NCPO links weapons cache to usual red-shirt suspects

[webfact]

NCPO links weapons cache to usual red-shirt suspects

By SURIYA PATATHAYO, 
JITRAPORN SENAWONG 
THE NATION

 

 

Generals deny false-flag operation meant to cement their hold as political ban continues.

AFTER THE discovery of a cache of military-grade weapons was met with public scepticism as a possible ploy to maintain political restrictions and perhaps further delay the election, the junta yesterday linked the cache to well-known red-shirt leaders. 

 

Prime Minister General Prayut Chan-o-cha and the nation’s army chief also reiterated concerns about the reported discovery and invoked it to justify the continued ban on political activities.

 

 

Former Thaksin Shinawatra government spokesman Jakrapob Penkair and former deputy commander of the 3rd Army Region, Lt-General Manas Paorik, were among a growing list of suspects accused in connection to the large cache of military weapons reportedly found in Chachoengsao’s Bang Nam Priao district last week.

 

While arrest warrants for weapons charges were already outstanding for both men since mid-2014, police said they would seek additional arrest warrants tomorrow. 

 

Colonel Burin Thongprapai, a legal officer at the National Council for Peace and Order (NCPO) Supreme Command, had filed a complaint with the Crime Suppression Division on Friday against Jakrapob, Manas and three others – Wattana Sapwichian, Chaiwat Polpho and Somjet Khongwattana – a source at the Royal Thai Police said yesterday. 

 

File photo: Jakrapob Penkair

 

The five were accused of possessing military-grade weapons and racketeering, the source said. The weapons linked to the Bang Nam Priao cache were reportedly from the same batch that the five suspects allegedly distributed to create chaos during the 2014 protests.

 

Jakrapob disappeared from public long before the coup in May 2014, while Manas reportedly turned himself in to authorities after the first charges were brought in 2014 and has since been free on bail.

 

Wattana, 53, will be brought to court as authorities apply for his first detention period on Thursday, deputy national police chief Pol General Srivara Ransibhramanakul said yesterday. 

 

Initial questioning allegedly discovered Wattana’s links to “hardcore red shirts” and his previous record of possessing unauthorised military weapons, Srivara said.

 

 

In 2014, Wattana was arrested for possessing military-grade guns, ammunition and explosives following the apprehension of Somjet, who allegedly had distributed weapons during the protests. 

 

At the time, Wattana confessed to having received weapons from Somjet to redistribute, including to Chaiwat, but Wattana then reportedly dumped the weapons in Ayutthaya’s Lat Bua Luang district after the junta announced plans to punish people for weapons possession.

 

Meanwhile, national police chief Pol General Chakthip Chaijinda dismissed speculation that the discovery of the weapons in Chachoengsao was a false-flag operation. 

 

He said he would not comment on politics, but added that speculation that the discovery had been a set up was untrue because Srivara, who oversees national security, “would not do it” and the weapons were real.

 

‘Ko Tee’ connection?

 

Prayut yesterday voiced concerns about a purported link between the weapons and the extremist militant Wutthipong “Ko Tee” Kachathamakul.

 

 “The first finding is that the weapons belong to the same batch as found earlier. But to whom they are related will be investigated later,” he said. 

 

When police revealed the weapons discovery last week, they presumed that they belonged to Wutthipong due to their serial numbers. Wutthipong fled to Laos after the coup in 2014 but his current whereabouts are unknown, with unconfirmed reports a few months ago concluding that he had been abducted and killed.

 

 

A junta meeting yesterday also concluded that it would be inappropriate to lift the ban on political activities any time soon.

 If political parties are adversely affected by the continuation of the ban, remedial measures will be taken, said General Chalermchai Sitthisat, NCPO secretary-general.

 

“Unless we have confidence [in the overall situation], we won’t let go [of the ban],” Chalermchai said.

 

The regime would provide a solution to the conundrum related to the requirement for political parties to make arrangements for the national election and the junta’s decision to keep the ban on political activities in place, Deputy Prime Minister General Prawit Wongsuwan said.

 

By continuing the restriction, the junta is taking advantage of the discovery of the weapons cache to consolidate power, said political scientist Titipol Phakdeewanich.

 

The NCPO was working to ensure a smooth transfer of military influence into post-election politics, he said. 

 

In addition to the legislation that would facilitate an ongoing military presence in national politics, the junta also needed to build its political currency in the meantime, he added.

 

Source: http://www.nationmultimedia.com/detail/politics/30333197

 

-- © Copyright The Nation 2017-12-05

[stephen tracy]

One hundred and ten percent, complete and total, unadulterated, pure-as-the-driven-snow bull+++t.   

[Samui Bodoh]

51 minutes ago, webfact said:

By continuing the restriction, the junta is taking advantage of the discovery of the weapons cache to consolidate power, said political scientist Titipol Phakdeewanich.

 

The NCPO was working to ensure a smooth transfer of military influence into post-election politics, he said. 

 

In addition to the legislation that would facilitate an ongoing military presence in national politics, the junta also needed to build its political currency in the meantime, he added.

The quote above says it all.

 

However, given the skepticism and outright disbelief that greeted the "discovery" of the arms, I don't think it'll work.

 

The Junta desperately need some kind of political legitimacy going into the future, but to date all efforts have failed. And the longer they keep trying without results, the worse it looks and the chances of it occurring diminish.

 

Interesting times...

 

[Chang_paarp]

58 minutes ago, webfact said:

A junta meeting yesterday also concluded that it would be inappropriate to lift the ban on political activities any time soon.

In my best Gomer Pyle voice (RIP Jim Nabors)

 

Surprise! Surprise! Surprise!  Who would of thought that more weapons were found after a 3 year break of such discoveries. Just in time for the lead up to proposed elections.

 

Anyone (outside of Thailand where betting is ellegal) taking bets on the "discovery" of more in the months prior to the "planned" election.

[stephen tracy]

32 minutes ago, Chang_paarp said:

In my best Gomer Pyle voice (RIP Jim Nabors)

 

Surprise! Surprise! Surprise!  Who would of thought that more weapons were found after a 3 year break of such discoveries. Just in time for the lead up to proposed elections.

 

Anyone (outside of Thailand where betting is ellegal) taking bets on the "discovery" of more in the months prior to the "planned" election.

The scary aspect of this is that they don't care that everyone knows they're lying. That's what it's come to.

[Thailand]

That find, the reaction, and the subsequent apportion of blame will have come as a surprise to absolutely no one.

[Dave67]

Could have been buried for years, and if the pointy finger picture is the complete "Stash" of weapons then that is no reason to delay anything

 

As mentioned on another thread I'm not Junta fan but if the election is to be delayed it will be because of the two sides of the divide going at each other in both rhetoric and actions for a year basically heating everything up again. Has to start slowly newspapers openly criticising the Junta, civilians in the cabinet ect.resulting in open political debate before an election

Edited December 4, 2017 by Dave67

[Get Real]

2 hours ago, webfact said:

By continuing the restriction, the junta is taking advantage of the discovery of the weapons cache to consolidate power, said political scientist Titipol Phakdeewanich

This must clearly be a close realative to Sherlock Holmes.

[ianf]

1 hour ago, Chang_paarp said:

In my best Gomer Pyle voice (RIP Jim Nabors)

 

Surprise! Surprise! Surprise!  Who would of thought that more weapons were found after a 3 year break of such discoveries. Just in time for the lead up to proposed elections.

 

Anyone (outside of Thailand where betting is ellegal) taking bets on the "discovery" of more in the months prior to the "planned" election.

Why does a three=year break make any difference? The red shirts are sill organising. If you travel around Chiang Mai province you'll see loads of red flags, formed like arrows, that point to their meetings and gatherings. No difference. These terrorists are still at it.

[steven100]

Everyone knows the red shirts are still around and will try to cause trouble at anytime they can.

This government is right in going after these terriorists and the Shins.

And the TV farangs who support these criminals should be ashamed of themselves.

[brewsterbudgen]

Everyone knows the red shirts are still around and will try to cause trouble at anytime they can.
This government is right in going after these terriorists and the Shins.
And the TV farangs who support these criminals should be ashamed of themselves.

Good grief. How naive can you be?!

Sent from my SM-G930F using Thailand Forum - Thaivisa mobile app

[stephen tracy]

12 minutes ago, steven100 said:

Everyone knows the red shirts are still around and will try to cause trouble at anytime they can.

This government is right in going after these terriorists and the Shins.

And the TV farangs who support these criminals should be ashamed of themselves.

Right on cue!

[steven100]

5 minutes ago, brewsterbudgen said:

Good grief. How naive can you be?!

Sent from my SM-G930F using Thailand Forum - Thaivisa mobile app
 

Former Thaksin Shinawatra government spokesman Jakrapob Penkair and former deputy commander of the 3rd Army Region, Lt-General Manas Paorik, were among a growing list of suspects accused in connection to the large cache of military weapons reportedly found in Chachoengsao’s Bang Nam Priao district last week.

Edited December 5, 2017 by steven100

[steven100]

1 hour ago, stephen tracy said:

The scary aspect of this is that they don't care that everyone knows they're lying. That's what it's come to.

Former Thaksin Shinawatra government spokesman Jakrapob Penkair and former deputy commander of the 3rd Army Region, Lt-General Manas Paorik, were among a growing list of suspects accused in connection to the large cache of military weapons reportedly found in Chachoengsao’s Bang Nam Priao district last week.

[AGareth2]

Taksin planted it

if his sister can get out of Thailand undetected

then he can get in and out

[steven100]

3 hours ago, stephen tracy said:

One hundred and ten percent, complete and total, unadulterated, pure-as-the-driven-snow bull+++t.   

Lets hope this evidence provides enough support to warrant Khun Prayuth Chan O Cha and the Junta's prolonged extension of being in government. 

These are terriorists and criminals who are out to hurt innocent people.

You should very well be ashamed for supporting the red shirts and the Shinawatra's,  but why should you care ... it's not your country .. right

Edited December 5, 2017 by steven100

[stephen tracy]

3 minutes ago, steven100 said:

Lets hope this evidence provides enough support to warrant Khun Prayuth Chan O Cha and the Junta's prolonged extension of being in government. 

These are terriorists and criminals who are out to hurt innocent people.

You should very well be ashamed for supporting the red shirts and the Shinawatra's,  but why should you care ... it's not your country .. right

I don't support red-shirts, steven100. Unlike yourself, I'm not partisan regarding the Thai political spectrum, I just have a problem, with autocratic rule, backwardness, corruption, nepotism etc. All the things you support.

[JAG]

Why does a three=year break make any difference? The red shirts are sill organising. If you travel around Chiang Mai province you'll see loads of red flags, formed like arrows, that point to their meetings and gatherings. No difference. These terrorists are still at it.

Oh it is far more open than that. In my local KFC the staff are openly, absolutely without shame, flaunting red tee shirts!
In several schools here in Chiang Rai the children regularly wear red PE shirts. They claim that it is school uniform, but obviously it is a long running plot to brainwash children.
What to do? Perhaps it is time to take the bull by the horns ( don't whatever you do wear a red shirt when you approach the bull), and intern everyone North of Phitsanulok. Once behind wire, our tireless guardians can sort through them one by one, in the name of returning sustainable happiness to the nation.
It may be too late of course, the rot is deepset - my wife's nephews baby has just appeared, wearing a red bobble hat!

Sent from my KENNY using Thailand Forum - Thaivisa mobile app

[brewsterbudgen]

Oh it is far more open than that. In my local KFC the staff are openly, absolutely without shame, flaunting red tee shirts!
In several schools here in Chiang Rai the children regularly wear red PE shirts. They claim that it is school uniform, but obviously it is a long running plot to brainwash children.
What to do? Perhaps it is time to take the bull by the horns ( don't whatever you do wear a red shirt when you approach the bull), and intern everyone North of Phitsanulok. Once behind wire, our tireless guardians can sort through them one by one, in the name of returning sustainable happiness to the nation.
It may be too late of course, the rot is deepset - my wife's nephews baby has just appeared, wearing a red bobble hat!

Sent from my KENNY using Thailand Forum - Thaivisa mobile app

So supporting the opposition to an unelected military regime is somehow wrong in your view?

Sent from my SM-A500F using Thailand Forum - Thaivisa mobile app

[baboon]

44 minutes ago, brewsterbudgen said:

So supporting the opposition to an unelected military regime is somehow wrong in your view?

Sent from my SM-A500F using Thailand Forum - Thaivisa mobile app
 

Err, this is JAG you are replying to. He has been an opponent of the junta from the minute they pulled the coup...

[ratcatcher]

50 minutes ago, brewsterbudgen said:

So supporting the opposition to an unelected military regime is somehow wrong in your view?

Sent from my SM-A500F using Thailand Forum - Thaivisa mobile app
 

Who does the irony in your family, your wife?

JAG's post is about as tongue in cheek as you can get without serious discomfort, salted with a pinch or two of sarcasm................

[baboon]

55 minutes ago, JAG said:

Oh it is far more open than that. In my local KFC the staff are openly, absolutely without shame, flaunting red tee shirts!
In several schools here in Chiang Rai the children regularly wear red PE shirts. They claim that it is school uniform, but obviously it is a long running plot to brainwash children.
What to do? Perhaps it is time to take the bull by the horns ( don't whatever you do wear a red shirt when you approach the bull), and intern everyone North of Phitsanulok. Once behind wire, our tireless guardians can sort through them one by one, in the name of returning sustainable happiness to the nation.
It may be too late of course, the rot is deepset - my wife's nephews baby has just appeared, wearing a red bobble hat!

Sent from my KENNY using Thailand Forum - Thaivisa mobile app
 

I live in junta heartland as you know. They really ought to be more worried that they are losing their support down here. A few Chinese still like them, but otherwise they are increasingly seen as a joke at best, and not a very funny one...

[brewsterbudgen]

Who does the irony in your family, your wife?
JAG's post is about as tongue in cheek as you can get without serious discomfort, salted with a pinch or two of sarcasm................

My wife isn't Thai and has very little concept of irony. Apologies if I missed JAG's irony.

Sent from my SM-A500F using Thailand Forum - Thaivisa mobile app

[pookiki]

Anyone who would allegedly store a cache of weapons in a swamp should be charged with felony stupidity!

[baboon]

2 hours ago, AGareth2 said:

Taksin planted it

if his sister can get out of Thailand undetected

then he can get in and out

Yep, clearly he moseyed on in, went to Chachoengsao and planted a few weapons, then donned a black cape and jumped out from round the corner shouting 'Boo!' to scare the kiddies before making his way back to his Tardis and...

Edited December 5, 2017 by baboon

[YetAnother]

4 hours ago, Samui Bodoh said:

The quote above says it all.

 

However, given the skepticism and outright disbelief that greeted the "discovery" of the arms, I don't think it'll work.

 

The Junta desperately need some kind of political legitimacy going into the future, but to date all efforts have failed. And the longer they keep trying without results, the worse it looks and the chances of it occurring diminish.

 

Interesting times...

 

by this latest foolishness, the junta has lost the public; they have painted themselves into a corner;

if they say nothing, they will be accused on doing nothing, no progress on reforms, etc;

if they say the 'truth', they will skeptically be accused of harboring sinister intent

if they say anti-truths, they are invariably caught out by the pure foolishness of their claims

[Khun Paul]

Every story is a fabrication , every allegation is showing just how AMAZINGLY stupid those people are, seeking to justify thewir futres as Thailands so-called protectors. The question is , "Who is protecting Thailand from them " ??????????????? 

[ratcatcher]

2 hours ago, stephen tracy said:

I don't support red-shirts, steven100. Unlike yourself, I'm not partisan regarding the Thai political spectrum, I just have a problem, with autocratic rule, backwardness, corruption, nepotism etc. All the things you support.

"I just have a problem, with autocratic rule, backwardness, corruption, nepotism etc."

Unfortunately, those seem to be common traits among many politicians.

Thaksin Shinawatra was autocratic with TRT, PT parties. He was also very corrupt  as those members of his family that he appointed to various important positions can attest. Somchai, Yingluck etc.

The POTUS did not get where he is today without being autocratic, corrupt in many of his business deals and as for nepotism, ask Ivanka and Jared.

[sweatalot]

2 hours ago, brewsterbudgen said:

Good grief. How naive can you be?!

Sent from my SM-G930F using Thailand Forum - Thaivisa mobile app
 

"Everyone knows the red shirts are still around and will try to cause trouble at anytime they can."

 

I see. Not everybody knows. But one has to be prepared that "the red shirts are still around and will try to cause trouble at anytime they can."

 

Everytime some of the red shirts' wrongdoing becomes obvious people fall victim to their knee jerk reflex "false flag by the government" 

Knowing the history of the red shirts I can't believe that anybody can be that naive  to still  believe in their PR
 

[Eric Loh]

4 minutes ago, sweatalot said:

"Everyone knows the red shirts are still around and will try to cause trouble at anytime they can."

 

I see. Not everybody knows. But one has to be prepared that "the red shirts are still around and will try to cause trouble at anytime they can."

 

Everytime some of the red shirts' wrongdoing becomes obvious people fall victim to their knee jerk reflex "false flag by the government" 

Knowing the history of the red shirts I can't believe that anybody can be that naive  to still  believe in their PR
 

Not convincing. Still false flag. By the way, the yellow shirts are also still around and they are fed up with the junta too.