Army chief admits shooting spree reflects poor treatment of army rank-and-file

 

File photo (Photo by Lillian SUWANRUMPHA / AFP)

 

Army Commander-in-Chief Gen Apirat Kongsompong confirmed this morning that a failed land deal prompted army man Sergeant Major Jakrapanth Thomma to go on a shooting rampage that killed 30 people before he was shot dead by security forces while being holed up in a major shopping mall in Nakhon Ratchasima on Sunday morning.

 

He admitted that incident reflected what he described as a problem of  inadequate welfare and poor treatment of the army rank-and-file by their superiors.

 

Speaking at a press conference, the army chief detailed the sequence of events that led to the shooting spree and the 14-hour dramatic siege at Terminal 21 shopping complex in downtown Nakhon Ratchasima.

 

Full story: https://www.thaipbsworld.com/army-chief-admits-shooting-spree-reflects-poor-treatment-of-army-rank-and-file/

 

 

-- © Copyright Thai PBS 2020-02-11

Follow Thaivisa on LINE for breaking Thailand news and visa info

 

wow! the truth? i have to sit down.

Well Apirat finally the truth is out.... Amazing.

How was it that an NCO was involved in business deals with a senior officer?

No way would things run smoothly in that situation, the senior man would ride rough shod over the junior.

As happened in this case, and MAJOR loss of life occurred, the army senior command should hang their heads in shame, as they were responsible for what happened.

14 minutes ago, webfact said:

He admitted that incident reflected what he described as a problem of  inadequate welfare and poor treatment of the army rank-and-file by their superiors.

You think? Easy to see by him and who is iron fist velvet glove running this country. The elite superiors look heavily down on everyone. He sure does have a lot of pretty badges.

2 minutes ago, NCC1701A said:

yes one is for surviving Thai highways. I have one just like it.

And how funny it is he probably thinks that buying 120 armored vehicles from the USA and his driving around in one will save him.

"Jakrapanth shot dead his commander, Colonel Ananrote Krasae, and a woman, and injured an army private following a heated argument before shooting his way into the arsenal inside the headquarters of the Battle Support Unit 2 in the northeastern province"

 

My wife tells me the Thai press is saying that the commander put Jakrapanth in military prison after arguing with his boss about non payment of money owed to him by his boss.

Apparently Jakrapanth's army salary worked out to 340 Baht per day, of which 240 Baht was cut for food, etc. while he was in prison.

You guys know how it is in Thailand it will all blow over next week

Thai Army, Navy, Airforce and Marines, get paid worse than police. I know a lower ranking Marine that get 7,000 baht a month and from that they deduct food, uniform and other charges. They are below minimum wages. No wonder some go rouge.  

A Sargeant is on only 340 baht a day!  Its a bludee wonder something like this didn't happen years ago!  With the workload and responsibility of looking after a section....or maybe a platoon at times that is an insult!

19 minutes ago, ChipButty said:

You guys know how it is in Thailand it will all blow over next week

 

I suspect there will be several copycats over the next few months, e.g. 

 

-----

 

and

 

https://www.google.com/search?q=thailand+mass+shooter+copycat&oq=thailand+mass+shooter+copycat

 

 

 

Edited February 11, 20206 yr by 4evermaat

Admitting to the truth (this time). OMG, could Thailand really be turning over a new leaf?

9 minutes ago, Grumpy John said:

A Sargeant is on only 340 baht a day!  Its a bludee wonder something like this didn't happen years ago!  With the workload and responsibility of looking after a section....or maybe a platoon at times that is an insult!

That comes to about USD $11/£8.50 per day.

 

I was earning that much as a newly minted RAF airman back in 1962 or 58 years ago.

Edited February 11, 20206 yr by billd766
added extra text

Quote

“Nobody wants to see this kind of incident happen. So please don’t criticize the army or the soldiers. Direct your criticism at me, Gen Apirat Kongsompong. I am the army commander-in-chief. I am held responsible for what happened,” he said.

 

Ya, like that's really going to happen in today's Thailand...

 

This would be a good time to look into what the top army brass get paid (both above board and below) including all the perks. Then look at an equalization policy to show some appreciation to the soldiers who do "the heavy lifting".

58 minutes ago, webfact said:

He admitted that incident reflected what he described as a problem of  inadequate welfare and poor treatment of the army rank-and-file by their superiors.

the top army rank officials get paid millions, assigned "servants", housing and the poor low ranked ones get to clean the mess and collect the ""bred crumbs"" things like that are like a boiling pot ready to spill over.... expect more to come

If the Thai media reports are true:

 

--the commanding officer's MIL shouldn't have been selling homes to soldiers under the officer's command.

 

--the commanding officer shouldn't have allowed a family relative of his to be soliciting sales from the soldiers under his command.

 

--the commanding officer shouldn't have allowed one of his sergeants to be working for his MIL soliciting sales from soldiers under his command.

 

--And to boot, the commanding officer shouldn't have been intervening in a financial dispute between his MIL and one of the sergeants under his command, because there never should have been such relationships in the first place.

 

And last, the Army should never have allowed ANY of that to be occurring, except that, it and things like it are probably commonplace here and everyone involved just thinks it's OK as long as everyone is making money.

 

Sgt Major as a squad leader. Thai army is rank heavy. In the US you will only find a Sergeant Major at Battalion or higher. His colonel must have been a company commander  or platoon leader. 

Good to hear some truth. However, whether or not this will result in positive change remains to be seen. 

 

He also has an incredibly impressive amount of medals for a man who has never actually fought in a war. 

Dont get paid enough to keep the troops loyal

1 hour ago, colinneil said:

Well Apirat finally the truth is out.... Amazing.

How was it that an NCO was involved in business deals with a senior officer?

No way would things run smoothly in that situation, the senior man would ride rough shod over the junior.

As happened in this case, and MAJOR loss of life occurred, the army senior command should hang their heads in shame, as they were responsible for what happened.

To state it was the army senior command's fault has no basis of fact. You are making this up. Are you suggesting that Army command should have intimate understanding of all personal relationship with all officers? Please offer some sort of balanced understanding of how army command was to have known of the murderer being  financially involved with his superior's family member to back up this bizarre statement. Because I really can't think of one.

 

I'm unsure how you get hold of all these theories you come up with.

 

 

26 minutes ago, billd766 said:

That comes to about USD $11/£8.50 per day.

 

I was earning that much as a newly minted RAF airman back in 1962 or 58 years ago.

How much scrambled egg did you have on your hat to be paid that much ?

I joined the RN in 1963 at seven guineas a week ! and when I resigned five years later as lieutenant was still on less than forty pounds a week including London allowance 

My nephew is a SNR sgt major and gets about 15000bt a month,he works his nights as a grab delivery guy and earns more doing that,but only stays in the military as he gets some decent benefits

. 

Based on the mother's reported comments that Jakrapanth was known to be hot tempered, I hope the military will also do a thorough review of its psychological screening and periodic re-evaluation procedures for all personnel.

 

Edited February 11, 20206 yr by Gecko123

Regular grunts 340 baht/day

 

Generals, multi millionaires .

I like his honesty

You can find the badge for truth telling behind his right ear????

1 hour ago, colinneil said:

Well Apirat finally the truth is out.... Amazing.

How was it that an NCO was involved in business deals with a senior officer?

No way would things run smoothly in that situation, the senior man would ride rough shod over the junior.

As happened in this case, and MAJOR loss of life occurred, the army senior command should hang their heads in shame, as they were responsible for what happened.

And it starts from the get go. I know a lady who sold her house to raise the funds to 'smooth her son's passage' into the army. She regarded it as a 'good investment'. Good job security and a pension at the end, thus ensuring that he could look after mama in her dotage.

 

Business transactions between officers and enlisted members is strictly forbidden in the British armed forces. Even lending money is taboo. I'm sure this will be true in all of the developed countries forces.

4 minutes ago, Moonlover said:

Business transactions between officers and enlisted members is strictly forbidden in the British armed forces. Even lending money is taboo. I'm sure this will be true in all of the developed countries forces.

 

It's called conflict of interest regulations of course. And most developed governments and public employers have those kinds of regulations.

 

The undeniable logic of it being, it's kind of hard for a commanding officer to be objective and fair in evaluating those under his command when some are buying houses from his MIL and others aren't, some are working as agents for his MIL and others aren't, etc etc.

 

59 minutes ago, PJPom said:

How much scrambled egg did you have on your hat to be paid that much ?

I joined the RN in 1963 at seven guineas a week ! and when I resigned five years later as lieutenant was still on less than forty pounds a week including London allowance 

None. I was a lowly airman.

Troll post and the replies have been removed.