No Soldiers Given Shoot-To-Kill Orders : Thai Gen Anupong

[webfact]

MAY CRISIS

No soldiers given shoot-to-kill orders : Gen Anupong

By The Nation

Abhisit links explosives defused to upcoming red-shirt rally

Army commander General Anupong Paochinda said yesterday that no soldiers deployed during the redshirt rally in May were ordered to shoot indiscriminately, and vowed to take responsibility if there was any proof that shoottokill orders had ever been given.

"No orders had ever been issued to soldiers to shoot indiscriminately at the protestors. More than half of the soldiers [deployed during the protests] are from the Northeast and are well aware of the [rightful] order to perform their duties," he added.

The outgoing Army chief said it was not right for people to jump to the conclusion that all deaths during the protests resulted from soldiers' acts, since there was no scientific evidence or trajectory results to indicate that the deaths were cause by soldiers.

Meanwhile, the explosives found planted at three locations in Bangkok and Nonthaburi on Wednesday were clearly made by the same group and the police already has some clues as to who this group might be, Pol General Panupong Singhara Na Ayutthaya said yesterday.

On Wednesday, bombs were defused at three locations - in front of Santirat Wittayalai School in Bangkok's Ratchathewi district; in the parking lot of the Mall Ngarmwongwan branch and the Public Health Ministry's car park in Nonthaburi province.

Panupong, who is also the national police chief's adviser, met police investigators and related officials yesterday and told reporters that judging from the components of the explosives and the way they were constructed, the investigating team was convinced it had been done by the same group of people.

All the explosives found were inside fire extinguishers and connected to electrical circuits that could be timed for up to a week, Panupong said, adding that police were looking for the origin of these tanks.

These incidents prompted national police chief Wichean Potephosree to beef up security for the public and thanked citizens for alerting the police about suspicious objects.

Though the objective behind these bombs remains unclear, Wichean said he believed that the intention was to cause panic and urged people to remain calm. He said the police force already had evidence and was closely inspecting the three sites, especially the Public Health Ministry's carpark because the security camera footage there might reveal suspects.

Meanwhile, Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva said the chaos was being caused by those with political motives. He said the authorities have realised that they need to be very careful for the next two weeks, referring to the upcoming redshirt rally on September 19. He also dismissed speculation that the government might be behind these bombs, saying the state had taken legal action against suspects involved in violent incidents and the public should be just to officials and allow them time to do their jobs.

Interior Minister Chaovarat Chanweerakul said the bomb planted in the carpark of The Mall Ngarmwongwan was meant to cause panic rather than kill anyone because it could be spotted easily.

Meanwhile, Deputy PM Suthep Thaugsuban, who is in charge of national security, said the bombs indicated that some group was trying to affect the country's peace and that he had instructed officials to tighten security. He also said that the Royal Thai Police would today present him with a security plan ahead of the September 19 rally.

He also said that the bombs found on Wednesday were not related to the bomb threat on a THAI flight to Los Angeles on Tuesday and had nothing to do with the Centre for the Resolution of the Emergency Situation reinforcing the state of emergency in Bangkok and its vicinity.

Meanwhile, Pheu Thai MP and redshirt leader Jatuporn Promphan said he condemned those behind the bombs because they wanted the emergency decree to continue and obstruct chances of a national election.

In related news, Department of Special Investigation (DSI) chief Tharit Pengdit said he had signed indictment papers for six suspects involved in the bombing near the Bhum Jai Thai party headquarters on June 22. The suspects were charged for making, possessing and detonating a bomb as well as acts of terrorism. Late yesterday afternoon, DSI officials were meant to hand the case over to Special Case public prosecutors.

The six suspects are Anek Singkhunthod, who was injured when the bomb went off, Suriya Bhumwong, Dejphol Phutthajong, Khamphol Khamkhong, Kobchai Boonplod and Warisriya Boonsom.

-- The Nation 2010-09-10

[SamritT]

He has forgotten about the "LIFE FIRING AREA" he declared in Bangkok, has he?

[rubl]

He has forgotten about the "LIFE FIRING AREA" he declared in Bangkok, has he?

He said "no soldiers deployed during the redshirt rally in May were ordered to shoot indiscriminately".

[SamritT]

"Do not shoot indiscriminately; just only shoot those Red-shirt bast*rds".

[cardholder]

He has forgotten about the "LIFE FIRING AREA" he declared in Bangkok, has he?

That was OK.

Plenty of warning given, everyone one knew the risks if they breached that area.

[orangezeke]

He has forgotten about the "LIFE FIRING AREA" he declared in Bangkok, has he?

That was OK.

Plenty of warning given, everyone one knew the risks if they breached that area.

by that reasoning the the tiananmen square massacre was justified. the 28 september massacre was just fine. the 2007 suppression of the burma riots was simply a police exercise and even the death toll in fallujah can be rationalised.

at any rate, the generals statement is ridiculous. he 'vowed to take responsibility if there was any proof that shoottokill orders had ever been given' when that is exactly what live fire zones were. on may 14, 2010, the government's Center for the Resolution of the Emergency Situation (CRES) set out three rules governing when army troops and police may use live ammunition: as warning shots to deter demonstrators from moving in closer; for self-defense; and when forces have "[a] clear visual of terrorists." the third rule is contrary to international rules governing the use of lethal force during policing operations.

apparently it is not too early to start the rewrite of history.

[rubl]

at any rate, the generals statement is ridiculous. he 'vowed to take responsibility if there was any proof that shoottokill orders had ever been given' when that is exactly what live fire zones were. on may 14, 2010, the government's Center for the Resolution of the Emergency Situation (CRES) set out three rules governing when army troops and police may use live ammunition: as warning shots to deter demonstrators from moving in closer; for self-defense; and when forces have "[a] clear visual of terrorists." the third rule is contrary to international rules governing the use of lethal force during policing operations.

apparently it is not too early to start the rewrite of history.

Your explanation on rules of engagement may be correct, but I think things change a bit under the Emergency Decree. Also this had gone beyond a simple policing operation with militants shooting and 60+ grenades having been fired against police, army, innocents (remember the lady at BTS Saladaeng ?).

As for the general's statement, in Thailand politicians, police and army generals, colorful leaders tend to say ridiculous things. In Thai it may sound better than in English though.

[orangezeke]

at any rate, the generals statement is ridiculous. he 'vowed to take responsibility if there was any proof that shoottokill orders had ever been given' when that is exactly what live fire zones were. on may 14, 2010, the government's Center for the Resolution of the Emergency Situation (CRES) set out three rules governing when army troops and police may use live ammunition: as warning shots to deter demonstrators from moving in closer; for self-defense; and when forces have "[a] clear visual of terrorists." the third rule is contrary to international rules governing the use of lethal force during policing operations.

apparently it is not too early to start the rewrite of history.

Your explanation on rules of engagement may be correct, but I think things change a bit under the Emergency Decree. Also this had gone beyond a simple policing operation with militants shooting and 60+ grenades having been fired against police, army, innocents (remember the lady at BTS Saladaeng ?).

As for the general's statement, in Thailand politicians, police and army generals, colorful leaders tend to say ridiculous things. In Thai it may sound better than in English though.

thanks. allowances should be made for translation - you are right. it is also true that there is little to separate the role of a political and civil mouth piece here, sadly.

but we should keep in mind this is the army commander general, it can't hurt to hope for better from him. especially given so many were killed. saying things like 'he is a colourful leader' just lets him off the hook.

as for rules of engagement - i'm sorry but they don't change. international rules governing the use of lethal force aren't amended just because there is an emergency decree. thailand's decision to ignore them was simply a unilateral one. whether or not that decision was correct should be left up to more intelligent people than me - but if you are going to do that, come out and give clear reasons. don't hide behind "no orders had ever been issued..." and "no scientific evidence or trajectory results...".

[rubl]

at any rate, the generals statement is ridiculous. he 'vowed to take responsibility if there was any proof that shoottokill orders had ever been given' when that is exactly what live fire zones were. on may 14, 2010, the government's Center for the Resolution of the Emergency Situation (CRES) set out three rules governing when army troops and police may use live ammunition: as warning shots to deter demonstrators from moving in closer; for self-defense; and when forces have "[a] clear visual of terrorists." the third rule is contrary to international rules governing the use of lethal force during policing operations.

apparently it is not too early to start the rewrite of history.

Your explanation on rules of engagement may be correct, but I think things change a bit under the Emergency Decree. Also this had gone beyond a simple policing operation with militants shooting and 60+ grenades having been fired against police, army, innocents (remember the lady at BTS Saladaeng ?).

As for the general's statement, in Thailand politicians, police and army generals, colorful leaders tend to say ridiculous things. In Thai it may sound better than in English though.

thanks. allowances should be made for translation - you are right. it is also true that there is little to separate the role of a political and civil mouth piece here, sadly.

but we should keep in mind this is the army commander general, it can't hurt to hope for better from him. especially given so many were killed. saying things like 'he is a colourful leader' just lets him off the hook.

as for rules of engagement - i'm sorry but they don't change. international rules governing the use of lethal force aren't amended just because there is an emergency decree. thailand's decision to ignore them was simply a unilateral one. whether or not that decision was correct should be left up to more intelligent people than me - but if you are going to do that, come out and give clear reasons. don't hide behind "no orders had ever been issued..." and "no scientific evidence or trajectory results...".

With 'colorful leaders' I meant 'yellow, red, black, rainbow color type of shirt' leaders, not this particular general.