6,000 Guns And Explosives Stolen From Thai Army Barracks

[RKASA]

6,000 weapons and explosives takes an entire convoy of trucks to move around. You can't fit 6,000 weapons and explosives in the back of a rice farmer's pickup truck and put a blanket over it. Someone would have seen something. And if nobody saw anything, then it probably never happened. It's easier to say that 6,000 weapons that never existed were stolen, than to actually steal 6,000 weapons.

embarassing to say the least! No doubt that is a serious task to organize that. if you can't keep track of your own weapons, maybe you shouldn't have them, huh?

Man, they make the cast on Hogan's Heroes look brilliant.

Hey, Hogan's Heroes were brilliant. You must mean Capt. Binghamton on Mchale's Navy.

[basjke]

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.

Don't bring weapons to the demonstration there will be plenty readily available.

[snaggletooth]

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]

the "authorities" in this banana republic are SO LAME! This is why this country has NO FUTURE>

[Briggsy]

I'm not sure I believe this. Disinformation to justify some extreme government action perhaps?

[nickynomatesbkk]

All in all drawing lines to the dots it looking like hel_l of a time next weekend.

Me for one will be ensuring fully stocked up on food, water, alcohol and paint.

If it all goes very wrong first thing I will do is paint a union Jack on the roof and get ready for the airlift out.

[basjke]

Let's get real here....If 6000 farmers , rice workes and the 2 ugly ones from the Doll House turn up at the rally armed to the teeth then it will be the last rally they ever attend.

And have you ever considered that might be used by other people the the rice farmers?I forgot the name of that army nutcracker which is still walking free,even after they found that youtube poster in his car,so he might have some supporters from his regiment who will attend the rally but are not allowed to take the working tools home at night.

[LuckyLew]

Stolen is Thai for "Sold to red shirt supporters with lots of money"

Sounds like next week end might be a blast

[animatic]

....But The Bangkok Bank has never been involved with Thaksin's money so what would be the purpose...

Bangkok Bank was closely tied to Prem and the reds blame him for everything.

[moskito]

It can also just be mis-information and no weapons were taken.

guess you are right.....we all know about thais and counting

[termad]

Everybody immediately accused the Red Shirts of being behind the bombings/grenade attacks. But The Bangkok Bank has never been involved with Thaksin's money so what would be the purpose. There have also been bombings/grenade attacks against banks in the far south, again seemingly with no motive. I think that there is something going on but what is anybody's guess. It might be that the Miltary thought that they could pin the bombings onto the Reds but who knows.

But I wouldn't be surprised, if the weapons have really been stolen, to read that acting on a tip from one of The Nation's team of sources that the rifles have been found by the Military in some poor inocent farmer's barn. So farmers are arrested and the Military accuse the Reds of attempting to stage an armed revolution.

However, I don't actually believe that anybody could secretly steal that number of rifles and hope to keep the theft a secret. If you have lived in Army barracks you'll know that soldiers gossip like everybody else and nothing is secret in the barracks - it's a closed community - so within minutes of those rifles leaving the barracks every one of the couple of thousand troops living there would know and be talking about it.

Termad ---- did you fail to notice that the reds tried to get a big protest going against Bangkok Bank just before the grenade attacks? No... I don't think you missed that protest being posted about ... so what would be the point? Umm the reds associate the bank with the head of the Privy Council and rumors that BB helped fund the PAD. That then begs the question why would anyone that knows so much about things obfuscate like you did in the quoted post.

Yes I did miss the protest. When did it take place and how many attended? Why would they bomb banks in the deep south? Why on earth would an international bank fund the PAD? Who heard the rumors except you? (rumors are in any case not a source).

Edited March 7, 2010 by termad

[moetownblues]

This is not serious...... please how could it happen.... April fools joke for next year

[tomartoh]

Well whats the problem now? Its all under control, a police report has been made and they [the police] will investigate the incident.................. so snafu

In case anyone is trying to think around how 6000 assault rifles could be transported to Bangkok, don't forget the recent fright about the 22 armoured personnel carriers returning from the south for maintenance [????]. Maybe they used them to transport the weapons.

Or maybe the apc were stolen as well!

[anotherpeter]

Yes I did miss the protest. When did it take place and how many attended? Why would they bomb banks in the deep south? Why on earth would an international bank fund the PAD? Who heard the rumors except you? (rumors are in any case not a source).

From the Nation - Feb 20, 2010.

"Bangkok Bank was targeted by the protesters yesterday for its supposed link with Prem, against whom the red shirts have a major grouse. Prem is honorary chairman of the advisory board of this old and influential bank.

Red-shirt leader Weng Tojirakarn told the 2,000 or so red-shirt demonstrators in front of the bank yesterday afternoon that Prem, being the chief adviser of HM the King, should resign from all posts in various companies such as the bank and the CP group. He said these are profit-maximising corporations that looked after their own good and ran counter to the spirit of the privy council."

[hammered]

The main worry about this is that:

a. there are people, not the government by the way, who would love the army to crush the red shirts once and for all and a few shots strategiucally placed could set this off.

b. while the vast majority of the red shirts are fair minded people backing a cause they believe in there are lunatic fringe elements who would do anything to get their way including firing a few strategically placed shots into their own to garner a reaction

Both of these things are known by those in control of both sides in the current round and those in control of those not involved in the current round.

[hammered]

Yes I did miss the protest. When did it take place and how many attended? Why would they bomb banks in the deep south? Why on earth would an international bank fund the PAD? Who heard the rumors except you? (rumors are in any case not a source).

From the Nation - Feb 20, 2010.

"Bangkok Bank was targeted by the protesters yesterday for its supposed link with Prem, against whom the red shirts have a major grouse. Prem is honorary chairman of the advisory board of this old and influential bank.

Red-shirt leader Weng Tojirakarn told the 2,000 or so red-shirt demonstrators in front of the bank yesterday afternoon that Prem, being the chief adviser of HM the King, should resign from all posts in various companies such as the bank and the CP group. He said these are profit-maximising corporations that looked after their own good and ran counter to the spirit of the privy council."

Old weng has lost it. Has he never heard of CPB? He also backs a group that espouses profit maximisation in its economic polices even more than the yellos lot who basically espouse socialist economis. Weird aint it, but old weng's head must be spinning as he tries to find justiifcation in supporting the ultimate capitalist group in the country. Still this aint about politcal ideals and it is easy to find sold out ex-commies anywhere in the world and weng certainbly kjoins the sold out group. Even excuses Thailand's biggest human rights abuser in decades! No ideals there. move on now.......

[Nowhereman60]

Good thing Thailand doesn't have Nuclear Weapons.

[terryfrd]

Wait a minute. Has anyone seen a confirmation of this story? Both Matichon and Thai Rath report 69 M67 grenades stolen + 3100 bullets. Nothing about assault rifles. BKK Post says 3000 cartridges and about 20 grenades, quoting a police source.

[elcent]

The main worry about this is that:

a. there are people, not the government by the way, who would love the army to crush the red shirts once and for all and a few shots strategiucally placed could set this off.

b. while the vast majority of the red shirts are fair minded people backing a cause they believe in there are lunatic fringe elements who would do anything to get their way including firing a few strategically placed shots into their own to garner a reaction

Both of these things are known by those in control of both sides in the current round and those in control of those not involved in the current round.

Don't we have pretty much the same situation of a proxy government now?

Look how obvious they try to setup an issue like Sae Daeng and his aides are doing. For what purpose? and why so obvious? Nothing else than to blackmail the reds, or to try to lure them into violence for very obvious reasons.

Explain somebody the sudden change of heart of Sae Daeng and not being criticized by the now silent dogs in yellow? hmm ... get the connection?

I don't think that this will stop the real concerns of real read shirts.

Just as my earlier guesses are. In May will be the crucial time and we just see a heating up on both sides. It also may turn into the biggest quagmire ever seen in Thai history and the world.

This government and those who think are good should rethink their positions. Lots of the outcome depends on its decision now and a new election is highly feasible. Will Abhisit have the guts to stand up for fairness and for the country's sake or will he let the country sink into dark ages. It's a up to him. He'd earn my full loyalty and respect by doing so and I'm sure by most of the people as well. Maybe not enough for winning an election but enough to safe the country falling into the abyss.

[featography]

Wait a minute. Has anyone seen a confirmation of this story? Both Matichon and Thai Rath report 69 M67 grenades stolen + 3100 bullets. Nothing about assault rifles. BKK Post says 3000 cartridges and about 20 grenades, quoting a police source.

I am sure that most of this b#$@#%t is put in the news to give either, the Bangkok Post, Nation and Thai Rai or, the military and govt, a good laugh while reading TV every day, with their breakfast or lunch. They are no doubt thoroughly entertained with the Thai Way knowledge, and western education/experience, opinions of the members.

[retarius]

totally false report...just govt propaganda to act tough with red shirt protest....same as Bush/Blair's WMDs in Iraq...sorry I'm too old not to have seen it before

[dplast]

OK, 6,000 weapons and how many of what kind of explosives. The weapons alone would take up a lot of space to store and transport and then explosives along with it - sounds a little strange to me. Doug

[elcent]

Wait a minute. Has anyone seen a confirmation of this story? Both Matichon and Thai Rath report 69 M67 grenades stolen + 3100 bullets. Nothing about assault rifles. BKK Post says 3000 cartridges and about 20 grenades, quoting a police source.

I am sure that most of this b#$@#%t is put in the news to give either, the Bangkok Post, Nation and Thai Rai or, the military and govt, a good laugh while reading TV every day, with their breakfast or lunch. They are no doubt thoroughly entertained with the Thai Way knowledge, and western education/experience, opinions of the members.

Thou shall not forget. Setup of misinformation is used also to create a state of emergency and to further censor any news. Who will be in charge of the censorship?

Let your wild guesses roll.

[animatic]

Well this is of course NOW firmly decided in opposing ways by the usual opposing members.

Nothing new, same same, less analysis and more posturing.

[geriatrickid]

Inventory shrinkage is a normal event with the military and with industry. Often it is theft, but more often than not it is inaccurate record keeping. The weapons may never have existed. Orders put in for purchases but good never delivered etc. Multiple rational explanations and I think the Redshirts stealing the weapons are at the bottom of the list of explanations.

[Basil B]

As I understand all firearms have serial numbers so if they have gone missing and turn up in the wrong hands they will know where they came from, or whether they existed in the first place

6,000 riffles is a lot of firearm not to be kept in any secure centralized depository under armed guard.

[Brewsta]

I'll add my two cents. In most militaries around the world, including Thailand one would find that arsenals and unit-level armories alike are guarded with not only human guards and intensive physical security systems, but access to them requires layered access measures and penetrating a minimum of triple-lock security. The arms facility itself is locked with more than one ultra high-security lock and the individual weapon racks are also similarly locked. The keys to these facilities are also very carefully secured and controlled. One poster questioned what an engineer unit was doing housing such items. It is engineer units that customarily use military explosives & demolitions in the accomplishment of their unit missions and they indeed maintain stocks for these purposes.

More to the point though...nobody simply strolls into an arms room or arms depot, and walks away casually, or surrepticiously with 6,000 weapons and explosives. Any insurgent-led attempt to do so would be the cause of a major incident that could not be brushed under the rug..nor would it be. This reeks painfully of an inside job. Identifying those persons in the chain of command who are responsible for the security of these missing arms should be a simple matter; they in turn should be publicly named and charges brought against them for high treason to the state. Placed under intensive interrogation the truth would be bound to emerge. This would include unit-level armorers, supply personel and unit commanders all the way up to and including the seniormost general officer placed in a direct leadership role. Something also tells me that all this will never occur. It is a very sad day for the Royal Thai Army.

Factually you are abs correct on the procedure & securing of Live Ord'nance......but recall that this is La-La Land.

Just check out Merc dealerships sales to 'uniforms' over the coming month(s) and Gold merchants etc over the next few weeks- there's ya arms sales proceeds....Money Trails never lie...

rgdz,

Brewta

Edited March 7, 2010 by Brewsta

[AZBill]

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

I agree. This is not good and the large amount of guns and munitions taken does smell of an inside job. Flying in on the 17th. Keeping a watch on things and hoping for the best. Keep your heads down!

[Colabamumbai]

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]

My question is

Who was really behind the theft of those weapons? Part of the military that does not support the current government?

[Navalator]

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

Civil war it is. Stock up on food and candles.

[tombkk]

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!

These are some quite interesting statistics. Kindly advise where they come from:

1. You can support this with a website address (I am not even asking for a reliable source.)

2. This is Classified information you have published here, so you cannot point us to any source.

3. You just made it up.

I am looking forward to your kind clarification!