More arms found as junta readies crackdown

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GRACE PERIOD
More arms found as junta readies crackdown
The Nation


Police and military officers inspect weapons found discarded alongside a road near a housing complex in Nonthaburi

Senior officer says weapons discovered not always related to political violence

BANGKOK: -- Now that the junta is getting ready to kick off a serious crackdown on war-grade weapons as the grace period it set ended yesterday, several caches of arms have been found abandoned in several locations across the country.

In Nonthaburi's Bang Bua Thong district, a large hoard of weapons was found discarded alongside a main road near a housing complex. The cache included two assault rifles, a submachine-gun, a large number of ammunition rounds, four M79 grenade rounds, four smoke grenades and four fire bombs.

In Chiang Mai, a stash of munitions and explosives was found abandoned at the home of a former Army officer. The items included nine anti-personnel mines, four TNT explosive bars and a few ammunition rounds. Army explosives personnel said the mines and the TNT remained active despite being of advanced age.

A large hoard of weapons was also found abandoned recently in Chon Buri. It included four handguns, an AK-47 assault rifle and a large amount of ammunition.

Senior commander Pol Maj-General Sanit Mahathaworn said at a press conference yesterday that these weapons had not been prepared to instigate politically motivated violence. The military and the police have also been active in taking down criminals and drug traffickers who use weapons, in addition to conducting raids and making arrests in pre-crackdown campaigns.

Acting National Police chief Pol General Watcharapol Prasarnrajkit said all the weapons would be inspected to see if they had been used previously, and they might later be demolished.

He added that the police would also kick off their own crackdown from today, with a special focus on narcotics and vice.

In Surat Thani, the military, police and provincial civilian authorities held a press conference yesterday to instruct all 1,035 kamnan and village heads to continue reconciliatory campaigns in cooperation with more than 200 government agencies and local administrative bodies.

The provincial military chief, Maj-General Ranchat Jinda-ngern, encouraged people possessing war weapons to continue dumping them and warned that those who refuse to give up their weapons would end up in military court.


-- The Nation 2014-06-11

[JRSoul]

I suppose it would be too much to suggest that our local criminals dump their rifles and ammunition separately, and away from areas where children play.

Removal of firing pins would be above their level of expertise.

Edited June 10, 2014 by JRSoul

[siampolee]

One can but presume word has gone out that this is going to be an effective crackdown thus the dumping of ordinance is becoming a matter of both urgency and survival by those holding such illegal ordinance.

I would also suggest that these current dumping moves are not just not limited I am sure to just one group of people either, politically or criminally influenced.

[thesetat2013]

Someone should teach these writers that several weapons does not mean a large hoarde. On the good side they are weapons that will not kill innocent people anymore.

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[IamNoone88]

A monumental task to rid the country of war weapons given the porous borders and the fact that the majority holding these weapons have no concience. Moving forward, it would be encouraging to see tough action being taken against these people to set an example. Time to apply the law which seems to be gaining hold at last.

[AleG]

Someone should teach these writers that several weapons does not mean a large hoarde. On the good side they are weapons that will not kill innocent people anymore.

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I would expect the number of weapons dumped were they can't be found to be much larger than those put in places were they can be found. There's probably a lot more that have been buried or dumped in a canal that don't make it to the headlines.

[diehard60]

Well maybe it is working. Time will tell.

[seajae]

seems the police are still patsies for the reds by claiming ak 47's, grenades, bombs, machine guns, m 79's etc are not war weapons, how stupid can you get. I can understand a rifle for personal use but ak 47's/grenades/m79"s etc, the police trying to claim these as non war weapons are total <deleted>wits.

[rebelplatoon]

Sorry officer, I use my AK47 for target practice.

[thaimat]

M79 grenade launchers- not for war, just for squirrel plinking!

[smutcakes]

Maybe the army should have thought about weapons finding there way out of their barracks and commands prior to this.

They should/(should of) got their own house in order in the first instance.

How they think they can manage and control a country when they cannot control and manage their own forces/actions defies belief really.

[Bernard Flint]

Someone should teach these writers that several weapons does not mean a large hoarde. On the good side they are weapons that will not kill innocent people anymore.

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If i smacked you over the head 10 times with a discarded weapon, you will die hahahahah

Seriously,that pic looks like the average yank with home weapons to stop burgulars.

[Fat Haggis]

seems the police are still patsies for the reds by claiming ak 47's, grenades, bombs, machine guns, m 79's etc are not war weapons, how stupid can you get. I can understand a rifle for personal use but ak 47's/grenades/m79"s etc, the police trying to claim these as non war weapons are total f***wits.

I agree somewhat as to what you're saying, but the American Gun owners who own legally similar weapons, wouldn't class these as war weapons.

Don't forget that the prior to the invention of the modern day assault rifles ( a name in itself has a stigma attached by the NRA), wars were fought with whatever was available, to that extent a crossbow, and a longbow would be also considered war weapons, then what about the blades of various sizes, a samurai sword was used in feudal wars, ergo any collector with a Samurai sword is in possession of a "war" weapon.

It's great that these weapons are off the streets and out of the hands of the "undesirables" who had them, but in a country that is awash with such weapons, it's going to take a long time to rid them, and for every cache discovered, you can bet your last tomahawk there's another already inbound.

Looking at these M79 rounds in the picture, blue was always associated with "inert/training " rounds are they colour coded differently in Thailand?

[thumper101]

Seems to me that they have not even scratched the surface. There are reportedly over a million guns on the streets of Thailand.

They need to do their crackdown... Hand out mandatory LIFE sentences for those simply possessing a handgun, then once the entire country is left in no doubt that they risk everything just for illegally owning a gun, then introduce another 2 week amnesty and watch the guns come rolling in.

After that continue with the life sentences. That includes both rich and poor... Including politicians.

[bigbamboo]

Sorry officer, I use my AK47 for target practice.

Are you an American?

[smutcakes]

Seems to me that they have not even scratched the surface. There are reportedly over a million guns on the streets of Thailand.

They need to do their crackdown... Hand out mandatory LIFE sentences for those simply possessing a handgun, then once the entire country is left in no doubt that they risk everything just for illegally owning a gun, then introduce another 2 week amnesty and watch the guns come rolling in.

After that continue with the life sentences. That includes both rich and poor... Including politicians.

Yeah that will work...... much like the deterrent of death sentence has proved a roaring success in the USA to one place.

[SABloke]

Where's Dr Bruce with his "Under the new laws on censorship, expect to hear more news like this." mantra....oh wait a second Doc: "In Chiang Mai, a stash of munitions and explosives was found abandoned at the home of a former Army officer."

Doesn't seem to be as censored as you infer.

As an aside: I almost choked with laughter when I saw you use that line...AGAIN...regarding the cancellation of free flights for Thai Airways Board memebrs. It old an over-used...get some new material please.

[Fat Haggis]

Seems to me that they have not even scratched the surface. There are reportedly over a million guns on the streets of Thailand.

They need to do their crackdown... Hand out mandatory LIFE sentences for those simply possessing a handgun, then once the entire country is left in no doubt that they risk everything just for illegally owning a gun, then introduce another 2 week amnesty and watch the guns come rolling in.

After that continue with the life sentences. That includes both rich and poor... Including politicians.

Why stop there? How about some ethnic cleaning whilst you're at it!!

[Soutpeel]

Sorry officer, I use my AK47 for target practice.

Are you an American?

Well if the poster was a redneck, as well he would have said he hunted "coons" with his AK

[thesetat2013]

Sorry officer, I use my AK47 for target practice.

Dont you know the AK has been quoted by the NRA to be the best home defense weapon of our time. These are not weapons of war but simply used for self defense and hunting. (people)

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[Paulzed]

There has been a lot of stories of internal crackdowns: parking, traffic, guns, corruption....What about the deep south insurgents that are supported by local fanatics when is that crackdown going to hit the news??

[ratcatcher]

Sorry officer, I use my AK47 for target practice.

Are you an American?

Well if the poster was a redneck, as well he would have said he hunted "coons" with his AK

Hey man you know "coon" is a dodgy word these days. Almost up there with the "n" word.

But I suppose it's OK as Tiger Woods describes himself as a "Golf Thaicoon"

[Soutpeel]

Sorry officer, I use my AK47 for target practice.

Are you an American?

Well if the poster was a redneck, as well he would have said he hunted "coons" with his AK

Hey man you know "coon" is a dodgy word these days. Almost up there with the "n" word.

But I suppose it's OK as Tiger Woods describes himself as a "Golf Thaicoon"

Rac"coon" is a dodgy word ? Have the animal rights lot gone all PC loonie as well ?

[ratcatcher]

Hey man you know "coon" is a dodgy word these days. Almost up there with the "n" word.

But I suppose it's OK as Tiger Woods describes himself as a "Golf Thaicoon"

Rac"coon" is a dodgy word ? Have the animal rights lot gone all PC loonie as well ?

coon

Insulting term for a black person.

Urban Dic

[ratcatcher]

Hey man you know "coon" is a dodgy word these days. Almost up there with the "n" word.

But I suppose it's OK as Tiger Woods describes himself as a "Golf Thaicoon"

Rac"coon" is a dodgy word ? Have the animal rights lot gone all PC loonie as well ?

coon

Insulting term for a black person.

Urban Dic

[Jim walker]

What country with an ounce of inelegance allows civilians to possess military grade war weapons machine guns and grenades surely must be a few dirty bombs lying about in someone’s out buildings just in case a bad day arrives and it becomes a must have weapon, what are children going to be thinking brought up with all these crazy weapons seeing them on TV next if they have a grievance at a school or college they will be shooting some teachers and fellow pupils who have upset them on face book.

[JRSoul]

What country with an ounce of inelegance allows civilians to possess military grade war weapons machine guns and grenades surely must be a few dirty bombs lying about in someone’s out buildings just in case a bad day arrives and it becomes a must have weapon, what are children going to be thinking brought up with all these crazy weapons seeing them on TV next if they have a grievance at a school or college they will be shooting some teachers and fellow pupils who have upset them on face book.

That would be the country where school children commit mass murder of their peers on a weekly basis? But they do have so many "democratic rights".

[tim armstrong]

To return to Thailand, for sure this is the tip of the iceberg, but its a very good start. When authorities here do decide to act, they certainly get results. Go for it !

[IsaanUSA]

Sorry officer, I use my AK47 for target practice.

Are you an American?

LOL. We dont use AKs in the USA. They're not so great. We all have ARs

[mrfill]

The armed forces will be saving a fortune soon as they wont have to buy any ammo for ages.