Thai Forces Fire Warning Shots In Standoff With Red Shirts

[Insight]

Ah, so the army do use live ammunition despite all the lame denials.

They've been saying live rounds will be used for some time now.

[shawndoc]

Ah, so the army do use live ammunition despite all the lame denials.

What lame denials? After April 10th (on the 11th I believe) the military said that some soldiers had fired live ammunition after the grenade attack that killed their commander. And yesterday or day before the army announced new rules of engagement that included the use of live rounds.

[chantorn]

I hope peace will come to Thailand.

I hope the bad guy stop killing solider again and again, just like yesterday.

[kissdani]

I think you have got it wrong, he was facing a building (or turning slowly) when he was shot at close range...it couldn't have been the military as they were at least 200yards away...he fell towards the military..must have been a boomerang bullet?

I thought that rubber bullets were fired from M79 grenade launchers, you know, 40mm diameter and about 300mm long, they're bounced along the road so that they hit the protesters in the legs???

How do you know he was shot at close range? Why do you think the direction he fell indicates the direction he was shot from?

You've lost me I'm afraid, how about a plain answer? I'll make it easy—just answer the second question. Since a bullet passing through your head imparts relatively little kinetic energy, it's unlikely to effect the direction you fall.

Your go.

Well offissa, I think your science sux. As the point of impact was well above the centre of gravity, and about twice as far from the turning point of his feet, even if the bullet only lost a small part of its KE, the tendency would be to fall in the direction of travel of the projectile. To put it more simply, if I gave you a slap on the back of your head, would you fall towards my hand?

It wasn't like a football game where one side comes from the right and the other from the left. In the urban situation, with all the streets, side roads, small sois the security forces came from different directions.

Is it possible to conclude from the fact that he fell on his back the direction of the bullet, gave him the bullet a kinetic impulse, a push like a knock from a fist or like it can be seen in many hollywood movies? No. It is your 'sience' that sux.

Do a little exercise, stand up on your feet and now try to imagine your brain suddendly stop to work. No more information to your muscles that keeps you standding upright. You will topple without anybody pushing or kicking you.

[jcbangkok]

-- The Nation

Police confiscated 63 M-79 grenades from a motorcycle during a search on Vibhavadi Rangsit road on Wednesday.

Police stopped a motorcycle at a checkpoint set up after red shirts protesters clashed with troops on the road. Driver of the vehicle stopped as ordered but managed to run away.

Police then searched the vehicle and confiscated a total of 63 M-79 grenades from the vehicle.

It is still unclear how the explosives were packed.

Also found were documents of Pol Sgt Pratya Maneekote of Patum Thani's Kukot district.

Police could not say whether the drive was the sergeant.

[newsfooter][/newsfooter]

Morons. They managed to let the guy flee. On foot. On an elevated expressway. Aren't situation like this one precisely why policemen get issued guns? Fortunately the guy was even more of a moron and left his papers behind. At least this will decrease the stock of M79 grenades ready to be tossed around Bangkok.

I don't believe this was staged: it looks too much like sheer stupidity at work.

How do you hide or even carry 63 grenades on a motorcycle? Where would you put them? How can a driver run away and get away?

Investigative reporters of the Nation please do your homework and at least make your stories half believable.

The Nation article said "no details available on how the grenades were stored" or words to that effect. Late model Waves have an under-seat storage to carry a helmet; the M-79 grenade is 40mm diameter x 46mm long (?) Can you fit 63 under a seat? I don't know, do you?

I haven't seen anything about this being on an elevated expressway and in fact the guy ran down a Soi and escaped. Two packages (30 each they way they are packed) would easily be concealable on a person or bike. They are not that big. They had them laid out on TV last night along with the packaging. If somebody wants to create a conspiracy on this it would be pretty silly since the police could have easily put them in the trunk of a car with a whole bunch of other bad stuff.

In addition I am sure there were hundreds upon hundreds of these thugs running away from police yesterday. This is what they wanted. And if they wanted it to remain a mystery person they would not have announced the name of the person whose papers (registration I assume) was found on the bike and then have this person actually be a police officer .. I think he is a Sargent.

Edited April 29, 2010 by jcbangkok

[Flory]

I think you have an overly active imagination or, at the very least, a great sense of hyperbole.

A little bit more convincing than anecdotes, from 2006

Thaksin May Reap From Pro-poor Policies

By Marwaan Macan-Markar

BANGKOK, Mar 10, 2006 (IPS) - Chinda Pintakan's graduation from the bottom of Thailand's social pecking order, as a poor rural farmer, to a step higher, as a waitress in a restaurant, has brought with it material benefits that have given her hope to believe that more is possible.

The 43-year-old mother of two sons has been enjoying an income of over 7,000 baht (175 US dollars) every month, on average, for the past five years. Prior to 2001, when she was part of her farming community in the village of Pong Samaki, some 30 kilometers beyond this northern Thai city, she brought home about 4,500 baht (112 dollars) per month.

For Chinda, as with the other members of her community who are earning better as rice farmers, there is little confusion about who has helped transform their lives. It is Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra, she says. ''He gave a lot of opportunities for the poor people with his new programmes.''

Such praise for Thaksin - heading a caretaker government after a February decision to call for a snap parliamentary election on Apr. 2 -is also echoed by others living beyond Chinda's village of 200 families.

Sakorn Uwaiporn is typical. This 40-year-old woman, who earns a living as a food vendor near one of the entrances of the ancient fort that wraps a part of Chiang Mai, talks of other benefits that came after Thaksin's Thai Rak Thai (Thais Love Thai - TRT) party triumphed at the January 2001 elections.

''It is easier for us to get loans. We don't have to go to the loan sharks,'' she says. ''The 30 baht health scheme (where Thais can get treatment for any ailment by paying 30 baht (0.75 cents) per hospital visit) is better for us than before.''

The endorsement of Thaksin's policies by these two women, who voted for the TRT at the January 2001 and February 2005 polls, is in stark contrast to the hostility the premier has been facing for weeks by demonstrators on the streets of Bangkok. Even other members of the rural poor who live in and around Chiang Mai offer views in support of the TRT's pro-poor policies that the capital's protesters, who are largely middle and upper-middle class, pooh-pooh as ''vote buying measures.''

What they have exposed, consequently, are political faultlines in this South-east Asian country that are pitting the rural poor, who make up a majority of the country's 64 million population, against sections of the richer populace from Bangkok and other urban centres.

It is a divide, say analysts, that mirrors the new political equations introduced to Thailand following the TRT's thumping electoral victories in 2001 and 2005 polls. Most noticeable among them being an aggressive set of policies to help the poor that has succeeded, after five years, in exposing how inadequate the previous means by which the elites and leaders of political parties dealt with the underclass.

''There is no comparison on pro-poor policies between the Thai Rak Thai and the parties in government before 2001,'' Giles Ungpakorn, political scientist at Bangkok's Chulalongkorn University, told IPS. ''The opposition Democrat Party has been in government many times before but their policies lacked sympathy for the poor.''

''Thaksin has redrawn the political map by offering policies to help the poor improve financially than the traditional vote buying technique of the other political parties before - just handing out only cash,'' he added. ''Most of the anti-government demonstrators and the opposition parties treat the poor with contempt.''

Cheanchom Thongjen, an economist at the World Bank, offers a similar comparison. ''The Thaksin government's policies to help the rural and urban poor were demand driven. They were in response to what the poor had identified as their priorities,'' she said in an interview. ''The governments before had a top-down approach, supplying the poor with assistance that they thought the poor needed.''

And now, as Thaksin, a billionaire tycoon before becoming premier, faces calls by Bangkok's anti-government demonstrators to resign on charges of alleged corruption, his family profiting from a 1.8 billion dollar deal and stamping down on the media and his critics, his political investments appear to be paying off.

The key planks of his agenda to lift the quality of life of the country's underclass have been: declaring a three-year freeze on their debts, offering one million bahts (25,000 dollars) to each of Thailand's 70,000 villages to create small businesses, the 30 baht health care programme and a housing project for the poor.

An initiative to boost rural economies has also come in the form of a one-village-one product programme (popularly known as OTOP), where by the government has offered to help cottage industries with research and development and marketing the products.

The 36,000 OTOP groups across the country, with each having between 30 to 3,000 people per group, have seen incomes rise over the past four years, says Sakda Siridechakul, president of Chiang Mai's OTOP association. ''OTOP has helped incomes to be spread to many people in the villages. It has given people producing handicrafts to feel they can be part of the global economy.''

All this week, in fact, Sakda has been leading other supporters of OTOP and, by extension, Thaksin, to gather outside one of the gates of Chiang Mai's old fort walls to paint cloth banners in support of the government. ''The Prime Minister is a smart person and stupid people want to attack him,'' said one of the 125 banners painted on Thursday evening.

Research by the World Bank reflects this sense of achievement at the grassroots. Four years after the TRT was first voted to power, Thais living in poverty had dropped to 7.08 million people from the 13 million in 2000.

Agriculture incomes in the poorest section of the country, the northeast, had risen by 40 percent during the same four-year period, added the Bank's 2005 'Thailand Economic Monitor.'

''It is a record that the anti-Thaksin demonstrators and the opposition parties have no answer to,'' says Giles. ''This is one reason why they are campaigning to boycott the April elections.''

Such anti-government sentiments have little appeal for women like Chinda, who says, ''People in my village will be voting for the Thai Rak Thai. We must keep Thaksin as the prime minister.'' (END)

[chev]

I'd read somewhere earlier (Here maybe?), that the grenades were apparently in a large bag draped over the seat. It was supposedly a canvas fertilizer or feed bag.

yes, reported here.

but not reported as such.

but makes no difference as these "genades" turn out to be filled with white "flour" awaiting for delivery to a disco near bali-hi.

[chev]

I hope peace will come to Thailand.

I hope the bad guy stop killing solider again and again, just like yesterday.

love,hope chaarity....such great aspirations....keep hoping in this land of the possible.

[jcbangkok]

An M79 launcher with various round types. They are not much bigger than swollen shot gun shells.

The vest is designed to carry 24 (all in the front) 40mm M79 rounds. It was designed in 1966.

[slapout]

Yesterdays cease fire, retreat, truce, or whatever you want to call did give a indication as to a partial solution to this circle jerk. A rain storm hit as dark thirty was nearing, everyone ran for shelter. Start cloud seeding/rain making procedures at once or rig up commercial irrigation systems, this coupled with the upcoming rainy season, 11 hour of darkness/night, and the groups involved will be seeking shelter throughout the day instead of hassling working folks. Boredom, mildew, foot rot etc, will take a large part the non hardcore out of the equation. Do as you will with the rest.

[OzMick]

TAN Network: Soldiers back away from further confrontation allowing reds to return to Ratchprasong

that might sound like a bad call but these boys will go back to the others and tell them just how scary that confrontation was and there will be less reds returning to the site tomorrow

they won't be quite so cocky either.....

'they won't be quite so cocky either'.... facing live ammo and rubber bullets with nothing more than a few homemade fireworks is not cocky. Its being prepared to die for what you believe in. Another one never been north of Don Muang Airport

To paraphrase "Stormin' Norman" .........."those prepared to die, die just as easy".............

[jcbangkok]

How do you know he was shot at close range? Why do you think the direction he fell indicates the direction he was shot from?

You've lost me I'm afraid, how about a plain answer? I'll make it easy—just answer the second question. Since a bullet passing through your head imparts relatively little kinetic energy, it's unlikely to effect the direction you fall.

Your go.

Well offissa, I think your science sux. As the point of impact was well above the centre of gravity, and about twice as far from the turning point of his feet, even if the bullet only lost a small part of its KE, the tendency would be to fall in the direction of travel of the projectile. To put it more simply, if I gave you a slap on the back of your head, would you fall towards my hand?

It wasn't like a football game where one side comes from the right and the other from the left. In the urban situation, with all the streets, side roads, small sois the security forces came from different directions.

Is it possible to conclude from the fact that he fell on his back the direction of the bullet, gave him the bullet a kinetic impulse, a push like a knock from a fist or like it can be seen in many hollywood movies? No. It is your 'sience' that sux.

Do a little exercise, stand up on your feet and now try to imagine your brain suddendly stop to work. No more information to your muscles that keeps you standding upright. You will topple without anybody pushing or kicking you.

Not sure why anybody is still bickering over this when ALL facts indicate the bullet came from the Red Side and it is a matter of science that a bullet will not dictate a way a person falls and it is all about his balance at the time of being shot if killed instantly and there are not muscle spasms. Bottom line the guy's face was pointed to the red end of the street when he got shot in the face.

Real people with real experience have examined the scene, the body and tapes as well as witnesses. This is there conclusion and they have invited neutral 3rd parties (human rights groups) to come and examine all the evidence and facts.

Edit: Thoughts and prayers to this soldiers family and loved ones.

Edited April 29, 2010 by jcbangkok

[ozzieman05]

Are the protesters innocent

In a protest the protesters are deemed to be innocent if they march or congregate in an area that is free by law for them to congregate

If they are moving and come across a security force which has the authority to ask them to stop, and they do so they are considered innocent protesters

If they make any hostile movement towards the security forces, while under and order to stop, they are no longer innocent protesters

The security forces would then command them to stop or they may be forced to shoot

If the protesters do not obey this order they, are no longer innocent, but provoking hostilities

The security forces are then within their rights to again command them to halt and shoot a warning shot into the air

If the protesters continue to advance on security forces they are then considered to be a hostile force. and definatley no longer innocent protesters

If at this time after multiple warnings that the security force may open fire, protesters are putting themselves into danger of their own making and may even be considered suicidal

It would be advisable first for security forces to shoot at the protesters feet, taking away their ability to advance.

The Thai security forces use a similar method, with there rules being the distance that protesters are from the security forces, and if they do not show any signs of halting their progress

There is no way under the rules of engagement that the red shirts can be called innocent protesters

At this point in time they have full knowledge of what can happen and confirm this with their statements that they are willing to fight to the death

At common law the responsibility of any injuries or deaths must be born by the leaders of the protest if at a time they saw danger in continuing the protest, there could be injuries or deaths and they failed to stop the protest

I am happy no one disagrees

[OzMick]

I'm a little sick of hearing the redshirts this and the redshirts that. This is democracy in motion. If a ruling party refuses to openly compromise then the outcome can be violent. People here are passionate about their country. I admire them for that. They are willing to give their life for what they believe in. You whiners that think your opinion matters are just adding to the problem. The Thai people have a leader they believe is illegitimate and they are acting as such.

Many years ago our countries did the same thing the Thai are doing now. GIVE THEM SOME SLACK!!! Your opinion as a farang means nothing but your trivial rhetoric may create discontent that isn't needed. We are bystanders. Pay some respect and allow the process to come to it's conclusion. It is coming soon. I believe we will have a better country that we are visiting than the one that exists now.

Well said.....I second the motion

Markaew nominates himself as a visitor "we will have a better country that we are visiting" but thinks that people who live here should not have an opinion. He is backed up by the usual red apologists. Like them, he has swallowed the "peoples revolution" crap. IGNORE

Another one never been North of Don Muang Airport. They are so easy to spot on this forum. Made this statement to a few posters and no rebuttle.....I must be right then

Completely wrong! But I do have a social life. Been here on a permanent basis 8+ yrs, visiting like your mate for many before. Ex-wife from Sukhothai area, gf from Nakhon Panom, both families visited regularly by BIKE. Ridden NP - Tak, Chiang Mai - Sungai Kolok, include Ubon to visit mates. I also speak thai well enough to discuss these red mongrels with both families. So what village do you make your redneck pronouncements from - possible I've passes through.

[Who, me ?]

Are the protesters innocent

In a protest the protesters are deemed to be innocent if they march or congregate in an area that is free by law for them to congregate

If they are moving and come across a security force which has the authority to ask them to stop, and they do so they are considered innocent protesters

If they make any hostile movement towards the security forces, while under and order to stop, they are no longer innocent protesters

The security forces would then command them to stop or they may be forced to shoot

If the protesters do not obey this order they, are no longer innocent, but provoking hostilities

The security forces are then within their rights to again command them to halt and shoot a warning shot into the air

If the protesters continue to advance on security forces they are then considered to be a hostile force. and definatley no longer innocent protesters

If at this time after multiple warnings that the security force may open fire, protesters are putting themselves into danger of their own making and may even be considered suicidal

It would be advisable first for security forces to shoot at the protesters feet, taking away their ability to advance.

The Thai security forces use a similar method, with there rules being the distance that protesters are from the security forces, and if they do not show any signs of halting their progress

There is no way under the rules of engagement that the red shirts can be called innocent protesters

At this point in time they have full knowledge of what can happen and confirm this with their statements that they are willing to fight to the death

At common law the responsibility of any injuries or deaths must be born by the leaders of the protest if at a time they saw danger in continuing the protest, there could be injuries or deaths and they failed to stop the protest

I am happy no one disagrees

So am I !

[jcbangkok]

Ah, so the army do use live ammunition despite all the lame denials.

What lame denials? After April 10th (on the 11th I believe) the military said that some soldiers had fired live ammunition after the grenade attack that killed their commander. And yesterday or day before the army announced new rules of engagement that included the use of live rounds.

Ahhhh, when did somebody say the Army would not have live rounds? The only whining I heard about this was from red leaders making idiots out of themselves as if the police and military were evil for having weapons. Why would the shoulders not have weapons when it is standard operating procedure in Thailand to have soldiers with live rounds shooting into the air to intimidate unruly crowds into dispersing while trying to prevent injuries. The could use blanks but they are the freaking army and their job is to defend the country and people against internal (like this) and external threats as well as needed to have the ability to protect themselves and their comrades and the public.

I have never heard anything so ridiculous as to whine about the ARMED FORCES being armed and prepared. Sadly, they didn't bring enough fire power to this fight to protect themselves from the terrorist elements within the mob.

[chev]

More blood on the Red's hands.

Your sumit else mate

the guy shot in the head was by friendly fire let me spell that out for you

that means he was shot by his own men not red shirts

And of course, you have a source and evidence for that statement....

there will be a source for anything,anytime, anywhere in thailand.

if the source is not there, it will be "manufactured" specially for you the consumer/i.e. farang, at a price,of course..

Edited April 29, 2010 by chev

[OzMick]

I understand that the moderators need to be cautious during this time of unrest and sympathize with the difficulties they face doing a thankless job. Since we're no longer permitted to post and discuss news clippings in the General Forum, I thought I'd bring a story to your attention here. Abhisit told the BBC on Tuesday why he won't call for a new election.

Thailand crisis: Red-shirt protesters and troops clash

On Tuesday Mr Abhisit told the BBC that while he wanted a political solution to the crisis, immediate elections were not the answer.

"There is a clear threat that if we hold elections too soon, with the mood running as high in terms of divisions and in terms of tension, elections would turn violent and they would solve nothing and we could be back into this vicious cycle of demonstrations." http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/asia-pacific/8648109.stm

This is one the biggest red herrings in the overall argument for not holding an election in 90 days.

What evidence is there that the yellow shirts have any decent numbers in the support base beyond Bangkok ? I simply don't believe they have such big numbers! All the yellows and Abhisit do is come with every reason under the sun why there cannot be an election while people are being killed.

But it is reasonable to assume that a large proportion of the 22 million in Isaan are red supporters ? Sure the PAD might put up a fight after they lose ( which they will ) but I am sure they can be contained !

"But it is reasonable to assume that a large proportion of the 22 million in Isaan are red supporters ?" Only if you are a redshirt apologist. On another thread, a link was posted to a Khon Kaen Uni study which showed that 50% of the population of KK DID NOT want a house dissolution. If you don't have a clear majority in Isaan, what hope have you anywhere else? How is a extrapolated 11,000,000 a big enough % of the population to demand elections?

I am getting bored with this. Look at where the study was done, most probably in the grounds of KK Uni with 25000 students. Who just by chance happen to be the children of middle class chinese parents bcos red shirt kids cant afford Uni. I am sure even you dont need me to tell you anymore

looks like your philosophy is "I don't like it so it must be dodgy!" Any uni study would have it's methodology of survey explained. Try reading it, then you can point out the mistakes that they made, even possibly with some credence.

[whybother]

A little bit more convincing than anecdotes, from 2006

Thaksin May Reap From Pro-poor Policies

By Marwaan Macan-Markar

<snip>

Research by the World Bank reflects this sense of achievement at the grassroots. Four years after the TRT was first voted to power, Thais living in poverty had dropped to 7.08 million people from the 13 million in 2000.

<snip>(END)

Any possiblity this had something to do with the increasing global economy during the time that Thaksin was PM?

[RickBradford]

I hope the bad guy stop killing solider again and again, just like yesterday.

And I wish the Thai press (Daily News) would not splash a huge and graphic photograph of the soldier lying dead on a bench, while other soldiers walk by.

Perhaps the Thai attitude towards violent death could do with some alteration.

Edited April 29, 2010 by RickBradford

[jamieson]

Both BBC and CNN have said that the soldier that died was shot from behind in the head by police forces.

man to man , it is mostly done from behind, the monk -position is not possible.

Edited April 29, 2010 by jamieson

[clockworkorange]

Disregard my previous statement, looks like another botched operation for the police. My bad for reading the nation.

Apparently the red shirt leader whatsisname even managed to get away and back to Rajprasong. Why do the CRES guys just keep making premature / outright wrong statements so that they can then be prove wrong and made to look like morons?

The Nation doesn't seem to have an editor these days - don't believe anything you read in it.

And yes, the CRES do appear to be a buch of incompetent morons. They have lost control of the situation.

[clockworkorange]

I was answering to your post before you edit it. You will wait for apologies....I can not see why I should apologize.

Because you made a knee-jerk assumption that turned out to be completely false, and used it to refute others who turned out to be correct.

[jamieson]

I hope the bad guy stop killing solider again and again, just like yesterday.

And I wish the Thai press (Daily News) would not splash a huge and graphic photograph of the soldier lying dead on a bench, while other soldiers walk by.

Perhaps the Thai attitude towards violent death could do with some alteration.

yes, he deserves better - a 21 gun salute , a full parade at the democracy monument with all primary colors, an eulogy chronicling the man's life, his duty to the thai nation......(the list is too long). sorry.

let's watch more videos up-dates from all first-hand sources here, first.

Edited April 29, 2010 by jamieson

[OzMick]

TAN Network: Soldiers back away from further confrontation allowing reds to return to Ratchprasong

that might sound like a bad call but these boys will go back to the others and tell them just how scary that confrontation was and there will be less reds returning to the site tomorrow

they won't be quite so cocky either.....

'they won't be quite so cocky either'.... facing live ammo and rubber bullets with nothing more than a few homemade fireworks is not cocky. Its being prepared to die for what you believe in. Another one never been north of Don Muang Airport

Actually it is either being incredibly ignorant or brainwashed by the constant violent rhetoric of your leaders.

It is one thing to die for your cause if you can advance it but it is another thing to give your life stupidly as people did in Guyana (Jim Jones)

It is never wise to fight a war you cannot win and going up against the army with sharpened sticks knowing they will fire on you when you get with in 30 meters....

There will be no advancement to their cause if they give their life under these circumstances and there will be little sympathy for them either. And they certainly will not be around later to fight or advance their cause.

But it will help to show Darwin was right. Not to sound cold blooded but you have to wonder what this world would be like if we didn't interfere with natural selection ... not so much in terms of caring for those with sickly genes that reproduce but continuing to take care of the ignorant and violent people who are more prone to produce more ignorant and violent off spring.

If we are talking about violent offspring the spoilt brat who ran his merc into an inoffensive bus stop comes to mind. Think his dad was from the current crop of ruling classes. Or the the other violent offspring who shot a policeman dead in a nightclub...forgot who his dad was. Just making the point that violence exists in all levels of society...not just in the poor.

"who shot a policeman dead in a nightclub...forgot who his dad was" Obviously forgot! His dad is Chalerm, leader of the PTP, currently missing in action in singapore (?) If the reds succeed, this could be the next PM, will probably take Minister of Justice as well.

Add a little spice; his murderous b@st@rd returned from being AWOL from his national service, and Samak had him re-appointed as a Lt, no penalties involved.

[Tingnongnoi]

If we are talking about violent offspring the spoilt brat who ran his merc into an inoffensive bus stop comes to mind. Think his dad was from the current crop of ruling classes. Or the the other violent offspring who shot a policeman dead in a nightclub...forgot who his dad was. Just making the point that violence exists in all levels of society...not just in the poor.

"who shot a policeman dead in a nightclub...forgot who his dad was" Obviously forgot! His dad is Chalerm, leader of the PTP, currently missing in action in singapore (?) If the reds succeed, this could be the next PM, will probably take Minister of Justice as well.

Add a little spice; his murderous b@st@rd returned from being AWOL from his national service, and Samak had him re-appointed as a Lt, no penalties involved.

Chalerm is back in town

[elbeau]

Ah, so the army do use live ammunition despite all the lame denials.

What lame denials? After April 10th (on the 11th I believe) the military said that some soldiers had fired live ammunition after the grenade attack that killed their commander. And yesterday or day before the army announced new rules of engagement that included the use of live rounds.

the classic book , "called to arms" comes to mind.

will airports close in thailand when a full scale war start?

[Motoon]

-- The Nation

Police confiscated 63 M-79 grenades from a motorcycle during a search on Vibhavadi Rangsit road on Wednesday.

Police stopped a motorcycle at a checkpoint set up after red shirts protesters clashed with troops on the road. Driver of the vehicle stopped as ordered but managed to run away.

Police then searched the vehicle and confiscated a total of 63 M-79 grenades from the vehicle.

It is still unclear how the explosives were packed.

Also found were documents of Pol Sgt Pratya Maneekote of Patum Thani's Kukot district.

Police could not say whether the drive was the sergeant.

[newsfooter][/newsfooter]

Morons. They managed to let the guy flee. On foot. On an elevated expressway. Aren't situation like this one precisely why policemen get issued guns? Fortunately the guy was even more of a moron and left his papers behind. At least this will decrease the stock of M79 grenades ready to be tossed around Bangkok.

I don't believe this was staged: it looks too much like sheer stupidity at work.

How do you hide or even carry 63 grenades on a motorcycle? Where would you put them? How can a driver run away and get away?

Investigative reporters of the Nation please do your homework and at least make your stories half believable.

The Nation article said "no details available on how the grenades were stored" or words to that effect. Late model Waves have an under-seat storage to carry a helmet; the M-79 grenade is 40mm diameter x 46mm long (?) Can you fit 63 under a seat? I don't know, do you?

There are several models with under seat storage. You're right about the size of the grenade. A wrapped pack of 30 grenades is 240X200X50mm, not that big, and 2 packs can easily be carried in a bag.

[elbeau]

I hope peace will come to Thailand.

I hope the bad guy stop killing solider again and again, just like yesterday.

do you mean killing "others" again and again by the bad guy is ok?

[elbeau]

Police confiscated 63 M-79 grenades from a motorcycle during a search on Vibhavadi Rangsit road on Wednesday.

Police stopped a motorcycle at a checkpoint set up after red shirts protesters clashed with troops on the road. Driver of the vehicle stopped as ordered but managed to run away.

Police then searched the vehicle and confiscated a total of 63 M-79 grenades from the vehicle.

It is still unclear how the explosives were packed.

Also found were documents of Pol Sgt Pratya Maneekote of Patum Thani's Kukot district.

could it be the sgt'S motorbike was hijacked by someone and the sgt. was dumped somewhere on the highway?

doubt the sgt would have run from the scene when he met his buddies from the police .

How do you hide or even carry 63 grenades on a motorcycle? Where would you put them? How can a driver run away and get away?

Investigative reporters of the Nation please do your homework and at least make your stories half believable.

the M-79 grenade is 40mm diameter x 46mm long (?) Can you fit 63 under a seat? I don't know, do you?

There are several models with under seat storage. You're right about the size of the grenade. A wrapped pack of 30 grenades is 240X200X50mm, not that big, and 2 packs can easily be carried in a bag.