Stolen army rifles among weapons found at rubber plantation in the far South

Santhiti Koejitme,

Narong Nuansakul,

Nakarin Chinworakomon

The Nation on Sunday

NARATHIWAT: -- Thai security officials have seized six M16 rifles and 50 other items including an AKA rifle, a pistol, 382 bullets and 20kg of urea fertiliser, suspected to have been hidden by an insurgent cell led by Masae Hayidiyohdiya at a rubber plantation in Narathiwat's Jor Airong district.

Some 200 security officials searched the plantation in Tambon Bukit on Friday night and discovered four M16 rifles and above-mentioned items, buried in eight spots. Then a 6am search with a metal detector found another 50 bullets, a communication radio and a backpack.

Three out of the four M16s were confirmed as being among 400 guns stolen from a Narathiwat military camp on January 4, 2004. One of the two rifles seized yesterday in the second search was confirmed as stolen from Sungai Padi police corporal Adisaui Ume on May 16, 2003, said Lt Col Isara Janthakrayom, deputy chief of the 48th Ranger Division.

Issara said the seized items were linked to a group led by Masae Hayidiyohdiya, who was wanted for six violent attacks including the killing of teacher Chatsuda Nilsuwan of Ban Ta Ngo on December 3. He thanked people who tipped off authorities so they could retrieve the stolen weapons.

Issara said forensic officials would collect fingerprints and DNA samples from the seized items to determine if the weapons were used in any previous attack.

He said security officials believed the items were prepared by Russaran and fellow insurgents to launch violent attacks during the New Year holidays but Russaran had fortunately been arrested and these items seized.

The plantation search followed interrogation of suspected insurgent Russaran Salae, 35, who was arrested in Jor Airong on December 27.

In Yala's Muang district, soldiers set up checkpoints to look for five pickup trucks and one sedan that were stolen. It was suspected they might be used by insurgents in attacks during New Year break.

At 10.30am yesterday, Yala Governor Dethrat Simsiri presided over a campaign against violence in the far South, attended by 1,000 officials and locals at the Nakhon Yala Municipality Youth Centre. It was hosted by Yala Internal Security Operations Command.

-- The Nation 2012-12-30

Perhaps it would be more accurate to report that they had recovered weapons that had beeen sold rather than stolen.

Furthermore I fail to understand how DNA and fingerprinting can establish if a weapon was use in a specific attack. For such identification you need a ballistic matching.

Just more of the same inane comments strung together with little or no meaning or substance.

maybe they should also check to see if any were used in the 2010 riots just possible the insurgents could have been there

At least there's now a few less weapons the insurgents have access to

regardless of being bought, stolen, DNA'd, ballistic matched...etc.

Good job RTA Rangers.

Edited December 30, 201213 yr by sunshine51

But how can the poor insurgents defend themselves now against attacks by hungry tigers ?

Enemies Within their own Rank and File...Nice. Its easy to see without looking to hard that nothing is Sacred; except dying.b

It is oblivious the Government of Thailand does not seek peace, when money can be made off the life and death of their own sisters and brothers..

Edited December 30, 201213 yr by jerrysteve

maybe they should also check to see if any were used in the 2010 riots just possible the insurgents could have been there

Interesting theory. It would present an excellent opportunity for the insurgents (from the South) to commit their violence and stir things up while letting others take the blame. I doubt that it is the case, but they would have been very clever to use that chance. If I was the blindly brainwashed redshirt apologist that some evidently consider me to be, I would jump all over that theory, ie. the MIB and third parties were southern insurgents.

Edited December 30, 201213 yr by gatorsoft

Perhaps it would be more accurate to report that they had recovered weapons that had beeen sold rather than stolen.

Furthermore I fail to understand how DNA and fingerprinting can establish if a weapon was use in a specific attack. For such identification you need a ballistic matching.

Just more of the same inane comments strung together with little or no meaning or substance.

They already have many insurgents in custody. DNA and fingerprints from these detainees could through up a match. Although not reported well, try thinking through situations befor making rash statements.

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Posted Today, 15:51

Halion, on 2012-12-30 10:31:15, said:

Perhaps it would be more accurate to report that they had recovered weapons that had beeen sold rather than stolen.

Furthermore I fail to understand how DNA and fingerprinting can establish if a weapon was use in a specific attack. For such identification you need a ballistic matching.

Just more of the same inane comments strung together with little or no meaning or substance.They already have many insurgents in custody. DNA and fingerprints from these detainees could through up a match. Although not reported well, try thinking through situations befor making rash statements.

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Rash Statement indeed. ? Harsh Words, If you read the article properly you will note that they claim that from DNA and fingerprints that they can determine if the weapon was used in any previous attack. They simply can not. !

DNA and fingerprints can only determine those who have touched the weapon. Sorry, but to determine if a specific weapon was used in a specific incident you need ballistic matching. Now if they have a ballistic match and they also get a positive ID on fingerprints /DNA, then that is a horse of a very different colour. The article make no mention to ballistic matching.That was my point and it is valid.

Great comment which I fully support. It'd bad enough that Thai officials will say anything but really sad they EXPECT to be believed ans so often are

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Posted Today, 15:51

Halion, on 2012-12-30 10:31:15, said:

Perhaps it would be more accurate to report that they had recovered weapons that had beeen sold rather than stolen.

Furthermore I fail to understand how DNA and fingerprinting can establish if a weapon was use in a specific attack. For such identification you need a ballistic matching.

Just more of the same inane comments strung together with little or no meaning or substance.They already have many insurgents in custody. DNA and fingerprints from these detainees could through up a match. Although not reported well, try thinking through situations befor making rash statements.

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Rash Statement indeed. ? Harsh Words, If you read the article properly you will note that they claim that from DNA and fingerprints that they can determine if the weapon was used in any previous attack. They simply can not. !

DNA and fingerprints can only determine those who have touched the weapon. Sorry, but to determine if a specific weapon was used in a specific incident you need ballistic matching. Now if they have a ballistic match and they also get a positive ID on fingerprints /DNA, then that is a horse of a very different colour. The article make no mention to ballistic matching.That was my point and it is valid.

How do you come up with the sold rather than stolen assertion?

Let's see, if DNA and Fingerprints that were recovered at a crime scene", and the Fingerprints and DNA recovered from the recovered weapons happen to "match", what conclusion can you come to? Ballistics is not the only method of connecting criminals to a crime.

The timing of the arrest and subsequent "information received" makes me wonder if another terrorist may have been introduced to the joys of water-boarding or electro-genital stimulation.