NCPO admits the existence of armed elements bent on causing violence

[Lite Beer]

NCPO admits the existence of armed elements bent on causing violence

BANGKOK: -- NCPO admits the existence of armed elements bent on causing violenceNCPO admits the existence of armed elements bent on causing violenceNCPO admits the existence of armed elements bent on causing violence

The National Council for Peace and Order said Sunday there are armed elements in the country who are prepared to resort to violence as the junta displayed to the media a large cache of illegal firearms, including many war weapons, seized in the past month from various places across the country.
However, no details were given about the armed elements, who they are or how many of them.

The display which was held at the auditorium of the First Army Region was chaired by Lt-Gen Thirachai Narkvanich, the commander of the First Army Region.

The seized weapons include 144 assault rifles and sub-machineguns; 258 shotguns and rifles; 2,490 pistols of different types; 166 M79 grenades, over 50,000 rounds of ammunition of different calibers, one RPG launcher and several rockets and 426 bullet-proof vests.

Lt-Gen Thirachai said that the firearms put on display were three-fourths of all the illegal arms seized by authorities. He admitted that he was satisfied up to a certain level with the seizures.

The commander further said that there still a lot more illegal firearms, including war weapons, which are yet to be found

Source: http://englishnews.thaipbs.or.th/ncpo-admits-existence-armed-elements-bent-causing-violence/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=ncpo-admits-existence-armed-elements-bent-causing-violence

-- Thai PBS 2014-06-29

[Local Drunk]

Good!

[SamMunich]

The problem of illegal weapons will never be solved as long as it is so easy to smuggle in weapons left, right and center. Beside that, it's a cultural thing, that people think, they need a weapon or that they are incomplete personalitiies without a weapon. Say thank you to the Americans. And as long as there is a policy, that the one with more power can do as he pleases, everybody tries to gain power by having a weapon.

And all that is beside the fact, that some have hidden weapons for the big final countdown between political sides.

[lovetotravel]

The problem of illegal weapons will never be solved as long as it is so easy to smuggle in weapons left, right and center. Beside that, it's a cultural thing, that people think, they need a weapon or that they are incomplete personalitiies without a weapon. Say thank you to the Americans. And as long as there is a policy, that the one with more power can do as he pleases, everybody tries to gain power by having a weapon.

And all that is beside the fact, that some have hidden weapons for the big final countdown between political sides.

Gets tiring to blame the Americans for everything. The problem with regards to the one with power setting policy has been going on for thousands of years. Nothing to do with the US. And for sure known very well here in Asia for hundreds of years.

[chainarong]

The problem the PTP had was they attracted the criminal element like bee's to a honey pot , with the help of the HK Kid, this is just stupid desperate measures from desperate people that can not understand the first basic's of democracy, they try to dictate the terms by force , the real worrying problem is the amount of military weapons that have come from the army area , in this day and age of inventory by computers this should be neigh impossible to do , so there is a traitor in the system that has to be flushed out and an example made of.

[rubl]

The NCPO admits (three times as well ) ?

Probably something lost in translation. I would expect something like "NCPO revealed", or "NCPO stated"

[citizen33]

The NCPO admits (three times as well ) ?

Probably something lost in translation. I would expect something like "NCPO revealed", or "NCPO stated"

Or even 'NCPO confirmed', since the coup was justified by the threat of an imminent civil war. What do they say, 'if rituals did not exist we would have to invent them'?

[CMNightRider]

The problem of illegal weapons will never be solved as long as it is so easy to smuggle in weapons left, right and center. Beside that, it's a cultural thing, that people think, they need a weapon or that they are incomplete personalitiies without a weapon. Say thank you to the Americans. And as long as there is a policy, that the one with more power can do as he pleases, everybody tries to gain power by having a weapon.

And all that is beside the fact, that some have hidden weapons for the big final countdown between political sides.

Wow, what makes you think we can "thank the Americans" for the weapons that were seized by the Thai Military?

[ratcatcher]

The problem of illegal weapons will never be solved as long as it is so easy to smuggle in weapons left, right and center. Beside that, it's a cultural thing, that people think, they need a weapon or that they are incomplete personalitiies without a weapon. Say thank you to the Americans. And as long as there is a policy, that the one with more power can do as he pleases, everybody tries to gain power by having a weapon.

And all that is beside the fact, that some have hidden weapons for the big final countdown between political sides.

Wow, what makes you think we can "thank the Americans" for the weapons that were seized by the Thai Military?

Maybe he means the Americans sold them to the Thai military?

Had they not done so, maybe we'd be reading about AK47s and AK74s.

[Hawk]

Armed elements? Terrorists in the south, yes.

Who else? More Cambodians, some unknown reds, the Hmong, a few rapists, bank/gold robbers, those darn warring school kids, drunks, whoever I suppose.

[Thailand]

If you were not sure who is in charge the picture above would give you a clue? Don't see any navy or Air Force uniforms?

[coma]

Truth be known is that this amount of weapons is chicken feed. If these weapons were seized in one seizure that would support the case that there is the existence of an armed group capable of destabilizing the country. However these weapons were mostly seized in dribs and drabs. Lots of countries around the world would have individuals in the population that posses these sorts of weapons illegally.

It is still a good result however. But I think there are a hell of a lot more larger caches out there yet to be seized. We all know of 2 big armoury busts in the past where hundreds of assault rifles were relived from the army and police force. Where are they at ??

[Stradavarius37]

<script type='text/javascript'>window.mod_pagespeed_start = Number(new Date());</script>

Good!

What is good? That they seized the weapons, or that there is a group thinking of carrying out armed activities? If its the former, I agree with you that it is good - if its the later, than you are an idiot.

Edited June 29, 2014 by Stradavarius37

[UbonRatch]

Were all those armaments on display missing from NCPO storage facilities?

If so, who are the auditors, and will they audit the new active government to make sure assets don't go amiss too?

Edited June 29, 2014 by UbonRatch

[antimedia]

The worry here is that the weapons seizures are becoming the major issue now in Thailand. Are we seeing the prelude to a western style (predominately America) gun seizure resulting in total disarnment of the population? Australia had the red flag event of the Port Arthur Massacre to ban weapons, and the USA have had many red flag incidents attempting to disarm their citizens. I certainly hope this is not the case here in Thailand, but if it is we have all been hoodwinked by the NWO. For now I will continue to support and believe the NCPO but will always have my reservations.

[lostsoul49]

Truth be known is that this amount of weapons is chicken feed. If these weapons were seized in one seizure that would support the case that there is the existence of an armed group capable of destabilizing the country. However these weapons were mostly seized in dribs and drabs. Lots of countries around the world would have individuals in the population that posses these sorts of weapons illegally.

It is still a good result however. But I think there are a hell of a lot more larger caches out there yet to be seized. We all know of 2 big armoury busts in the past where hundreds of assault rifles were relived from the army and police force. Where are they at ??

Well considering most of the raids happened from a couple of tip offs, and then snowballed from there as those arrested squawked to save their own butts and named others in their network.

These weapons were all from the same network..... The red shirts

You are probably right about there probably a lot more (and a lot bigger) caches out there in the hands of the reds, and that is why... Now that the gun amnesty is over, the army should declare a 'shoot to kill' policy of those still with weapons caches.. They had their chance to dump them and they have failed to take that chance which means they are serious about using them to create havoc which to me... justifies beyond a shadow of a doubt, they need removing from this earth permanently.

[assayer]

The problem of illegal weapons will never be solved as long as it is so easy to smuggle in weapons left, right and center. Beside that, it's a cultural thing, that people think, they need a weapon or that they are incomplete personalitiies without a weapon. Say thank you to the Americans. And as long as there is a policy, that the one with more power can do as he pleases, everybody tries to gain power by having a weapon.

And all that is beside the fact, that some have hidden weapons for the big final countdown between political sides.

You are very welcome Sam !!

[EyesWideOpen]

The problem of illegal weapons will never be solved as long as it is so easy to smuggle in weapons left, right and center. Beside that, it's a cultural thing, that people think, they need a weapon or that they are incomplete personalitiies without a weapon. Say thank you to the Americans. And as long as there is a policy, that the one with more power can do as he pleases, everybody tries to gain power by having a weapon.

And all that is beside the fact, that some have hidden weapons for the big final countdown between political sides.

I would like to personally nominate this post as the most moronic America

bashing post ever seen on TV. Along the same line, I also propose some

sort of basic IQ test prior to being allowed to join TV.

America is to blame for militants in Thailand having weapons ? Wow.

Wait a minute. Was that statement satire ??

[Dr Bruce]

The NCPO admits (three times as well ) ?

Probably something lost in translation. I would expect something like "NCPO revealed", or "NCPO stated"

Maybe "NCPO Claimed"?

[NongKhaiKid]

Staged, look at all that brass and no one pointing !

They need a lesson from the lady the other day identifying the Sth. Korean who stole her car. Pure class.

[bubblegum]

The problem of illegal weapons will never be solved as long as it is so easy to smuggle in weapons left, right and center. Beside that, it's a cultural thing, that people think, they need a weapon or that they are incomplete personalitiies without a weapon. Say thank you to the Americans. And as long as there is a policy, that the one with more power can do as he pleases, everybody tries to gain power by having a weapon.

And all that is beside the fact, that some have hidden weapons for the big final countdown between political sides.

I would like to personally nominate this post as the most moronic America

bashing post ever seen on TV. Along the same line, I also propose some

sort of basic IQ test prior to being allowed to join TV.

America is to blame for militants in Thailand having weapons ? Wow.

Wait a minute. Was that statement satire ??

I would like you to do a comprehensive reading test before you post.

[craigt3365]

OK, back on Topic. This is not about America. A few off topic posts have been removed from view.

[noitom]

As long as there is rampant corruption in Thailand, weapons caches are a continual thing.

[klauskunkel]

The problem of illegal weapons will never be solved as long as it is so easy to smuggle in weapons left, right and center. Beside that, it's a cultural thing, that people think, they need a weapon or that they are incomplete personalitiies without a weapon. Say thank you to the Americans. And as long as there is a policy, that the one with more power can do as he pleases, everybody tries to gain power by having a weapon.

And all that is beside the fact, that some have hidden weapons for the big final countdown between political sides.

Nah, it's not the Americans to blame...it's the beer! Say thank you to Munich...(or Egypt?)

[Baerboxer]

If you were not sure who is in charge the picture above would give you a clue? Don't see any navy or Air Force uniforms?

Were the arms captured at sea or in the air?

Or in an inland area patrolled by the army?

Think about it.

[Baerboxer]

The problem of illegal weapons will never be solved as long as it is so easy to smuggle in weapons left, right and center. Beside that, it's a cultural thing, that people think, they need a weapon or that they are incomplete personalitiies without a weapon. Say thank you to the Americans. And as long as there is a policy, that the one with more power can do as he pleases, everybody tries to gain power by having a weapon.

And all that is beside the fact, that some have hidden weapons for the big final countdown between political sides.

I would like to personally nominate this post as the most moronic America

bashing post ever seen on TV. Along the same line, I also propose some

sort of basic IQ test prior to being allowed to join TV.

America is to blame for militants in Thailand having weapons ? Wow.

Wait a minute. Was that statement satire ??

I would like you to do a comprehensive reading test before you post.

A comprehensive reading test or a reading comprehension test?

[Baerboxer]

The NCPO admits (three times as well ) ?

Probably something lost in translation. I would expect something like "NCPO revealed", or "NCPO stated"

Maybe "NCPO Claimed"?

I saw Head's report on the BBC world news on this yesterday. He kept repeating that - "so the NCPO claim" over and over again.

Lovely to see such unbiased investigative even handed commentary.

Why would the red shirts / UDD be stockpiling weapons at a time when their political leaders were calling for trained militias to rise in support of the shin clan and declare an independent state if necessary? Hard to make the connection for some.

[rickirs]

<script type='text/javascript'>window.mod_pagespeed_start = Number(new Date());</script>

The problem of illegal weapons will never be solved as long as it is so easy to smuggle in weapons left, right and center. Beside that, it's a cultural thing, that people think, they need a weapon or that they are incomplete personalitiies without a weapon. Say thank you to the Americans. And as long as there is a policy, that the one with more power can do as he pleases, everybody tries to gain power by having a weapon.

And all that is beside the fact, that some have hidden weapons for the big final countdown between political sides.

What do you expect in a society where over the last 80 years there have been 13 military coups? Government by the gun is a Thai cultural tradition. How can you expect its citizens to have hope for a peaceful democracy? If the Democrats thought they could not (at least according to Suthep) rely on military intervention to prevail politically, they would either resort to weapons or free and open elections but obviously the latter has never worked. Compare this to America which has some of the most liberal gun laws in the world and never in its almost 240-year history never had regime change through military coup.

[fab4]

Truth be known is that this amount of weapons is chicken feed. If these weapons were seized in one seizure that would support the case that there is the existence of an armed group capable of destabilizing the country. However these weapons were mostly seized in dribs and drabs. Lots of countries around the world would have individuals in the population that posses these sorts of weapons illegally.

It is still a good result however. But I think there are a hell of a lot more larger caches out there yet to be seized. We all know of 2 big armoury busts in the past where hundreds of assault rifles were relived from the army and police force. Where are they at ??

Would one of those "big armoury busts" be the one at Phattalung? The one where Thai Visa News reported 6000 guns and explosives stolen?

http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/345203-6000-guns-and-explosives-stolen-from-thai-army-barracks/#entry3393709

The big armoury bust that actually turned out to be 3000 rounds of ammunition and 20 grenades that were stolen by soldiers over a long period of time?

http://asiancorrespondent.com/29668/pretext-for-checkpoints-and-stoking-fear/

What was the other "big armoury bust" that "we all know about"?

[Morch]

Truth be known is that this amount of weapons is chicken feed. If these weapons were seized in one seizure that would support the case that there is the existence of an armed group capable of destabilizing the country. However these weapons were mostly seized in dribs and drabs. Lots of countries around the world would have individuals in the population that posses these sorts of weapons illegally.

It is still a good result however. But I think there are a hell of a lot more larger caches out there yet to be seized. We all know of 2 big armoury busts in the past where hundreds of assault rifles were relived from the army and police force. Where are they at ??

Well considering most of the raids happened from a couple of tip offs, and then snowballed from there as those arrested squawked to save their own butts and named others in their network.

These weapons were all from the same network..... The red shirts

You are probably right about there probably a lot more (and a lot bigger) caches out there in the hands of the reds, and that is why... Now that the gun amnesty is over, the army should declare a 'shoot to kill' policy of those still with weapons caches.. They had their chance to dump them and they have failed to take that chance which means they are serious about using them to create havoc which to me... justifies beyond a shadow of a doubt, they need removing from this earth permanently.

To the best of my knowledge the RTA did not release a statement supporting the claim that most of the raids were the result

of a couple of tips offs which snowballed. If anything, they stressed a few times that this was an ongoing continuous effort.

Some of the raids, arrests and weapons captured could certainly be traced to the earlier discoveries, right after the coup, not

sure if that goes for most or all of the weapons though.

Quite a few weapons were retrieved by people leaving them out in the open to be found (taking advantage of the grace period),

less sure about how many people personally handed them in.

That the weapons are all from the red-shirts is, in my opinion, incorrect. At least, in some instances, weapons were confiscated

or found in provinces not having much red-shirt presence, and as most people living in Thailand know - many Thais keep a fire-

arm at home, be it legal or illegal. This is not always something to do with politics or organization. And that's without including

the criminal element, which probably "donated" some to the weapons found. Note that the OP does not make this claim.

Undoubtedly, weapons, even many, were connected with red-shirts. I would view weapons held illegally with political context

to be a more severe threat than others, and hopefully this would be translated to appropriate punishments.

With the grace period over it would be interesting to see if this flow of illegal weapons finds keeps on. People will probably be

more hesitant about leaving them to be found, but also more reluctant to shelter those hiding them.

As coma's post stated, seems like there are many more weapons out there, so still a ways to go before this situation is under

some control. Then there are the Southern provinces which see shooting incidents on an almost daily basis - this too ought to

be a focus for those tasked with getting the illegal weapons. Will probably take a while to get there, though.

And again, somehow figures seem to not tally well (for example, think there were more M79 and RPG launchers mentioned

in previous reports). Hard to tell if this is due to the usual quality journalism here or down to the army not releasing all details.

Either way, any weapon they manage to haul back is good news.