webfact Posted March 7, 2010 Share Posted March 7, 2010 6,000 guns and explosives stolen from barracks BANGKOK: -- Acting Thai government spokesman Panitan Wattanayagorn confirmed on Sunday that an urgent investigation was being conducted into “a massive loss of weapons and explosives” from an army base in the southern province of Phattalung. According to Mr Panitan, a police report was filed last Thursday and investigators are attempting to determine whether the weapons have fallen into the hands of insurgents in the south, or the United Front for Democracy against Dictatorship (UDD), aka the red-shirts, who plan to hold its million man march and rally commencing this Friday, March 12, in an attempt to oust the government. Informed sources claim about 6,000 assault rifles and a large amount of explosives were taken from Engineering Regiment 401, part of the Fourth Army Region, in Phatthalung Province, and the theft was only discovered on Tuesday. Mr. Panitan said the investigation was focusing on the possibility the theft was “an inside job” and that since the loss, security at other army weapons warehouses, especially in Bangkok, has been tightened. The revelation of the theft follows comments yesterday by Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva that recent intelligence reports had pointed to the possibility of sabotage taking place on March 14. Mr. Abhisit said that the government's Security-Related Situation Monitoring Committee had received information that acts of sabotage aimed at creating chaos were being planned by red-shirt sympathisers. When questioned about the matter, Army spokesman Colonel Sansern Kaewkamnerd said the Army had no such intelligence. Sean Boonpracong, international media spokesman for the UDD, said protesters coming to Bangkok on March 12 are being repeatedly told not to bring weapons to the rally and UDD security personnel will be checking people for weapons prior to and during the rally. “We’re constantly stressing to people that the only “weapon” they should bring is a camera to photograph anything that the government might instigate and to photograph the checkpoints along their route. “If UDD security personnel detect anyone with weapons then that person will be handed over to government security agents”, Mr. Boonpracong said. -- thaivisa.com 2010-03-07 [newsfooter][/newsfooter] Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
webfact Posted March 7, 2010 Author Share Posted March 7, 2010 Probe on stolen Thai army weapons underway BANGKOK (TNA) -- An investigation into massive losses of weapons and explosives stolen from an arms depot of a military camp in the southern province of Phatthalung is underway, according to Panitan Wattanayagorn, acting government spokesman. The incident was reported to police and concerned officials last Thursday, said Dr Panitan, adding that investigators were checking whether the stolen weapons and explosives were secretly transported within the insurgency-affected southern provinces or to Bangkok where anti-government protesters from the United Front for Democracy against Dictatorship (UDD) plan to hold a mass demonstration next Sunday aimed at ousting the government. UDD activists nationwide will begin moving to Bangkok March 12 and will gather at Sanam Luang in the morning of March 14. Asked whether the Fourth Army Region which is responsible for security in the South should be held accountable for the loss of the materiel, Dr Panitan said the probe is focusing on whether it was an inside job. Security at other army weaponry warehouses, especially in Bangkok, has been tightened following Thursday’s incident, he added. (TNA) -- TNA 2010-03-07 [newsfooter][/newsfooter] Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Credo Posted March 7, 2010 Share Posted March 7, 2010 Oops. It sure would be good to know where those guns are. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
londonthai Posted March 7, 2010 Share Posted March 7, 2010 were they sold by the barrack's commander to anybody with cash, insurgents or just common criminals? if it was insurgents surely there would be brake in, damage, several tracks to evacuate armaments and assilants - and there would be a chase after them. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jonesy99 Posted March 7, 2010 Share Posted March 7, 2010 Hmm, this definitely adds a new dimension to the potential situation on the 12th, lets hope they find them quickly! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
angiud Posted March 7, 2010 Share Posted March 7, 2010 This is pretty serious. Both if Red T-shirts or Muslim insurgents. 6000 assault rifles!!!! large amount of explosives!!!! Weapons deposit without serious guards? Incompetent and inept people. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
asiawatcher Posted March 7, 2010 Share Posted March 7, 2010 Informed sources claim about 6,000 assault rifles and a large amount of explosives ~~~ was only discovered on Tuesday. Mr. Panitan said the investigation was focusing on the possibility the theft was “an inside job” ~~~~ Nah, ya don't say? ~~~ said the Army had no such intelligence. This should read the Army had no intelligence (whatsoever). Turn the lights off Bruce, there's no one here! This is priceless. :D Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Theyreallrubbish Posted March 7, 2010 Share Posted March 7, 2010 This is bad. 6000 weapons (plus ammunition presumably) indicates a well planned and organised theft. This indicates equally thought out plans for their use. Somebody is planning for a civil war Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Credo Posted March 7, 2010 Share Posted March 7, 2010 I think it would be more than a motorcycle with a pillion rider to run off with those weapons. It is very, very unlikely that it would be insurgents--they are the enemy. I would believe that there are factions within the military that back the reds. It also could be a set-up by the government to institute the ISA. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BlueSmurf Posted March 7, 2010 Share Posted March 7, 2010 No Guards? no doors locked? was there a fight to get or stop this happening? Or were the gates open and the lights out! There could be TROUBLE ahead............. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
YanTree Posted March 7, 2010 Share Posted March 7, 2010 This is bad. 6000 weapons (plus ammunition presumably) indicates a well planned and organised theft.This indicates equally thought out plans for their use. Somebody is planning for a civil war Or somebody else is planning to make you think that. Personally I hold george responsible - nothing juicy in the news today and he needed a scary headline. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Squigy Posted March 7, 2010 Share Posted March 7, 2010 More Generals in the South wanting a bit of extra Tea money. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tomloughney Posted March 7, 2010 Share Posted March 7, 2010 It can also just be mis-information and no weapons were taken. Then on the other hand this is Thailand so if they claim 6,000 taken that really means 60,000 taken but not admitting it due to loss of face. Or: The 6,000 never were actually in the building but some audit was going to happen and to cover up the missing weapons "they were stolen" Or: The sick water buffalo needed them to plant rice... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sunderland Posted March 7, 2010 Share Posted March 7, 2010 Yesterday there were 10 Thai soldiers looking all serious and patrolling immediately outside Major Ratchayothin cineplex. Makes you wonder how nobody saw 6,000+ guns and additional explosives disappear ... must have been one hel_l of a tip. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mca Posted March 7, 2010 Share Posted March 7, 2010 Mr. Panitan said the investigation was focusing on the possibility the theft was “an inside job” and that since the loss, security at other army weapons warehouses, especially in Bangkok, has been tightened. It's slightly disconcerting that security at places that house military weapons ( and on an army camp to boot ) " has been tightened " I'd have hoped that they would have been locked down pretty tight already. It's not as if they're guarding cartons of instant noodles is it? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sedeflonga Posted March 7, 2010 Share Posted March 7, 2010 It seems that some generals still support the old regime and try to give 'hardware-support' Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
hansnl Posted March 7, 2010 Share Posted March 7, 2010 (edited) This is bad. 6000 weapons (plus ammunition presumably) indicates a well planned and organised theft.This indicates equally thought out plans for their use. Somebody is planning for a civil war Now who might that be? To put things in perspective and defusing all those who wonder why a theft like this is possible in Thailand? Last year in nearly all Nato-countries together nearly half a million arms were "mislaid"or not accounted for. Rifles, pistols, machineguns, 2 MBT's, a 155 mm gun, 4 armed personal carriers, rockets, and more of that fun stuff. This is excluding the material disappeared in Afghanistan, Iraq and other "war"zones. And what has disappeared in the former SU, oops! That said, it is a very disturbing thing! Edited March 7, 2010 by hansnl Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Pandemonium Posted March 7, 2010 Share Posted March 7, 2010 Informed sources claim about 6,000 assault rifles and a large amount of explosives ~~~ was only discovered on Tuesday.Mr. Panitan said the investigation was focusing on the possibility the theft was "an inside job" ~~~~ Nah, ya don't say? ~~~ said the Army had no such intelligence. This should read the Army had no intelligence (whatsoever). Turn the lights off Bruce, there's no one here! This is priceless. One has to be rational about this, you cannot distance the military, the police or any other agency from the political movements. Army and police ranks are made up of sympathizers of both red and yellow shirts. You only need one of them to decide that the arms will better serve the people in the hands of their political faction than the army and you have a situation on your hands. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
caf Posted March 7, 2010 Share Posted March 7, 2010 Hmm, this definitely adds a new dimension to the potential situation on the 12th, lets hope they find them quickly! It may or may not have anything to do with the 12th. TIT . There may not have been a theft, they may have been sold for cash. caf Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jfchandler Posted March 7, 2010 Share Posted March 7, 2010 Did anyone wonder, what's an "Engineering Regiment" doing with/or storing 6,000 assault rifles??? The engineers aren't usually the ones up front doing all the shooting.... At least the explosives part, I can understand. Engineers in the Army, after all, do like to blow things up... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Reasonableman Posted March 7, 2010 Share Posted March 7, 2010 Instant noodles are under far more rigorous security Mr. Panitan said the investigation was focusing on the possibility the theft was "an inside job" and that since the loss, security at other army weapons warehouses, especially in Bangkok, has been tightened. It's slightly disconcerting that security at places that house military weapons ( and on an army camp to boot ) " has been tightened " I'd have hoped that they would have been locked down pretty tight already. It's not as if they're guarding cartons of instant noodles is it? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mca Posted March 7, 2010 Share Posted March 7, 2010 Of course just to throw a spanner in the works (and I'm not saying this is my point of view) it could be a load of B/S to shit up the Thai people that the Thaksin supporters are tooled up and ready for action giving the authorities an excuse to come down heavy. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
poldebol Posted March 7, 2010 Share Posted March 7, 2010 6000 guns + ammo. Stolen in one go, or lost and petered away over a period of 20 years? If stolen in one time, we must be talking about 200 to 300 m3? Correct? That is 4 or 5 big seacontainers! I can imagine a soldier taking 20 liters of diesel every week, but 4 containers? Does the Thai army use the explosive sniffers at the exit of the barracks? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Murf Posted March 7, 2010 Share Posted March 7, 2010 Someone can make a lot of red shirts with these weapons... Scary! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
animatic Posted March 7, 2010 Share Posted March 7, 2010 This was RIGHT near where Sea Deung was hiding out earlier in the month after the Peoples Army was declared and Chavalit good cold feet. Coincidence? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Theyreallrubbish Posted March 7, 2010 Share Posted March 7, 2010 This is bad. 6000 weapons (plus ammunition presumably) indicates a well planned and organised theft.This indicates equally thought out plans for their use. Somebody is planning for a civil war True and we can only hope that other poster's theories that the weapons were stolen over many years and this is being used as a way of clearing the books by blaming it on a single big theft while tensions are high. But even in Thailand a theft like this must be investigated. If there was no theft and that'll be quickly obvious on investigation, then the people who reported it are going to be in worse trouble than if they'd simply continued to cover up the gradual thefts. And I agree with other posters that this represents a stunning level of incompetence and thus a huge loss of face for those in the army. The Thai tendency is to cover things up that make them look bad, not exaggerate them Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
webfact Posted March 7, 2010 Author Share Posted March 7, 2010 Investigation going on over stolen war weapons: PM Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva said the Fourth Army Area is conducting a probe into the theft of war weapons from one of its regiments. Abhisit said he has been informed of the theft on Wednesday. He said the weapons were stolen from Engineering Regiment 401. -- The Nation 2010-03-07 [newsfooter][/newsfooter] Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AsiaCheese Posted March 7, 2010 Share Posted March 7, 2010 "Tighten security" -- what a concept. I would expect security around weapons warehouses to be tight as a duck's @ss in the first place, nothing there to tighten, or someone's made a mess already! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
asiawatcher Posted March 7, 2010 Share Posted March 7, 2010 Informed sources claim about 6,000 assault rifles and a large amount of explosives ~~~ was only discovered on Tuesday.Mr. Panitan said the investigation was focusing on the possibility the theft was "an inside job" ~~~~ Nah, ya don't say? ~~~ said the Army had no such intelligence. This should read the Army had no intelligence (whatsoever). Turn the lights off Bruce, there's no one here! This is priceless. One has to be rational about this, you cannot distance the military, the police or any other agency from the political movements. Army and police ranks are made up of sympathizers of both red and yellow shirts. You only need one of them to decide that the arms will better serve the people in the hands of their political faction than the army and you have a situation on your hands. Let's say 6,000 weapons could be hand carried - how many men would it take? OR Let's say they were containerised - in pallet boxes, how many pallets? OR Forgetting the explosives - not quantified - it would take a small convoy and a lot of manpower no? Methinks someone is telling 'porky pies' here or this is deliberate misinformation. If it is true, then fire then general all the way down to the private and then hold them accountable financially as well. However, all will be revealed in the fullness of time - as always. Did any one check under the doormat for the plane from North Korea or the air crew that were released last week without being charged? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tonywebster Posted March 7, 2010 Share Posted March 7, 2010 Has anyone checked if they were sold to North Korea, if so I think they are already back on Thai soil Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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