AMPLIFYING INFORMATION ON THAI/LAO MEKONG RIVER

• Document Type: CREST
• Collection: General CIA Records
• Document Number (FOIA) /ESDN (CREST): CIA-RDP08C01297R000300060009-6
• Release Decision: RIPPUB
• Original Classification: C
• Document Page Count: 8
• Document Creation Date: December 27, 2016
• Document Release Date: September 14, 2012
• Sequence Number: 9
• Publication Date: October 14, 1975
• Content Type: REPORT

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I. COUNTRY: 1\IAILAND
NO FOREIGN DISSEM
( Cla?sitt beton end Control Mareings)
? report conjoins 404P,09?9???77iikt.i."...
Plen? orld,or po/Iclo? ehould not .'b? emal mid
or moth hod ?ol el y on Itl? Oriole 01 MI* report.
z SUOJECTs (14) Amplifying Information on
Thai/Lao Mekong River
C DATEOFINFORMAVOW 11 October 1975
S. PLACE AND DATE OF ACO:
6 EVALUATION: SOURCE
7. SOURCE:
Bangkok, Thailand
11 October 1975
INFORMATION
6. REPORT NUMBER:
9. DATE OF REPORT: 14 Octpber, 1975
W. NO. OF PAGES: 4
nrn3 ?G1200- PG2420: PGW2640;
11. REFERENCES:
12. ORIGINATOR:
13. PREPARED BY:
2
AMEMB BKK Msg 21580 (101238Z Oct 75)
PG1100; PG1300; PG2510
USDA? Bangkok
14. APPROVING AUTHORITY'
Is. SUMMARY:
(r) TR ponrairr a basic situation,description and amplifying informatio IR
concerning confrontations between Lao and Thai national d/or the
Armed Forces of Laos and Thailand on the Mekong River.
Defense Attache
NO FOREIGN DISSEM CAVEAT UTILIZED TO PROTECT COMMENT OF DATT
OCT75
rk&c'd
1. (U) The River. The Mekong River constitutes approximately 879 Kilometers (KM)
of the border between the Kingdoms of Thailand and Laos. The Mekong River boundry
between Laos and Thailand was the consequence of the Franco-Siamese (1907) treaty
which the Thais regard as "forced upon them by the French". In accordance with
this treaty, the boundry between the two countries is the midpoint of the deep
water channel and, of the 600 or 700 islands in the river, all but seven are
considered to be the territory of Laos. This means that commercial and military
riverine traffic must frequently transit along the deep water channel between Lao
islands and the Lao bank of the river. The current government in Laos increasingly
considers any such transit as an illegal incursion of Thai river craft into
Laotian territory. This causes a particularly restrictive riverine transit
situation during the "dry season" when the river is normally extremely shallow and
Leave Plank)
?
16. DISTRIBUTION BY ORIGINATOR:
COMIPAC (Code:522)(w encls)
AMB (w encls)
17. DOWNGRADING DATA:
CLASSIFIED BY DATT
BANGKOK
Subieet to ,General.- ? --
Daclassi;icat ion Schedule of
Execlnivc 07f1,:r 11652
Automatically Downgraded at
two year intervals Declassified
on December 31, /P'/
IS.
18. ATTACHAIENT DATA:
4 ENCLS:
1. (0) Map depicting Location
of Mekong River Operation
Units, l12.
(U) Iktratted'article from
Kthe Bangkok Post, entitled
"Lao Gunboat Sunk In Mekon
Battle': dtd 10 Oct 75, 1 c)
3. (U) Extracted article from
the Nation, entitled 'Thai
UN, Navy Gunboats Exchange Fir
With Laotians", dtd 10 Oct
75, 1 cy.
4. (U)Extracted article from
the World, enttiled "Mekon
In coned
RERL ACES OA FORA. qoole. I AUG 60.
? DD ,=.1396 NO FOREIGN DI OPN A V FOR. 3.20 (Rev I0-61).
he FORM 112. JUL 61. WHICH MAY GE
f-Cd."OggA04-4CU1Q1-61
USED UNTIL I JAN 63.
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1) 64h1) 1
0,
? AL
CONTINUATION SHEET
CONFIDENTIAL
NO FOREIGN DISSEM
(cf. ? ?I ficstion and Control Afarkina?)
REPORT p40.
PAGE 2
ORIGINATOR
or 4 PAGES
USDA() Bangkok
the only navigable water is in (or near) mid-channel. This unbridged undamed
river border seasonally varies in water levels up to 30 meters above the confluence
of the Nam Pak Kading (Nam Co Dinh) River and from 13 to 15 meters below that
point while the width of the river varies annually in the upper reaches between
40 meters and 700 meters and in the lower reaches between 100 meters and 1600 meters
-normally low water is in April and high water in August/September. Both sides
of the river have heavy vegatation and are sparcely populated with people of the
same ethnic characteristics, language, (which is distinctly different than the
"Bangkok" Thai language), historical trading (smuggling)/visiting life style that
ignores the border, and a mutual propensity to resist any authority. The rapids
below Chiang Khan (10KM) are hazardous and at low water navigable only by craft
with a draft of 11/2 meters or less and with a capability for speeds in excess of
30 KPH to overcome the current. The Khemmarat Rapids are even more difficult
and at low water navigable by craft with a draft of 1/2 meter or less and a speed in
excess of 32 KPH to overcome the current. Navigation markers in the river are
largely limited to a pre-World War II French installed system of concrete pilings
which is outmoded by erosion and collision damage and the ever changing character-
istics of the river; additionally at high water many of these markers are submerged
and thereby constitute a dangerous hazard to navigation. Bamboo channel markers
have been annually implaced during January in the river by the Lao government in
the vicinity of Vientiane and perhaps elsewhere by local Thai or Lao interests.
(C) INCIDENTS/CONFRONTATIONS:
a. During the 18-24 month period which preceeded April of 1975 (and perhaps
longer) border incidents on the Mekong between the Lao and Thai occurred about
every other month without any discernable regularity or patterned characteristics.
have resulted in confirmed KIAs for either of the involved Lao or Thai riverine
forces.
b. On the night of 13 September 1975, the current Commanding Officer of the
MROU, Captain Praphat Vrisanachand, was wounded by gunfire in an incident which
was reported as the attempted apprehension of weapons smugglers. The wound was
reported as a superficial wound on the right side of the torso just below the rib
cage. Captain Praphat was hospitalized for treatment in the RIM Pra Pin Klao
Hospital, Thonburi, until the second week of October 1975. The incident which
resulted in the casualty occurred .5 KM inland in RTG territory; the MROU
jurisdiction includes the RTG territory inland one KM from the Mekong River.
c. For many years there have been numerous occasions in which the Border
Patrol Police (BPP), the Volunteer Defense Corps (VDC), the Royal Thai Army (RTA),
and other units have had casualties related to smuggling and insurgency operations
across the Mekong River, but these actions have not been considered as Mekong
River Border incidents.
3. (C) RTA Organization for Surveillance and Security on the Mekong River Border.
a. In April 1974, the RTG established three Border Surveillance Stations -
(BSS) under the command of the RTA Commander of the Second Army. These stations
were designated as BSS 101, BSS 202, and BSS 303. BSS 101 is located at Sangkhom,
about half way between Chiang Khan and Srichiang Mai, below the rapids located 19
KM down river from Chiang Khan. BSS 202 is located at Ban Phaeng, which is along
the "dangerous 100 kilometers" (refers to firing incidents, smuggling, and
insurgent activities) between the confluences of the Pak Kading and Bin Boon rivers
with the Mekong. BSS 303 is located at Khemmarat, which is down river from
Savannakhet and above the Khemmarat rapids. Each BSS is commanded by a RTA
Colonel and his deputy commander is believed to be a Major of the Border Patrol
Police (BPP). BSS 101 is assigned responsibility for surveillance and security on
the river above Nong Khai (opposite Vientiane); BSS 202 is responsible between
Nong Khai and Ubon and BSS 303 is responsible for the river downstream from Ubon
to the Cambodian border. Each BSS is supposed to have operational control over ,
di; --1=0:?It. IA96 c
CONFIDENTIAL
NO FOREIGN DISSEM
V11111111011MMAIMM?114..
REPLACES DA FORM 1048-1 I AUG 60
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CONFIDENTIAL
NO FOREIGN DISSEM
CONTINUATION SHEET
REPORT NO.
PAGE 3 OF 4
ORIGINATOR uSDA0 Bangkok
(Clamed lleation and Control AtarkIngtr)
three assigned companies of land forces (1 company of RTA, 1 company of BPP, and
1 company of VDC), the on-call commitment of five PBR's (each of which are
normally escorted with two assault boats) from the MROU, and an air support
commitment from the Royal Thai Air Force (RTAF). RO was unable to obtain, any
information that defined the RTAF commitment.
PAGES
4. (C) RTN Mekong River Operations Unit (MROU):
a. (C) Headquarters Located At Nakhon Phanom (NKP): Commanded by Captain
Praphat Krisanachan RTN since December of 1974. Former Commander was Rear Admiral
Damrong Sekanand; a handsome, articulate, popular naval officer, who RO believes was
"Kicked upstairs" as the Bangkok based Commander of a newly established Riverine
Squadron (formerly the RTN operational forces were comprised only of the ASW, Patrol,
Mine Warfare and Service Squadrons). The Riverine Squadron's only assets are
those of the MROU although there are supposed to be plans for forces, responsibility,
and operations on the other rivers in Thailand. Captain Praphat has an RTN
reputation as a tough task master who gets things done. Obviously he participates
in MROU operations to the extent that he recently was wounded during investigation
or pursuit of a suspected arms smuggling operation.
b. (C) Disposition: The MROU has ten bases and/or boat stations along the
Mekong River from Chiang Khan in Loei Province to Khemmarat in the Southeast. As
indicated ?on enclosure 1, these bases/boat stations are located at Chiang Khan,
Sri Chiang Mai, Nong Khai, Phon Phisai, Bong Khan, Ban Nakae, Nakhon Phanom, That
Phanom, Muk Dahan, and Khemmarat. There is an additional boat station at Khong
Chiem, but this is manned by the Marine Police (MP).
(1) (C) Equipment: Patrol Boat, River (PBR):
(a) (C) The MROU is equipped with 30 PBRs; 5 PBRs are under
construction by UNI-FLITE in Bellingham,Washinrizon, for delivery to the RTN and
assignment to the MROU, and 5 additional boats tave been programmed (but not funded)
for construction and delivery.
(b) (U) These MK2 PBRs have the following characteristics:
Length - 32 feet (9.7m)
Beam - 11.7" (3.53m)
Displacement - 18,000 lbs (8165 kg)
Fuel Capacity - 160 gal (606 lb)
Construction - Glass-reinforced plastic, Vee hull
Crew - 4
Propulsion - 'rig() JACU221 waterjet pumps
- Two General Motors diesel engines, 215HP @ 2800 RPM
Speed - 24,Kts (45 KPH)
Draft - 2 feet (.6m)
Range (max speed) - 150 KM (280 KM)
Armament - 1, twin mount .50 cal machine gun, tub mounted
- 1, .50 cal machine gun, stand mounted
(2) (C) Assault Boats:
(a) (C) Sixty assault boats are assigned, normally two assault
boats operate with a PBR on routine river patrol operations.
(b) (U) The assault boats are 16 foot runabouts made of fiber glass
with a cathedral hull and powered by 55 HP Mercury outboard motors. They are
crewed by 3 men. The armament is one M-60 mounted on a centerpost.
(3) (C) Manning: The MROU is apparently adequately manned and trained to
maintain and operate their assigned equipment. The equipment is not sufficient to
accomplish even limited effectiveness in controlling smuggling and insurgency
operations across the Mekong River. The morale ?of the crews is good and their
motivation is reasonably aggressive. Nonetheless, they are acutely aware of the
DD 2:14.1396 c
EEC COVE NNNNNN ?1701,114 OFFICE IEEE 0-5.1113
CONFIDENTIAL
NO FOREIGN DISSEM
(Clanaltleation and Control FlarkInAs)
(Leave Blank)
REPLACES DA FORM 1048.1 I AUG 50
AND DA FORM 606. I AUG 60 WHICH
MAY RE USED UNTIL 1 JAN 63.
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CONTINUATION SHEET
CONFIDENTIAL
NO FOREIGN DISSEM
(Chveal ficetbon and Control AfarkInge)
REPORT NO.
PAGE 4 OF 4 PAGES
OMGMATOR USDA? Bangkok
vulnerability of their equipment to shore-based gunfire and the overwhelming
difficulty involved in accomplishing effective control or suppression of smuggling
and insurgent operations under the existing conditions.
(4) (C) Rules of Engagement (ROE):
(a) (C) Until early 1973 the Mekong River Operations Units (MROU)
of the Royal Thai Navy"(RTN) did not operate under any known ROE. However, in
February of 1973, it was reported that the Communists Suppression Operations
Command (CSOC) directed the following guidelines for MROU operations:
(1)(C) The deep water channel boundry will be observed at all
times. Royal Thai Government (RTG) authorities will not cross into Laotian waters
to apprehend suspected violators.
(1)(C) RTG units have the authority to return fire if fired
upon by any vessel in the river or from the Lao mainland or from a Lao island.
(1)(C) RTG units do not have the authority to land on
Laotian territory, including islands, however, RTG units are authorized free
transit in Lao waters of the Mekong river when the boundry water is too shallow for
navigation of the river within the territorial river water of the RTG.
(b) (C) From all indications, the above ROE seem to pertain to the
RTG riverine units at this time.
(c) (C) Subsequent to the incidents of 5 and 7 June
MROU boats in mid-channel were fired upon from "Pathet Lao" forces
mainland because "the MROU boats were patrolling in Lao water with
guns trained toward Lao territory"; Rear Admiral Damrong Sekanand,
Officer of the MROU, complained to RO and others that the MROU was
RTG authority to visually search the Lao territory with binoculars
their weapons in the direction of Lao territory.
1974, in which
on the Lao
binoculars and
then Commanding
prohibited by
or to train
5. (C) Additional RTG Forces on the Mekong River.
a. The Marine Police (MP) operate boats on the river and ostensibly these
operations are under the operational control of the MROU. However, the effective-
ness of this OPCON and coordination is ill-defined at best and the extent of the
assets available, the areas of responsibility, and the rules of engagement are
unknown.
b. The RTG Customs and Immigration Authority also operates boats on the Mekong
River with enforcement authority, but the OPCON and coordination, if any for
Surveillance and Security under the BSS is unknown.
Item 18 CONTID): Clash With Gun-runners", dtd 17 Sep 75, 1 cy.
DATT COMMENT: (C/NFD) The RTAF has been assigned the mission of supporting RTN
and police units on the river on an on-call basis. T-28 aircraft of Wing II (222
Squadron and 223 Squadron) are permanently stationed at Ubon AB and Udorn AB and
are deployed from time to time to forward operating locations. Some of these
aircraft are on "strip alert" at all times and can be airbourne in 5 minutes
should the need arise. Preplanned missions can result in an "air cap" over a sur-
face operation should it appear warranted. In addition, RT-33 aircraft of Wing
I at Don Muang AB provide reconnaissance upon request. Occasionaly these planes
are staged closer to the scene of operations as well. With the exception of
preplanned and coordinated operations however, the ultimate commitment of RTAF
resources rests with the CinC, RTAF in Bangkok. He and he alone can authorize
an air strike or the violation of a border area by units of the RTAF which, in
practice, makes air support a somewhat "iffy" thing.
CONFIDENTIAL
D D NO FOREIGN DISSEM
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CONFIDENTIAL
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LOCATION OF 1,TROU -
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BORDER SURVEILLANCE STATIONS
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AP
UNCL
ed after 5 di
FIVE Lao crewmen aboard a gunboat were missing believed drowned after their
by a Thai Mekong River patrol boat in Chiengkon District on Wednesday.
died downvillage defence volunteer units went on alert after a Pathet Lao
ported to have crossed the river.
The firefight erupted after a
Thai patrol boat, commanded by
Sub-Ceutenant doonsong Waewsri
with 12 crewmen aboard was fired
on by a Laotian gunboat while it
was patrolling the Thai side of the
river in Ban Kokngiew in Tambon
Paktong.
The Laotian gunboat ?Petted UP with
. machinegunf ire while it was a 100 metres
away and Lactian troopers fired rockets
at the That vessel.
The Thai gunboat blazed away with its
machineguns and alerted Border Patrol
Police forces ashore.
Three rockets fell several metres
Short of the Thai gunboat which was
steaming for shore. Then Thai and Lao-
tian forces on both banks of the river
fired machinegtins at each other to help
their boats. The gmbattle lasted only 15
minutes when the Thai gunboat made it
to the shore and the Lao boat sank.,
At least five Laotian troopers were
believed drowned with their boat while
three others swam ashore to safety.
Thal crewmen suffered no casualties. ,
During the gunbattle across the river
when the Laotian gunboat tried to chase I
the Thai gunboat which was headilv
for shore, Chiengkan District Police
Chief Lt Col Plait StntaMmaciecha who
was at the scene ordered police to open
fire on Pathet Lao troops on the op-
posite bank.
After the incident was reported to
high ranking authorities in Bangkok,
all government forces along the border
with Laos at Loei were put on full
alert.
A late triconfia-med report said that
an unknown' number of Laotian troopers
had crossed the Thai border at Ban Thai
Demi in Tambon Paktong and were ma-
noeuvring to attack a village defence
volunteer camp where about 200 govern-
ment forces were stationed.
Focr
to ocr 15
UNCLASSIFIED
LOEI
vessel was sunk
When the shooting
reprisal force was re.
ENCL ( :21 TO la-ko vs:rimic
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UNCLASSIFIED
Thai navy
gunboats
exchange
fire with
Laotians
Thai navy patrol boats
had two brief exchanges
of gunfire with Pellet Lao
troops on Wednesday. No
casualties were reported.
Navy Chief-of-Staff,
Adm Amorn Sirigaya, told
The Nation last night that
the first encounter took
place at 11.00 am at Am-
phoc Chiang Khan of Loei
Province when several Pa-
thct Lao troops fired on
two navy patrol boats in
the Mekong River.
The Thai patrols re-
turned fire and retreated
without Injuries after 10
minutes of gunfire ex-
change.
Adm Amorn said the
second incident, which
also lasted for about 10
minutes, occurred at Am-
phoe That Phanom of Na-
khon Phanoin Province
where the Pathet Lao
troops opened fire from
ashore at Thai navy patrol
boats which returned fire.
"Neither sides suffer-
ed any injuries,- he said.
UNr-LAS3IFIED
NA-r;04
lo orlc
ENCL ( 3) 1.-0 DAD BANGKOK
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,
UNCLASSIFIED
11 ekong River
patrol in
clash with
gun-runners
NAKIION PHA NO Nt
A id-rICONG River iYartrol
trnit In Nakhon Rhanom has
been put on full alert fol-
lowing a weekend clash
with weapon smugglers
from Laos, resulting in
serious injury to the com-
mander of the unit, Naval
Capt Praptt Krisanaehand,
a high ranking naval offi-
cer said this morning.
Capt Prapat was on
patrol duty Friday night
with 4 of his subordinates
at Ban idol Huang Morg in
Tambon Phonethong? Ban
I'aeng District, about 80
kilometres north of the
Nakhon Phnom 2rovincial
seat near the Thai border
when they found a group
of about 10 men smuggling
weapons.
When Capt Brapat or-
dered them to surrender
they replied with a hail of
bullets, hitting him in the
waist.
The patrol unit returned
fire but the smugglers ma-
naged to flee into the deep
jungle on the Thai side of
the border, leaving behind
one Mit sub-machinegun
and two AK Hiles.
UNCLASSIFIED
WORLD
17 SEP 75'
ENCL (hi) TO Dan IIVN:r-vrare
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