Cabinet leaves U-Tapao request off agenda
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The Cabinet did not deliberate Nasa's request to use U-Tapao airbase for studying clouds Tuesday as earlier expected, Government Spokesperson Sansanee Nakpong said Tuesday.
Earlier, Foreign Minister Surapong Towichukchaikul said the Cabinet would deliberate the request after indications that the armed forces were not opposed to it.
Sansanee said the Cabinet decided to further seek the opinions of security agencies and other government agencies before taking up the project for consideration.
Critics have called on the government to send Nasa’s request to Parliament, pointing out that Article 190 of the Constitution requires any contract that would affect the sovereignty of the country to be endorsed by Parliament.
But Surapong insisted on Monday that the project would not affect the government’s sovereignty and would be carried out for scientific purpose that would benefit Thailand, allowing the kingdom to have greater expertise in weather forecasting.
Political observers said Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra changed her mind at the last minute and decided not to consider the Nasa request this week for fear that her Pheu Thai Party would be dissolved for violating Article 190.
