Rusty tanks go on final mission

Dubai: Thailand, which was in the news earlier this year for tanks and other military vehicles cruising the streets of Bangkok to fight back anti-government protesters, has now found more peaceful operating ranges for the war machines.

In the coming weeks, Thailand's Department of Fisheries will put 25 abandoned Chinese tanks to their final use: The authority plans to dump the rusty war vehicles into the Gulf of Thailand to create an artificial reef as a habitat for fish and other sea animals, the Bangkok Post revealed last week.

Officials of the department said that the plan was in line with the artificial coral project initiated by Thailand's Queen Sirikit to improve the marine ecosystems and increase fish stock in the area, particularly in the southern provinces of Narathiwat and Pattani.

The Thai army has never been much satisfied with the Chinese T69-2 tanks, the paper reported. They were purchased in 1987 from China at a 50 per cent discount, according to a military source quoted by the Bangkok Post.

The problems intensified when the Chinese army stopped manufacturing the tanks and parts became scarce.

The war vehicles were decommissioned in 2004 and since then were left rusting at an army base.

The artificial reefs will be located off the coast of Narathiwat province, some 750 kilometres south of Bangkok.

So far, no reports of protests by environmental groups have been reported.