Thailand to buy 20,000 guns

From correspondents in Bangkok

October 25, 2005

THAILAND'S cabinet Tuesday approved spending almost $US16 million ($A21 million) on more than 20,000 M-16 rifles for its security forces operating in the restive southern provinces, a government spokesman said.

Deputy government spokesman Danuphorn Punnakanta said the Thai cabinet on Tuesday approved the purchase of 21,893 M-16 A4 rifles.

"The rifles will be sent to soldiers in the development and environment protection units in those three southernmost provinces" of Narathiwat, Pattani and Yala which border Malaysia, Mr Danuphorn said.

The cabinet had given initial approval for the purchase in July, in a classified document authorising a three-year special defence budget of $US66 million for the guns as well as seven US-made attack helicopters.

Nearly 1000 people have been killed in the Muslim-majority southern provinces since the bombings, shootings and arson attacks began in January 2004.

Analysts and authorities blame the almost daily attacks in the region on Islamic separatists, organised criminals and local corruption.

http://www.theaustralian.news.com.au/commo...55E1702,00.html

Gearing up for a turkey shoot?

Have all these 20,000 soldiers been there all this time WITHOUT weapons??? Is that normal procedure for the Army?

Still... have to wonder about the allocations of precious tax dollars while all sides work to find a viable solution as 653,679,992.68 Baht is a whole lot of resource to spend on weapons.

It's very sad news indeed!

Edited October 25, 200520 yr by Lesley

Have all these 20,000 soldiers been there all this time WITHOUT weapons???  Is that normal procedure for the Army?

Nah, they probably just ran out of bullets.

I`m surprised that they didn`t ring Bill Gates up and ask him if he had any second hand cheaper ones.

I had a AR-15 Delta H-Bar

man i'd hate to be hit be a .223, its an evil round

Edited October 25, 200520 yr by Nam Kao

I had a AR-15 Delta H-Bar

  man i'd hate to be hit be a .223, its an evil round

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7.62X29mm Tokarev round is worse IMHO.

From .22 to 20mm, few would be classified as good to be hit by.

cv

Not a particular bargain for that quantity at around $730 per piece. Looks like someone is making some money on the side, around $100 per rifle.

What's your favoutie?

Which bullet would you rather be shot with???????!!!!!!!!!

What's your favoutie?

Which bullet would you rather be shot with???????!!!!!!!!!

plastic suction cup dart , ping pong ball , foam ball etc etc....

THE GOVT. TO BUY MORE THAN 20,000 M16 RIFLES

The Cabinet yesterday endorsed the purchases of 21,893 “5.56mm M16 A4 assault rifles” without engaging in counter trade and barter trade projects.

Deputy Government Spokesman DANUPHORN PUNNAKANTA (ดนุพร ปุณณกันต์) said the Cabinet approved the proposal made by the Ministry of Interior in purchasing the M16 rifles, which would be worth 637.5 million baht in total. The procurement will be under the United States’ Foreign Military Sales (FMS) programme, in which the trade will not be profit-oriented.

The Cabinet also endorsed the use of the FMS method to buy the combat helicopters.

Source: thaisnews.com ประจำวันพุธที่ 26 ตุลาคม 2548

making some money on the side?

In Thailand?

At gouverment?

Under our great leader Taxin?

No, no you must be wrong, thats impossible......

Can not be....

Not a particular bargain for that quantity at around $730 per piece. Looks like someone is making some money on the side, around $100 per rifle.

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

Not a particular bargain for that quantity at around $730 per piece. Looks like someone is making some money on the side, around $100 per rifle.

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

I'll Say !

They should have come to, er, never mind.

(how about brand new AK's for $300 a pop ?)

Are people allowed to make money on the side when the government is procuring ne weapons or for that matter anything else?

I know it happens in most western countries but Thailand is a good Buddhist country.

Can someone explain this system?

Is it transparent?

Is it honest?

you missunderstand that!

You think it is corruption (what an ugly word).

It is not!

The gun salesguy is getting a lot of pressure from his boss. And the kind thai gouverments purchase, is trying to help this guy in trouble.

Actually this poor gouverments guy, has big problems, too. These hugh privat investments, one villa here, one new BMW there, one more project and so on.

So this nice american salesguy try to help him, too with some funds, which are of course not related with the purchase of the guns, but as his boss is now happy after making this deal he can ask him for a small gift (maybe 2.000.000 US$) for his customer. And the also kind boss approves that.

No corruption, just good buddhists (are the US gun-sales also buddhists??), who try to help each other.

Are people allowed to make money on the side when the government is procuring ne weapons or for that matter anything else?

I know it happens in most western countries but Thailand is a good Buddhist country.

Can someone explain this system?

Is it transparent?

Is it honest?

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

What's your favoutie?

Which bullet would you rather be shot with???????!!!!!!!!!

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

plastic suction cup dart , ping pong ball , foam ball etc etc....

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

I concur!!!!

Looks like a bit of a bloodbath coming up down south eh? Surprising the number of villagers up here you reckon the govt ought to give the whole area back to the Malays. I suppose most of the area is owned by influential people in Bangkok and as long as they get some compensation they'll be happy. After all the three potentially well off provinces are not the poorest in the country for nothing. The joint has been sucked dry for a long time now and most of the profits don't end up in local hands anyway. The southerners have got to somehow put a figure on the table and give the present owners (Bkk) a sniff of cash and there'll be an amicable solution to all this nonsense.

Looks like a bit of a bloodbath coming up down south eh?

I think it really is just an excuse to make even more graft money on future contracts. The whole purpose of upgrading to the A4 model is for the Generals to be in a position to argue that now the Army needs the accessories that can attach to the A4 model that can't be attached to the older M16 versions more commonly found in Thailand.

Expect to see future contracts for the likes of EO-Tech scopes and other luxury macho gun accessories that the average Thai soldier has no need of. Sort of a mini-version of the aircraft carrier.

Chaiyo!

Buy weapons, lose weapons, buy weapons, lose weapons, it's a

never-ending cycle apparently:

SOUTHERN UNREST: Militants raid guns in raids

Published on October 27, 2005

Almost two dozen outposts hit in coordinated attacks across deep South; 5 die in gunbattles. Militants launched a series of simultaneous raids on security outposts in the three southernmost provinces last night, killing four people and injuring two others. They also snatched some 42 guns, the largest number of firearms to be seized by insurgents in one operation since the January 4, 2004 raid on the Narathiwat Rajanakharin army camp.

This can only make the Muslims in the South feel more secure... right??

PATTANI GOVERNOR PROPOSES TO REWARD 20,000 BAHT A RIFLE TO PERSON WHO GIVES HINT TO STOLEN GUNS LAST NIGHT

PATTANI (ปัตตานี) Governor PHANU UTHAIRAT (ภาณุ อุทัยรัตน์) proposes to reward 20,000 baht a rifle to anybody who can tip authorities off, leading to the return of government guns stolen in the southern border provinces last night (26th October 2005).

Following the robberies of arms from local security officers in many areas of PATTANI Province last night, Mr. PHANU mentioned that a total of 35 guns were stolen in the incidents. Therefore, the province sets a prize of 20,000 baht per gun to persons who give a clue to the stolen guns from.

The PATTANI Governor added that the incidents took place while the Muslim locals left home to perform their religious practice, despite the preparedness of authorities to prevent the unrest situation. Therefore, Mr. PHANU asked for cooperation from locals to provide authorities with a hint of suspected behaviours at all time.

Source: thaisnews.com ประจำวันพฤหัสบดีที่ 27 ตุลาคม 2548

INTERIOR MINISTER TO GO DOWN TO NARATHIWAT TO INQUIRE ON GUN ROBBERY

Interior Minister Kongsak Wanthana (คงศักดิ์ วันทนา) is preparing to travel down to Narathiwat Province to inquire on the progress of investigation concerning the defense volunteers' gun robbery case.

Air Chief Marshal KONGSAK WANTHANA (คงศักดิ์ วันทนา) said he will go down to Narathiwat province tomorrow to inquire on the progression in the cases where assasilants robbed village defense volunteers in Su_gnai Padi (สุไหงปาดี) district of their guns. The Interior Minister noted that the occurence have allowed him to be informed about the weakness in the southern region, where most defense workers have to perform mass everyday, and this provided a loophole for insurgents to take advantage of.

The Interior Minister said intelligence units have received warnings, but it was not possible to prevent all incidents.

Source: thaisnews.com ประจำวันพฤหัสบดีที่ 27 ตุลาคม 2548

Buy weapons, lose weapons, buy weapons, lose weapons, it's a

never-ending cycle apparently:

SOUTHERN UNREST: Militants raid guns in raids

And people say there's not enough recycling in Thailand.

Could anyone have any economic interest in this backdoor activity?

Just askin'.

jb

I spent two years dealing with islamic extremists, terrorists, murderers whatever you want to call them. You can't negotiate, you can't understand, you can't pay them off (ask Spain and Saudi Arabia) you can't ignore them. What can you do? You kill them, and you keep killing them until the price becomes to high for them. If they keep coming, then you kill them again. They will kill you, children, old people and even their own-they will blow up schools, churches and even their own mosques. What is victory? When they are destroyed. Thailand, Land of Smiles, now faces that problem. If you ignor it they will become stronger. Destroy them now.

I spent two years dealing with islamic extremists, terrorists, murderers whatever you want to call them.  You can't negotiate, you can't understand, you can't pay them off (ask Spain and Saudi Arabia) you can't ignore them.  What can you do?  You kill them, and you keep killing them until the price becomes to high for them.  If they keep coming, then you kill them again.  They will kill you, children, old people and even their own-they will blow up schools, churches and even their own mosques.  What is victory?  When they are destroyed.  Thailand, Land of Smiles, now faces that problem.  If you ignor it they will become stronger.  Destroy them now.

You're talking about the terrorists specificly aren't you? Not a whole group of people?

cv

What's your favoutie?

Which bullet would you rather be shot with???????!!!!!!!!!

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

plastic suction cup dart , ping pong ball , foam ball etc etc....

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

Depends what weapon was used to fire the ping pong ball Stu.

I think its the people (whole group of people) who protect the terrorist.

For example, mothers who block the road while 2 marines are tourtured and killed.

I hope these groups of people enjoy reading about the 5.56mm, semi/fully automatic, air cooled, gas operated rifle capable of hitting a target effectively at 400 meters.

Maybe they will keep their kids at home and not attacking Buddhist temples.

20,000 more rifles is the governments answer to the southern problem.

Maybe they need to put a revolving door on the Malaysian border for the thousands will be running for their lives as the Thai government runs out of patience.

The terrorists are hoping to create panic, rash actions, and unthinking responses to achive an effect of alienating southern muslims from the rest of Thailand. I'm sure if they were here they'd thank you for helping towards achiving their goals.

People who over-react and make statements like the above are every terrorist's dream.

cv