International Law Enforcement Academy -- Bangkok

Bureau of Oceans and International Environmental and Scientific Affairs
October 8, 2004

U.S. Government officials including Deputy Assistant Secretary of State for Environment Claudia McMurray (third from right) visit the International Law Enforcement Academy in Bangkok (ILEA), established by the Governments of U.S. and Thailand in 1998 to train local law enforcement officials. ILEA courses emphasize the rule of law and aim to strengthen partnerships and cooperation amongst the law enforcement communities of Asia. The program director, Mark Lloyd, is at the center of the photo, fourth from right, speaking to DAS McMurray. The executive director, Pol.Maj.Gen. Tamasak Wicharaya, is second from left.

ILEA Bangkok is the result of a partnership between the Royal Thai Government and the USG. The first class at ILEA Bangkok was taught in March 1999, and since then nearly 3,900 commissioned law enforcement officers, prosecutors, and members of the judiciary have received training in transnational crime threats in Southeast Asia. The class sizes are usually 20-60 participants, and simultaneous translation is provided in Mandarin Chinese, Bahasa Indonesian, Khmer (Cambodian), Vietnamese, and Thai/Lao. Students come from China and Southeast Asia.

Deputy Assistant Secretary of State for the Environment Claudia McMurray and members of the delegation to the CITES COP 13 are briefed by the Program Director of the International Law Enforcement Academy (ILEA), Bangkok, Thailand, October 8, 2004  [Photo courtesy of  U.S. Embassy, Bangkok]