in violent unrest in a country that is one of its important global partners. This is why Foreign Minister Frank-Walter Steinmeier - contrary to 2006, when serious domestic unrest was not expected - immediately expressed strong public criticism, demanding early elections to restore stability. Close cooperation with Thailand's armed forces, which, in the context of global hegemony, had proven very beneficial for such a long time, is now becoming a double-edged sword, due to growing resistance to the putschists.

Other reports and background information on Germany's policy toward Thailand can be found here: Friends of the Monarchy, A Relaxed and Comfortable Putsch and After the Bloodbath.

[1] See Deutschlands außenpolitischer Pluralismus.
[2] Als deutscher Soldat in Bangkok. Interview mit Verteidigungsattaché i.G. Oberst Pauels. Interview mit Verteidigungsattaché i. G. Oberst Pauels. www.thaizeit.de.
[3] See Schwierige Partner.
[4] Verabschiedung von Oberst i.G. Peter Gehrhardt. Botschaft der Bundesrepublik Deutschland Bangkok: Newsletter November 2010.
[5] Deutscher Bundestag, Drucksache 17/2670, 23.07.2010.
[6] Birgit Gärtner: Lukratives Geschäft mit dem Tod. www.heise.de 22.05.2010.
[7] See Friends of the Monarchy, A Relaxed and Comfortable Putsch and After the Bloodbath.
[8] See Schwierige Partner.
[9] Thailand: Beziehungen zu Deutschland. www.auswaertiges-amt.de.
[10] Thailand: Außenpolitik. www.auswaertiges-amt.de.
[11] Als deutscher Soldat in Bangkok. Interview mit Verteidigungsattaché i.G. Oberst Pauels. Interview mit Verteidigungsattaché i. G. Oberst Pauels. www.thaizeit.de.


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