Abhisit Confirms Army Head Office Attacked With M79 Grenade

[webfact]

PM confirms Army head office attacked with M79 grenade

Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva confirmed Thursday an M79 grenade had been fired into the compound of the Army head quarters last week.

He said the attacker apparently did not intend to harm anyone but just to make headlines.

-- The Nation 2010-01-21

[newsfooter][/newsfooter]

[bellste]

Did not have the intension to harm anyone? What sort of statement is that? Do he think somebody will believe him? 

Well, he made headlines, no question about that!

[Credo]

It seems that things may be heating up again. I often wonder what factions exist in the military and how serious they are.

[webfact]

ATTACK AT THE ARMY

Attackers want to make the headlines

By The Nation

Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva confirmed on Thursday about the bomb attack at the army headquarter near office of Army Commander in Chief Gen Anupong Paochinda last week.

Abhisit said he already checked the information about the attack. Considering the time of the attack, it seemed that the attack was not aimed at harming anybody but just to make a threat.

"The attackers seem to want to make noises and headlines. In fact, no one knew when the attack happened. It was found later," he said.

An M-79 grenade was fired into the army headquarter near Anupong's office on January 14 at about 3am. Following the attack, the army has intensified security for Anupong, his family and his residence.

Anupong on Wednesday denied the report about the attack.

Meanwhile Army spokesman Col Sansern Kaewkamnerd told reporters that the attack happened and officers were sent to examined the attack site.

"However the bomb struck at a gym room not the army chief's office," he said. He denied the army had tried to cover up the attack, saying it was the army's instinct that they would not say when they were not asked.

-- The Nation 2010-01-21

[newsfooter][/newsfooter]

[swifty5x5]

Or maybe just a disgruntled soldier.

[Siripon]

Did not have the intension to harm anyone? What sort of statement is that? Do he think somebody will believe him? 

Well, he made headlines, no question about that!

It happened at 3 am when obviously nobody was there. It's a common strategy in Thai politics.

[mythBuster]

It seems that things may be heating up again. I often wonder what factions exist in the military and how serious they are.

Do not believe anything that is written. Do not be surprised if it is just one big conspiracy, after all the army thrives when there is some unrest. Attacks mean more money, bigger budgets more work, more influence and you simply blame it on the milkman.

[dttk0009]

If no one saw it happen how do they know it was an attack? Could have been an accident. An M79 grenade at a military compound? Ya don't say.

[churchill]

Thai PM warns of more attacks after army HQ blast

http://www.mysinchew.com/node/34338

[BSJ]

The M79 is a grenade launching weapon that can fire several different types of round...but each one is considered a grenade. The weapon was developed to cover the ground past which a soldier could easily throw a regular type grenade and the closest point that a mortar crew could effectively provide cover with their mortar.

If memory serves me correct there was buckshot, flare, HE (high explosive), illumination and smoke rounds, plus the police had crowd control rounds.

I am assuming a HE round was fired. If that was the case and it was fired into a crowd the killed could number up to 20 and injured 60, or more.

Thank goodness it was let go at 3am in the morning!

[sharecropper]

It seems that things may be heating up again. I often wonder what factions exist in the military and how serious they are.

Do not believe anything that is written. Do not be surprised if it is just one big conspiracy, after all the army thrives when there is some unrest. Attacks mean more money, bigger budgets more work, more influence and you simply blame it on the milkman.

In this instance I feel too much loss of face is involved in the attack on Army HQ for it to be a set-up.

[webfact]

Joint Military-Police Team Searches Residece of Pro-Thaksin General

UPDATE : 21 January 2010

A joint team of military and police officers searched the residence of General Katiya Sawatdipol, an army specialist and a public supporter of ousted PM Thaksin Shinawatra, in connection to the recent grenade attack at the army headquarters.

It's been reported that heavy firearms were discovered at General Katiya's residence.

-- Tan Network 2010-01-21

[newsfooter][/newsfooter]

[londonthai]

"no one knew when the attack happened. It was found later,"

army headquarters, close to the office of the army commander, at the dead of night, a grenade launcher is fired and the grenade explodes in a building and no one hears either - it can happen only in thailand, or is straight from "not the nation" satire.

[tigerboy]

Joint Military-Police Team Searches Residece of Pro-Thaksin General

UPDATE : 21 January 2010

A joint team of military and police officers searched the residence of General Katiya Sawatdipol, an army specialist and a public supporter of ousted PM Thaksin Shinawatra, in connection to the recent grenade attack at the army headquarters.

It's been reported that heavy firearms were discovered at General Katiya's residence.

-- Tan Network 2010-01-21

[newsfooter][/newsfooter]

If these "heavy firearms" were discovered at anybody's residence in the south of Thailand, it would surely be the work of "separatists", and "insurgents". No doubt things will be more lenient for people, especially generals, located here in Bangkok.

Smells like a "double standard" to me. Will there be any protesters? (of any color)...

And the beat goes on....

[way2muchcoffee]

Shocking. A career military man with firearms in his home.

[zzaa09]

It seems that things may be heating up again. I often wonder what factions exist in the military and how serious they are.

The inquiry of the day, my friend. As the military state becomes more sophisticated and diverse, it could be suggested that a handful of dissenting factions might exist.

[LaoPo]

1. In fact, no one knew when the attack happened. It was found later," he said.

2. An M-79 grenade was fired into the army headquarter near Anupong's office on January 14 at about 3am.

3. Anupong on Wednesday denied the report about the attack.

4. Meanwhile Army spokesman Col Sansern Kaewkamnerd told reporters that the attack happened and officers were sent to examined the attack site.

5. Published on January 21, 2010

I'm going to have some fresh Bamboo leaves with my

LaoPo

Edited January 21, 2010 by LaoPo

[Publicus]

We can accept little about the news reports in all media except that an explosion happened. The reason is that we can believe even less the statements by the military or the government (even when they claim their mothers love them). For instance, if an explosion at army hdq happened at 3 am, why was it discovered only sometime later? (At 3 am I sometimes can be awakened by a roaring downpour of rain.)  

However, we can infer some specific matters to believe an M79 grenade attack did occur - that it occurred near the office of army leader Gen Anupong, that the attempt was made to hush it up, and we can view as credible the increasing view that Gen Aupong seems to have asserted loyalist control over the army specifically and the military as a whole. If true, that makes him a serious obstacle to Thaksin's plans to return to Thailand as Julius Caesar reincarnate.

This would not be a burning of the Reichstag as I myself, among others take Gen Anupong at his word that there won't be any coup this year, meaning a Red Coup as Anupong and the military in general seems not to have much interest in dislodging the present government.  

       

[webfact]

ARMY HQ'S ATTACK

Maj Gen Khattiya may face arrest

By The Nation

Published on January 22, 2010

The police and military yesterday raided the residence of suspended senior officer Maj-General Khattiya Sawasdipol and arrested two of his aides after a mysterious grenade attack on Army headquarters last Friday morning.

The attack was a serious wake-up call, with Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva yesterday warning of more incidents and ordering security to be tightened at government buildings.

He said the attackers only wanted attention and had not intended to kill Army chief Anupong Paochinda.

The suspect, Khattiya - also known as "Seh Daeng" - was previously suspended from duty for violating military regulations. He denied any involvement, saying he was not even in the capital at the time.

Khattiya was not on the late-evening flight from Hat Yai as expected. Police were reportedly due to arrest him at Suvarnabhumi Airport on arrival at around 9.30pm. No police or military police were found waiting at the airport to make any arrest.

Khattiya has been in conflict with Anupong over the former's suspension for his role in siding with ousted PM Thaksin Shinawatra. He had also sneaked out of the country many times to visit Thaksin.

The attack is an embarrassment for the Army, Khattiya said, adding Defence Minister Prawit Wongsu-wan and Anupong should take responsibility by stepping down.

Anupong yesterday authorised police to search Khattiya's residence, in a military compound in Bangkok's Kiakkai subdistrict. Police found grenades, a personal computer and CDs in the home, as well as a pistol in Khattiya's car.

However, a separate search of the residence of his driver, Sergeant Natsit Suwannarat, in the same compound, found 32 grenades, 700 M16 ammunitions, three packs of C-4 explosive and 13 sticks of TNT, as well as some spent shells.

Police took Private Manaschai Khamporn - Khattiya's housekeeper - and Natsit into custody for possession of war weapons. Natsit told police he used to work with Khattiya.

Metropolitan Police commander Lt-General Santhan Chayanon said Natsit and some of the weapons might link Khattiya to the attack.

"If the investigation finds he was involved, police will seek an arrest warrant," he said.

Speaking by phone from Songkhla yesterday, Khattiya said a search of his home would turn up nothing, because he did not keep any war weapons at home. "Many people dislike Anupong, or maybe some 'third hand' wants to create chaos. Don't blame me. You have no evidence to pin on me. If I had done it, he'd be dead now, but I would not do such a thing, because he's my friend," Khattiya said.

A grenade fired from an M79 launcher landed in a room in front of Anupong's office at Army HQ early last Friday morning, but authorities kept silent about it until media broke the story yesterday.

Army spokesman Colonel Sansern Kaewkamnerd said the grenade exploded without attracting the attention of security guards. The Army only realised about it after officials in the IT centre received an alert something was amiss. Bomb-disposal experts confirmed there had been an explosion, he said.

Sansern said the Army was not trying to cover up the incident, but nobody had asked about it before.

-- The Nation 2010-01-22

[newsfooter][/newsfooter]

[londonthai]

Police found grenades, a personal computer and CDs in the home, as well as a pistol in Khattiya's car.

However, a separate search of the residence of his driver, Sergeant Natsit Suwannarat, in the same compound, found 32 grenades, 700 M16 ammunitions, three packs of C-4 explosive and 13 sticks of TNT, as well as some spent shells.

Police took Private Manaschai Khamporn - Khattiya's housekeeper - and Natsit into custody for possession of war weapons. Natsit told police he used to work with Khattiya. ...

the grenade exploded without attracting the attention of security guards. The Army only realised about it after officials in the IT centre received an alert something was amiss.

the earlies report about "a large quantity of heavy weapons" did not materialise - PC with cds and a pistol doesn't count as such, a few granades either. Every second family in thailand has a pc and every third has a gun (legal or illegal).

charging the driver might not stick to his employer, most military personell do have some sort of arms at home (my brother in law is a former army officer and confirms it from his experience).

"IT centre received an alert something was amiss" - comedy act number two

[Samuian]

Shocking. A career military man with firearms in his home.

Since when do Soldiers, no matter what rank, have weapons of war and high explosives like - C4, TNT, 32 grenades, 700 M16 ammunition, with them in their private residences, accommodation, it's something completely new to me - not to mention the spend cartridges, why would they be kept?

Is it in case of emergency to be able to quickly defend the nation - even there is no thread of war anywhere near?

tell us some more... you seem to know something others don;t - always open to learn something new!

Not to mention the circumstances regarding that the soldier, that he is rather close, (a driver?), to Mr."Rambo", that there is the thread of his dismissal from the army, that he has been disgruntled and made verbal threads a couple of times, especially against Gen.Anupong!?

The Grenades used in the attacks .... don't ring a bell?

Yes/No?

Edited January 22, 2010 by Samuian

[thepodest]

Sansern said the Army was not trying to cover up the incident, but nobody had asked about it before.

lol what?

[animatic]

Or maybe just a disgruntled soldier.

Or one disgruntled General of public disrepute in most circles....

This is, sadly, right on schedule as things seem to be laying right now.

Tip of a bleeding iceberg for the next month or so.

[geriatrickid]

Oh c'mon. I just don't think an army general is going to start sneaking around army HQ at 3 AM and firing off one of these things.

These boys are in there pjs tucked into their comfy beds at this hour.

I do like the line from the article;

He denied the army had tried to cover up the attack, saying it was the army's instinct that they would not say when they were not asked.

Is this around about way of admitting that the Thai army is not instinctively forthcoming and honest? Oh well, they do have nice medals and ribbons.

[yoshiwara]

It would suit Thaksin if it can be shown that disloyal army elements are able to get close to the opposing leadership.

There will likely be a number of signals similar to this during the next month.

They are variations of the mafia call 'We know where you live'.

[Samuian]

Oh c'mon. I just don't think an army general is going to start sneaking around army HQ at 3 AM and firing off one of these things.

These boys are in there pjs tucked into their comfy beds at this hour.

I do like the line from the article;

He denied the army had tried to cover up the attack, saying it was the army's instinct that they would not say when they were not asked.

Is this around about way of admitting that the Thai army is not instinctively forthcoming and honest? Oh well, they do have nice medals and ribbons.

Leave it to the army, it's entirely up to the command what to do, the press blew the whistle on it, probably like so often elsewhere, too early!

After this "logic" they are responsible, Anupong had a bad dream, big "cover up' - the "poor guy" behind it, been blamed, nailed to the cross for nothin'...

what about pending investigation - police have been waiting at Suvannbhum to arrest Katthiya, he didn't show up .... keep complaining, but try to stick to some level of easy comprehensible statements!

And wasn't Katthiya's commet on it exactly the same he passed on months ago..."if I would have done it, he wouldn';t bealive anymore!" well we all know he hasn't done it, he was in the south - secure alibi... why?

Edited January 22, 2010 by Samuian

[jdinasia]

Shocking. A career military man with firearms in his home.

Think about this man's past calls for grenade attacks on the PAD rally sites (and the subsequent grenade attacks that took place) and it is clear WHY they searched.

The question is, was his possession of 'heavy weapons' legal in the context of his job, rank, and duties? Wasn't he assined to teach aerobics?

[way2muchcoffee]

Yes I understand the issue. I am no fan of Seh Daeng. For the record I think he was behind the grenade launchings during the PAD protests, and is probably behind this latest grenade launching at Army HQ. Nevertheless, according to later reports there were no heavy weapons found in Seh Daeng's residence, only personal weapons. The heavy weapons were found in the quarters of another individual.

Edited January 22, 2010 by way2muchcoffee

[Fishbucket]

Could be from some military guy that anupong "did for" on his rise to the top.

And decided to take advantage of current political climte.

More for effect though ( hard to say for who) than malicious intent.

[SomTumTiger]

The sooner this nut job is in jail, or out of the country, the better.