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

[Emdog]

Medals, ribbons and bling do not depend on seeing any sort of military danger action. Think of them as "participation trophies": this one for "budget management", this one for "optimizing use of draftees", this one "Assessing military in Paris" etc etc

[ben2talk]

This is quite stunning. Whilst this was on TV at my father-in-law's house, they agreed with me that we shouldn't just sit blaming the soldier - have some understanding that it's probably the Army that drove him to it. Not a justification by any means, but it's better to understand his motivation for this crazy and inevitably devastating outburst than just condemn like a moron.

[hotchilli]

18 hours ago, spidermike007 said:

About 499 baht at the local army surplus store. 

Probably 150 baht from Lazada, delivered to your door!

[nobodysfriend]

18 hours ago, spidermike007 said:

But the Thai military is burdened with close to 2,000 generals and admirals

Because being an admiral or general makes you a VIP , that's what they want , to be higher than others and to be able to look down at their subordinates ...

[Eric Loh]

From reports, Sergeant Major Jakrapanth has a brokerage business with commander. This say a lot about Thai military that close their eyes on professional soldiers and high ranking officers having private businesses. This is not how a professional militaries operate. 

[soalbundy]

20 hours ago, Matzzon said:

He´s 59 years old

 

What I wonder is what happens when the country´s chief commander is crying?

He had to get someone to squeeze his balls for the first couple of tears after that the throbbing pain did the rest

[soalbundy]

3 hours ago, Emdog said:

Medals, ribbons and bling do not depend on seeing any sort of military danger action. Think of them as "participation trophies": this one for "budget management", this one for "optimizing use of draftees", this one "Assessing military in Paris" etc etc

He probably has a few for eating all his dinner up

[lensta]

1 hour ago, Eric Loh said:

From reports, Sergeant Major Jakrapanth has a brokerage business with commander. This say a lot about Thai military that close their eyes on professional soldiers and high ranking officers having private businesses. This is not how a professional militaries operate. 

Who ever said the Thai military was professional??

[Cake Monster]

For your information Mr. Apirat, this madman was a Soldier.

He was a Soldier in the Thai Army

He was a product of your Inadequate welfare and poor treatment by his Superiors.

And yes, you are responsible, very responsible for the Deaths  and Injuries to so many people that you are supposed to be protecting.

Time for you to go now.

[Odysseus123]

41 minutes ago, soalbundy said:

He probably has a few for eating all his dinner up

Many a battle between fork and spoon....

 

(quote attributed to Major General James Grierson,BEF.1914-"These ribbons represent many a battle between knife and fork.."

Edited February 12, 2020 by Odysseus123

[Matzzon]

42 minutes ago, soalbundy said:

He probably has a few for eating all his dinner up

Do you mean this guy is in the "Clean Plate Club" ??? Ok, understandable. 

[NoshowJones]

22 hours ago, legend49 said:

Yes look at the bling he is wearing. The last active service Thais were in was Vietnam I had a battalion of them where I was stationed. That would make this guy 70 years old ( no way), so where did he buy all the pretty awards from?

Probably just like the police who also buy up their fancy ranks as well as all the bling, they pose around all the time in their nice uniforms, and are not noted for being good at their jobs, money buys everything.

Edited February 12, 2020 by possum1931

[NoshowJones]

On 2/11/2020 at 11:42 AM, KhunKenAP said:

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.  

Their bosses need as much money as possible to buy their fancy ranks and all that bling.

[NoshowJones]

On 2/11/2020 at 12:16 PM, BobbyL said:

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. 

A certain member of the UK Royal Family springs to mind.

[Redline]

I just don’t understand why he was not given chase and apprehended immediately after the base shooting?  He was not in an inconspicuous vehicle.  Helicopters and police and military personnel should have been instantly activated.  It was at least 1.5 hours until he went to the shopping mall-that’s when it got complicated.  I’m just curious what the disconnect was.

Edited February 12, 2020 by Redline

[AlexJohanson]

On 2/11/2020 at 5:32 AM, bluesofa said:

"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.

I hope Colonel Ananrote Krasae was able to pocked the money and that she had several other privates that she withheld money from! Resulting in a nice paycheck / payday for her.

[AlexJohanson]

1 hour ago, Redline said:

I just don’t understand why he was not given chase and apprehended immediately after the base shooting?  He was not in an inconspicuous vehicle.  Helicopters and police and military personnel should have been instantly activated.  It was at least 1.5 hours until he went to the shopping mall-that’s when it got complicated.  I’m just curious what the disconnect was.

If you don’t report it , it never happened!

Edited February 12, 2020 by AlexJohanson

[Enzian]

What would happen if Thailand would follow the example of Costa Rica, and have no standing army, just a nominal security force and national police force for those things which are absolutely necessary? Just think how that would attract the tourists.

[metisdead]

An off topic post has been removed. 

[Donutz]

On 2/11/2020 at 2:49 PM, holy cow cm said:

Yeah, but he cried or shed a tear on TV. Isn't that worth a pay raise?

He is a hypocrite,  seeing he himself opens fire on people only 10 years ago. I can't trust this general, he shouldn't be in this position.

[InsertNameHere]

the thing is this does not explain why he had went on a shooting spree and killing people who had nothing to do with his personal issues

[Artisi]

On 2/11/2020 at 11:09 AM, NCC1701A said:

wow! the truth? i have to sit down.

Yeah, but he had his fingers crossed behind his back ????

[holy cow cm]

2 hours ago, Donutz said:

He is a hypocrite,  seeing he himself opens fire on people only 10 years ago. I can't trust this general, he shouldn't be in this position.

No one in Thailand believes his sincerity and crying. 

[Artisi]

On 2/12/2020 at 5:29 PM, Redline said:

I just don’t understand why he was not given chase and apprehended immediately after the base shooting?  He was not in an inconspicuous vehicle.  Helicopters and police and military personnel should have been instantly activated.  It was at least 1.5 hours until he went to the shopping mall-that’s when it got complicated.  I’m just curious what the disconnect was.

The disconnect put simply is absolute uselessness, completely devoid of any constructive thought other than he was off the base and no longer a military problem. 

[Basil B]

Quote

 

Another Pheu MP for the province, Mr. Sirasith Lertduaylarb, said he wondered how one rogue solider could steal several weapons and ammunition from a military armoury to use in the shooting spree.

“It would only take 20-30 people with similar mind sets as the rogue soldier, and we could lose all our tanks as well!” he quipped.

https://www.thaipbsworld.com/their-majesties-offer-condolences-to-families-of-those-who-died-in-korat-mass-shooting/

 

So the secret is out Thailand has only 20-30 tanks...