Thailand: Large haul of weapons found at three locations

[webfact]

ARMS SMUGGLING
Large haul of weapons found
THE NATION

Police-military team conduct three raids; one suspect says her cache was meant for self-defence

BANGKOK: -- ACTING UNDER the martial law, joint teams of military and police officers launched raids at three locations to hunt for war weapons thought to have been readied for possible outbreaks of violence.

The first raid was launched at 11.30pm on Tuesday in Lop Buri's Nong Muang district. During the raid, Chaowat Thongphuek, 54, was arrested for possessing a large number of weapons including nine home-made bombs and a TNT stick along with an AK-47 assault rifle and a large amount of ammunition.

Chaowat, a former paramilitary ranger, reportedly confessed to acquiring the weapons and having been hired by a couple - whom he identified as Nanthana and Chatcharn - to make bombs to be used in relation to political violence in the capital.

The explosives discovered were three metal pipe bombs, five plastic pipe bombs and one bomb contained in a metal box. The other items included an anti-personnel Claymore mine, 11 sets of detonators and lots of ammunition for different kinds of other weapons.

The second raid was conducted yesterday in an apartment in Samut Sakhon's Krathum Baen district, where the police-military team arrested a female tenant for possessing a large cache of weapons.

The woman, JanthanaWarakornsakulkij, admitted to owning the weapons but said the two membership cards for the pro-government United Front for Democracy against Dictatorship found in her room were not hers, but had been issued to a friend. She later said the weapons were meant to be used for self-defence.

Janthana and her roommate had not been charged with any specific offence as of press time. However, the woman and her cache of weapons were later taken to the Army Club to meet Army chief General Prayuth Chan-ocha, before a press conference about her arrest was arranged.

The weapons found in her room included five assault rifles, an M79 grenade launcher, a large amount of ammunition, three hand grenades, explosives contained in 120 bottles, eight home-made bombs, a pistol, three cameras, a bullet-proof vest, and nails and metal wires meant as shrapnel for the home-made bombs.

The third raid was at a home in Soi Rachadaphisek 32 in Bangkok. Phaholyothin police said they had received a phone call from an unnamed owner of the house, saying his property had been broken into. Later when they searched the house they found 140 rounds for an M16 assault rifle and two dummy hand grenades.

A series of raids had been conducted before the martial law was announced on Tuesday, including one at a Nakhon Nayok resort this week where a large number of assault rifles were found, though only two were retrieved openly by police.

-- The Nation 2014-05-22

[Chang_paarp]

Funny how the army can find these caches of weapons within days when the police stumbled around and did very little.

[Bocking]

Janathana owns up to the weapons, but denies any knowledge of UDD membership cards? .... Monty Python could have gone to town and back with a sketch on that one

[soundman]

Why would one need pipe and bottle bombs for self defence?

[NongKhaiKid]

Funny how the army can find these caches of weapons within days when the police stumbled around and did very little.

Yes, as if by magic !

It suggests someone had the information and was sitting on it.

[looping]

Self defense? Against what??? What a great defense! Maybe they need more time to think about that.

I can't help but wonder...

...how they knew where to look.

...who the RS ID cards belonged to, and when they'll be found.

...who paid for the weapons, who was paying them, and paying them, and paying him, or her (actually, more like can they prove it?)

...if they'll get to the bottom of this, as it could prove vital and damning in proving who's been launching these cowardly grenade attacks. I mean, we all have a theory, but some proof would change the game somewhat.

Sent from my iPad using Thaivisa Connect Thailand mobile app

Edited May 21, 2014 by looping

[binjalin]

I'd be careful of all stories - especially when red/yellow ID cards are 'found' with weapons

[Bluespunk]

I'd be careful of all stories - especially when red/yellow ID cards are 'found' with weapons

Though in this case the woman admits the ID cards are genuine. Just not hers.

[ChrisY1]

I'd be careful of all stories - especially when red/yellow ID cards are 'found' with weapons

Though in this case the woman admits the ID cards are genuine. Just not hers.

She's probably right.....these RS rebels aren't the brightest bunch of terrorists......

[huanga]

Are we surprised? Reds uphold "demon"-cracy, PTP style.

[pmugghc]

I'd be careful of all stories - especially when red/yellow ID cards are 'found' with weapons

The woman acknowledged the weapons were hers. Same with the Lop Buri ranger. Were these people planted by Suthep too???

[Seastallion]

Funny how the army can find these caches of weapons within days when the police stumbled around and did very little.

Yeah, and pre-martial law, when the police do find things, much of it disappears.

"A series of raids had been conducted before the martial law was announced on Tuesday, including one at a Nakhon Nayok resort this week where a large number of assault rifles were found, though only two were retrieved openly by police."

What, to get recycled back to the red shirts original owners?

[coobah666]

Reminds me of an old Split Enz song ( I see Red I see Red I see Red )

[rebelplatoon]

Someone WAS preparing for civil war. Good the army intervened.

[Seastallion]

Why would one need pipe and bottle bombs for self defence?

Why would one need FIVE assault rifles, a grenade launcher, and a pistol for self defense? A pistol, sure, but everything else?

It's an obvious lie, but just for fun, the interrogators should ask her to demonstrate how they are used. Not much point owning weapons for self defense if you can't use them.

[jaltsc]

"She later said the weapons were meant to be used for self-defence".

Of course. The first thing you learn in self-defense class is: If someone is coming towards you with a hand weapon, you aim an M79 grenade launcher at him.

Edited May 22, 2014 by jaltsc

[zydeco]

The good thing is that people were caught with the weapons and, in the latter case, admitted that the Red ID card(s) do belong to someone she knows. Should be easy to start working up the food chain, now. And my guess is that most of the Red Terror underlings will be eager to spill their guts. Martial law is serving its function well. A clear terror conspiracy has been uncovered just in time, it seems, before they were ready to launch a renewed wave of attacks.

[bangkokheat]

probably propaganda to show people that they are lucky the army is in control

[Thaddeus]

probably propaganda to show people that they are lucky the army is in control

You mean like during the floods in Bangkok when the army were helping people as they should, but the police were running floating taxis for the right fee?

[Soutpeel]

"She later said the weapons were meant to be used for self-defence".

Of course. The first thing you learn in self-defense class is: If someone is coming towards you with a hand weapon, you aim an M79 grenade launcher at him.

that's not a knife...THIS is a knife...

[Civil War]

Arrest their entire families and hold them till they confess all.

Thais love their families.

Sounds harsh, but people have died and the perpetrators must be found and the entire terror network shut down.

Plenty of innocent families have been devastated.

[clockman]

And all good Buddhists!

[chrisrazz]

Someone WAS preparing for civil war. Good the army intervened.

That is why the army intervened. The situation is serious when people are of the conviction that war is the solution. The army will do well to reverse this trend as I fear these finds are the tip of the iceberg.

[amerasian]

And what about all the weapons in south Thailand?I would say there is at least several weapons in every house there. As well as war weapons......

[alfalfa19]

Good job. It seems like the army is really taking care of business.

[than]

Very pathetic defense, Perhaps she think army is stupid like police/defunct CAPO. You can use a handgun for self-defense, not war weapon. Reds day come end soon........

[clockman]

They have the same casual regard, for weapons. As they do for safety on the roads!

[issanaus]

The good thing is that people were caught with the weapons and, in the latter case, admitted that the Red ID card(s) do belong to someone she knows. Should be easy to start working up the food chain, now. And my guess is that most of the Red Terror underlings will be eager to spill their guts. Martial law is serving its function well. A clear terror conspiracy has been uncovered just in time, it seems, before they were ready to launch a renewed wave of attacks.

The USA will have the details of the weapons and will be churning them through their computer. Someone in the chain has broken USA and/or international laws ..... USA intelligence organisations will want to know.

[skildpadden]

Wow the anti-government movement is very cunning and cynical. I mean, they obviously plant war weapons and UDD cards at innocent people's homes all over Thailand in order to attack their own people and then blame it on UDD? I am sure these people arrested are fake UDD, because the UDD movement is a peace loving crowd full of nice. trustworthy and honest people

[hidavey]

In the Thai newpapaer last week they found larger amounts of weapons near the Thai / Cambodia border and it was being delivered by the Thai 5.0 (NYC slang). The Army confiscated these weapons along with information about the "men in black" are coming to Bkk to use these weapon against the people. This is all paid for by the ousted PM, a man without a counrty to live in with billions of dollars sitting around means nothing to him. My God have mercy on your soul.

Edited May 22, 2014 by hidavey