Hundreds Jailed By 'fake' Bomb Detectors In Thai South

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Focus

Hundreds jailed by 'fake' bomb detectors in Thai south

by Aidan Jones

Yala, Thailand, Sept 13, 2012 (AFP) - Implicated by the wand of a "bogus" bomb detector, Hassan became one of hundreds detained in Thailand's insurgency-racked south because of equipment that experts say is useless.

Scandal over the Thai army's use of the GT200 detectors has deepened rancour towards the authorities in the Muslim-majority border region, where nearly 5,300 people have died in an eight-year conflict that shows no sign of abating.

Human rights activists say more than 400 people have been locked up -- some for up to two years -- on the basis of spurious evidence gleaned by the device, which is at the centre of a British fraud probe.

"I was playing football at my school when someone shot at soldiers nearby," said Hassan, who was held for 29 days without charge over the 2008 incident in Yala province -- a hot-bed of violence.

"The soldiers entered the school looking for the gunman. They lined us up and used the GT200. The antenna pointed to me... and they took me away," he added, asking for his identity to be withheld because he fears reprisals for speaking out over his detention.

Billed as being able to detect minute traces of explosives, gun powder and even drugs, the GT200 is the army's main detection tool.

The hand-held device, which is claimed to be powered by the user's static electricity rather than a battery, is advertised as using a substance-detecting "sensor card" inside a plastic handle to trigger a twitch of its antenna in the direction of explosives.

Evidence debunking the powers of the GT200 -- sold by Britain-based Global Technical Ltd -- has long been in circulation, with experts describing it as little more than a radio aerial stuck on a useless piece of plastic despite the company's claims that it can detect explosives from hundreds of metres away.

In July the man behind the GT200 was charged in Britain with "dishonestly representing" the device as "capable of detecting explosives".

Several other British businessmen are awaiting trial for selling similarly defunct equipment around the world -- including to Iraq.

A Thai government probe concluded the device works only 25 percent of the time, a success rate critics attribute to nothing more than random chance.

"Tossing a coin would be more accurate," said Angkhana Neelapaijit, of the Justice for Peace foundation, which uncovered the scandal.

"People in the south knew the GT200 was fake from the first time it was used" in 2007, she said. "But the Thai authorities refused to listen... all trust in the government and army has been lost."

Thailand's highest investigating agency is now mulling legal action against Global Technical and its Thai distributors.

But the powerful military has refused to concede it was duped over its rumoured $20 million acquisition, or apologise to those held in what rights groups say is a flagrant miscarriage of justice.

Hassan said he was threatened and interrogated in detention and forced to point out friends from a school photograph.

Among them was Ayub who said he was arrested with no further evidence and held for two years before he was freed without a conviction or an apology.

"I'm so angry. They took two years away from me but I am scared it can happen again," Ayub told AFP, also asking for his identity to be protected.

He said he now carries the stigma of having been accused of links to the militants, who are believed to want greater autonomy and kill both Buddhists and Muslims in near-daily bomb or gun attacks.

The Thai army refutes accusations of arbitrary detentions based on the faulty device.

"We found real evidence -- guns, weapons, grenades -- that's why we arrested them," Colonel Pramote Promin, deputy spokesman for the Internal Security Operations Command said, addressing the wider issue of detentions.

"It might be a hallucination but we found (weapons) many times. It might be a fluke or coincidence that it worked," he said, adding that the effectiveness could be "something above science".

Despite his endorsement, the army appears to have stopped mass round-ups of men for "wanding" by the device, which were commonplace between 2007 and 2010, according to locals in Yala and Pattani provinces.

But soldiers still check cars and roadsides with the device, raising fears its continued use is exposing the security forces -- and civilians they are supposed to protect -- to greater risks.

"It's a big scandal," said Jessada Denduangboripant, a biologist at Bangkok's Chulalongkorn University who was one of the first Thai experts to question the device.

He is sceptical that a probe by Thailand's top investigative body will apportion blame to the "powerful people" behind the purchase of the detector.

But as long as authorities refuse to admit fault, victims will continue to be denied justice, said Kaosar Aleemama of the Muslim Attorney Centre, which represents Hassan and Ayub.

"These people have never heard someone say 'I am sorry' for taking their freedom," she added. "It is an issue of human dignity."

-- (c) Copyright AFP 2012-09-13

[bobl]

Bit of a sensationalist headline, if you ask me. I highly doubt they were convicted or jailed solely on the strength of someone waving an antenna at them, fake or otherwise.

Ever heard of the placebo effect? Wave that thing at a group of people and pick up the one who looks like he's cracking walnuts with his butt, it's not rocket science it's psychology.

I'd like to see statistics on how many of those jailed by this fake detector were armed and/or in possession of explosives, drugs.

No, I'm not defending what's happening or saying that there's anything justifiable about it - just playing devil's advocate.

[ggold]

Bit of a sensationalist headline, if you ask me. I highly doubt they were convicted or jailed solely on the strength of someone waving an antenna at them, fake or otherwise.

Ever heard of the placebo effect? Wave that thing at a group of people and pick up the one who looks like he's cracking walnuts with his butt, it's not rocket science it's psychology.

I'd like to see statistics on how many of those jailed by this fake detector were armed and/or in possession of explosives, drugs.

No, I'm not defending what's happening or saying that there's anything justifiable about it - just playing devil's advocate.

So you think they would give honest detailed results on the effectiveness of a bogus device, when they won't admit the device is useless

Sent from my GT-P6200 using Thaivisa Connect App

[bobl]

So you think they would give honest detailed results on the effectiveness of a bogus device, when they won't admit the device is useless

If you'd signed off on a fake device and pocketed $xxx in graft money would you admit it was useless?

[chinook]

I want to see the BBC get their teeth into this.

[Thai at Heart]

And the merry go round of corruption turns and turns.........

[Sayonarax]

I want to see the BBC get their teeth into this.

They dont bother with trash news, thats more of fox thing.

[philw]

Bit of a sensationalist headline, if you ask me. I highly doubt they were convicted or jailed solely on the strength of someone waving an antenna at them, fake or otherwise.

Ever heard of the placebo effect? Wave that thing at a group of people and pick up the one who looks like he's cracking walnuts with his butt, it's not rocket science it's psychology.

I'd like to see statistics on how many of those jailed by this fake detector were armed and/or in possession of explosives, drugs.

No, I'm not defending what's happening or saying that there's anything justifiable about it - just playing devil's advocate.

Devils advocate in support of arbitrary arrests and long term detentions without trial by the Royal Thai Army ??

I'm not allowed to say what I think...

The device is joke that has destroyed Army credibility ( not there was much ) and the professional reputation of her with the weird hair do.

The corruption and moral bankruptcy of all concerned is frighteningly blatent.

[chinook]

I want to see the BBC get their teeth into this.

They dont bother with trash news, thats more of fox thing.

I want to see the BBC get their teeth into this.

They dont bother with trash news, thats more of fox thing.

you gotta be trolling!!

[h90]

Bit of a sensationalist headline, if you ask me. I highly doubt they were convicted or jailed solely on the strength of someone waving an antenna at them, fake or otherwise.

Ever heard of the placebo effect? Wave that thing at a group of people and pick up the one who looks like he's cracking walnuts with his butt, it's not rocket science it's psychology.

I'd like to see statistics on how many of those jailed by this fake detector were armed and/or in possession of explosives, drugs.

No, I'm not defending what's happening or saying that there's anything justifiable about it - just playing devil's advocate.

Devils advocate in support of arbitrary arrests and long term detentions without trial by the Royal Thai Army ??

I'm not allowed to say what I think...

The device is joke that has destroyed Army credibility ( not there was much ) and the professional reputation of her with the weird hair do.

The corruption and moral bankruptcy of all concerned is frighteningly blatent.

Well the Army has still the highest credibility in Thailand.....mainly because all other have no credibility at all.

I fully understand that such mistakes happen. But I do not understand why they can't admit it.

[Sayonarax]

No more then I normally do, chinook.

[chotthee]

Wiki:

2008 clashes between police and the Peoples Alliance for Democracy resulted in several serious injuries, but much confusion as to whether the injuries were caused by police tear gas grenades or improvised explosive devices carried by the protesters. Pornthip used a GT200 device to conclude that the protester injuries were not caused by IEDs and concluded that faulty tear gas grenades caused the injuries, leading to the removal from office of the national police chief.

In the early months of the Democrat-led government of Abhisit Vejjajiva, western news agencies broke the news that up to 1,000 Rohingya Muslim refugees from Myanmar had been captured by the Thai Navy, beaten, then towed out to sea without engines or navigational aids and with little food and water. The scandal and subsequent government cover-up sparked global criticism of the Thai military and Abhisit. The Thai military asked Pornthip to investigate some refugee boats that had landed on Thailand's Andaman coast. Pornthip found "substances and chemicals found that can be used in explosives" in one of the boats, leading the military to link the refugees to Islamic insurgency in the South of Thailand. She did not reveal what devices or techniques she had used to detect the substances.

When news of the fraudulent nature of the GT200 devices became public in 2010, Pornthip defended the use of the devices, even if they were proven ineffective. She noted, “I do not feel embarrassed if the bomb detector is proven ineffective. Personally, I have never handled the device myself. But my people have used it and it is accurate every time. Long long time ago, people believed that the Earth is flat and anyone who said otherwise faced execution. Things which are not visible does not necessarily mean they do not exist.” As of March 2011, an official English language translation of Dr. Pornthip's autobiography, containing her side of her life story and most famous cases is currently being reviewed for publication from Singapore.

[Thai at Heart]

I think I will produce a similar device that detects corrupt people.

I wonder who I can flog it to in Thailand?

[BookMan]

It might be a hallucination but we found (weapons) many times. It might be a fluke or coincidence that it worked," he said, adding that the effectiveness could be "something above science".

Well, if it is proven scientifically not to work...why not just make up the effectiveness in your head?

[chrisinth]

If the people have been detained (interned?) on evidence obtained by equipment which has been proven to be ineffective in its operation, then each and every case should be reviewed.

I agree with bobi's comments above and would also like to see how many have been locked up soley on evidence produced by the GT-200; the quoted figure of 400+ sounds high to me.

I do know that I would be extremely p1ssed off if I was included in that number knowing I had done nothing wrong.

[Thai at Heart]

If the people have been detained (interned?) on evidence obtained by equipment which has been proven to be ineffective in its operation, then each and every case should be reviewed.

I agree with bobi's comments above and would also like to see how many have been locked up soley on evidence produced by the GT-200; the quoted figure of 400+ sounds high to me.

I do know that I would be extremely p1ssed off if I was included in that number knowing I had done nothing wrong.

How many were simply locked up without ever seeing the inside of a court room? Beyond that, if they did, what were the judges doing not asking some questions about the device?

[chrisinth]

I think I will produce a similar device that detects corrupt people.

I wonder who I can flog it to in Thailand?

You could re-invent the stick and walk into government house. Success rate should be somewhere in the high 90's. Good base before you advertise...............

[Thai at Heart]

I think I will produce a similar device that detects corrupt people.

I wonder who I can flog it to in Thailand?

You could re-invent the stick and walk into government house. Success rate should be somewhere in the high 90's. Good base before you advertise...............

But it costs 800k a pop. Sure I can find someone honest to buy it????

[FarangTalk]

The device has been proven to be bogus and they will never admit they were conned.

Just watching them squirm and look like complete idiots has given me some pleasure.

But they are still using the device! Their arrogance and incompetence knows no bounds!

[JoeLing]

...... "It might be a hallucination but we found (weapons) many times.'

" ......., adding that the effectiveness could be "something above science"

On mushrooms practicing vodoo?

[FarangTalk]

The GT200 is used extensively in Thailand.^[27] Reportedly, some 818 GT200 units were procured by Thai public bodies since 2004. These include 535 bought by the Royal Thai Army for use combating the South Thailand insurgency and another 222 for use in other areas, 50 purchased by the Royal Thai Police for use in Police Region 4 (Khon Kaen), 6 bought by the Central Institute of Forensic Science, 6 by the Customs Department, 4 by the Royal Thai Air Force and 1 by Chai Nat police.^[28] Other agencies such as the Border Patrol Police Bureau and the Office of the Narcotics Control Board use a similar device, the Alpha 6, procured from another company.^[27] According to the Bangkok Post, the Royal Thai Air Force first procured the GT200 to detect explosives and drugs at airports, followed by the army in 2006.^[29] According to Lt Gen Daopong Rattansuwan, the Deputy Chief of Staff of the Royal Thai Army, each GT200 bought by the army cost 900,000 baht (£17,000/$27,000), rising to 1.2 million baht (£22,000/$36,000) if 21 "sensor cards" were included with it.^[27] In total, Thailand's government and security forces have spent between 800–900 million baht ($21 million) on the devices.^[7]

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/GT200

[hellodolly]

What gets me is that not only will the southern Muslims reveal the presence of who the terroists are out of fear of reprisa. They can now not report soldier's abusing them out of fear of reprisal.

The following is a exert fron the article.

""The soldiers entered the school looking for the gunman. They lined us up and used the GT200. The antenna pointed to me... and they took me away," he added, asking for his identity to be withheld because he fears reprisals for speaking out over his detention."

[hellodolly]

Wiki:

2008 clashes between police and the Peoples Alliance for Democracy resulted in several serious injuries, but much confusion as to whether the injuries were caused by police tear gas grenades or improvised explosive devices carried by the protesters. Pornthip used a GT200 device to conclude that the protester injuries were not caused by IEDs and concluded that faulty tear gas grenades caused the injuries, leading to the removal from office of the national police chief.

In the early months of the Democrat-led government of Abhisit Vejjajiva, western news agencies broke the news that up to 1,000 Rohingya Muslim refugees from Myanmar had been captured by the Thai Navy, beaten, then towed out to sea without engines or navigational aids and with little food and water. The scandal and subsequent government cover-up sparked global criticism of the Thai military and Abhisit. The Thai military asked Pornthip to investigate some refugee boats that had landed on Thailand's Andaman coast. Pornthip found "substances and chemicals found that can be used in explosives" in one of the boats, leading the military to link the refugees to Islamic insurgency in the South of Thailand. She did not reveal what devices or techniques she had used to detect the substances.

When news of the fraudulent nature of the GT200 devices became public in 2010, Pornthip defended the use of the devices, even if they were proven ineffective. She noted, “I do not feel embarrassed if the bomb detector is proven ineffective. Personally, I have never handled the device myself. But my people have used it and it is accurate every time. Long long time ago, people believed that the Earth is flat and anyone who said otherwise faced execution. Things which are not visible does not necessarily mean they do not exist.” As of March 2011, an official English language translation of Dr. Pornthip's autobiography, containing her side of her life story and most famous cases is currently being reviewed for publication from Singapore.

I believed and still do believe Abhist was and is still the best man for the job. I do how ever not like him and his handling of those barges was one of the reasons I dislike him. Just turning it over to the army who were the instigators and guilty of caring out the deed is like giving the key for the hen house to the fox to guard the chickens.

[Morgo]

I think I will produce a similar device that detects corrupt people.

I wonder who I can flog it to in Thailand?

What about a propeller device to increase river/canal water flow, reckon they would go for that, or has that already been thought of?

[FarangTalk]

I believed and still do believe Abhist was and is still the best man for the job. I do how ever not like him and his handling of those barges was one of the reasons I dislike him. Just turning it over to the army who were the instigators and guilty of caring out the deed is like giving the key for the hen house to the fox to guard the chickens.

Abhisit initially defended the GT200 device then when it was proven to be a fraud he said it was entirely an Army issue for them to deal with.

Too weak to condemn the military, too ineffectual to seek recompense against those that sanctioned the purchase but not stupid or arrogant enough to deny the device is bogus.

[fstarbkk]

I think I will produce a similar device that detects corrupt people.

I wonder who I can flog it to in Thailand?

Not sure about the marketing strategy here. But if pointed the thing at a radom group of politicians or policemen and rigged the thing to flag all of them as corrupt, your device would probably be proved 97.6% correct.

[Nisa]

Bit of a sensationalist headline, if you ask me. I highly doubt they were convicted or jailed solely on the strength of someone waving an antenna at them, fake or otherwise.

Ever heard of the placebo effect? Wave that thing at a group of people and pick up the one who looks like he's cracking walnuts with his butt, it's not rocket science it's psychology.

I'd like to see statistics on how many of those jailed by this fake detector were armed and/or in possession of explosives, drugs.

No, I'm not defending what's happening or saying that there's anything justifiable about it - just playing devil's advocate.

I agree. I am sure people were wrongly initially arrested or interrogated because of the device but a court would never continue to hold over a person in jail solely on this device or the scent of a dog or a person ... there would need to be some actual (such as physical) evidence.

[SunSeek01]

They had them in Iraq. Basically a shoe box with a coat hanger stuck in it. Not too comfy standing outside your armored SUV at a checkpoint while illiterate police wave the thing around and not a dog in site. I think Iraq spent about 60 million on them, probably mostly US tax money.

[nidieunimaitre]

Bit of a sensationalist headline, if you ask me. I highly doubt they were convicted or jailed solely on the strength of someone waving an antenna at them, fake or otherwise.

Ever heard of the placebo effect? Wave that thing at a group of people and pick up the one who looks like he's cracking walnuts with his butt, it's not rocket science it's psychology.

I'd like to see statistics on how many of those jailed by this fake detector were armed and/or in possession of explosives, drugs.

No, I'm not defending what's happening or saying that there's anything justifiable about it - just playing devil's advocate.

I agree. I am sure people were wrongly initially arrested or interrogated because of the device but a court would never continue to hold over a person in jail solely on this device or the scent of a dog or a person ... there would need to be some actual (such as physical) evidence.

In Thailand?

[Exsexyman]

Bit of a sensationalist headline, if you ask me. I highly doubt they were convicted or jailed solely on the strength of someone waving an antenna at them, fake or otherwise.

Ever heard of the placebo effect? Wave that thing at a group of people and pick up the one who looks like he's cracking walnuts with his butt, it's not rocket science it's psychology.

I'd like to see statistics on how many of those jailed by this fake detector were armed and/or in possession of explosives, drugs.

No, I'm not defending what's happening or saying that there's anything justifiable about it - just playing devil's advocate.

I agree. I am sure people were wrongly initially arrested or interrogated because of the device but a court would never continue to hold over a person in jail solely on this device or the scent of a dog or a person ... there would need to be some actual (such as physical) evidence.

The people who were banged up were Muslims, so they were fair game. Different rules apply. No evidence needed here, Muslims are the enemy. Never mind evidence, most people are brainwashed to hate them anyway. No wonder Western Embassy's are on full alert. Thailand is just doing as they are told, anyone who thinks that Asian countries who are allied to the US have any independent foreign policy are living in cloud cuckoo land! They do as they are told. Not just Asian countries either, The UK may as well not have a Foreign Office, they do as they are told too!. And people wonder why these people hate us! Jeez! It's not rocket science!