Supreme Commander Gen Thanchaiyan Srisuwan today denied claims that the Defence Ministry’s satellite project would be for spying.
Mr Srisuwan Janya, secretary-general of the so-called Association for the Protection of the Constitution, on Sunday issued a statement to oppose the ministry’s military satellite programme which he claimed would involve acquiring 112 small “Theia” satellites with a budget of 91.2 billion baht under a 2018-2027 strategic plan on space affairs.
The satellites were capable of spying on people which would violate the privacy rights and freedom of the people, he said in the statement.
Gen Thanchaiyan said the Defence Ministry has been working on a satellite project for more than 10 years with the Air Force’s space centre commissioned to carry out related studies. The plan is for the Defence Ministry to have its own satellites through co-invesments with the private sector.
He insistsed that the satellites will be designed to benefit the country and will not be usesd exclusively for military purposes.
The supreme commander tried to allay concerns that the satellite would be for spying, claiming the use of every system has its limitations.
He said the project is still under study and no concrete resolution has been reached.
Lt Gen Kongcheep Tantrawanich, the Defence Ministry’s spokesman, said the ministry was conducting a study on the possibility of acquiring a new satellite because its contract for use of the Thaicom satellite would expire in 2021.
The satellite would be used by all government agencies for aerial photography, telecommunications and space surveillances, he said.
