U-tapao mess came from govt ineptitude

Ref: "PM says parliament debate on Nasa request to go ahead despite cancellation", News, June 30.

The Foreign Ministry was wrong in believing that the issue of giving Nasa access to U-tapao needed only a Cabinet resolution; that caused the debacle. Without relying on wording in the Constitution, common sense tells us that a proposal of this nature is safer all around if Parliament plays a part in approving it. And the chance of disapproval is small when the US' presence has already been viewed by a poll as acceptable. The Democrat Party would not have objected if the issue was openly debated. Even under free voting without a party line, in my humble opinion, the majority votes could easily be obtained.

I laud Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra for her foresight in having the debate and resolution on this issue now to pave the way for Nasa's return should we eventually be forgiven for the recent clumsiness. What I like about this prime minister is her willingness to learn from mistakes.

As for one academic expert's hearsay reference to President Obama's displeasure with the U-tapao issue and avoiding to visit Thailand after the East Asian Summit in Cambodia, I take this with a pinch of salt. The frustration over U-tapao was not a snub from Thailand but pure ineptness of the administration and I do not believe Obama is a small-minded person.

Songdej Praditsmanont

Bangkok