‘Ko Tee’ guns ‘stolen in 2010 protest’
By THE NATION

 

Wutthipong or "Ko Tee"

 

DSI claims weapons also hidden at Dhammakaya temple building

 

BANGKOK: -- SOME OF THE firearms seized from a fugitive red-shirt leader’s house were snatched from the Army by protesters during the 2010 political upheaval, Pol Colonel Paisit Wongmuang, chief of Department of Special Investigation (DSI), said yesterday.

 

The raid by troops and police targeting Wutthipong Kacha-thamkhun, alias “Ko Tee”, in Pathum Thani province on Saturday, allegedly unearthed a large cache of weapons including four M-16 rifles, one M79 grenade launcher, 13 other guns, and about 5,000 rounds of ammunition.

 

Three red-shirt banners and other material deemed to violate the lese majeste law were also found.

 

“After checking the firearms, we found that they belonged to the Army and were snatched by protesters during the demonstration in May 2010,” Paisit said. 

 

He was referring to the protest by the National United Front of Democracy Against Dictatorship, also known as red shirts, calling for then-prime minister Abhisit Vejjajiva to step down. As the protests escalated, the government mounted a crackdown, resulting in deaths of civilians and soldiers. 

 

Terrorism charges

 

Authorities believe Wutthipong is hiding in Laos. Referring to a Thai request for Laos to deport him, Paisit said that if he returned to Thailand he would be charged with terrorism.

 

Wutthipong has also been linked to the controversial and recently besieged Dhammakaya Temple in Pathum Thani, as he pledged in a YouTube programme to provide weapons to help the temple. Authorities have tried to enter the temple to find and arrest former abbot Phra Dhammachayo on charges including money laundering.

 

Paisit said that intelligence reports from the DSI, Army and police suggested that core red-shirt leaders in the 2010 protests had been seen near Dhammakaya Temple. Meanwhile, a DSI source said police requests to search Boonraksa Building inside the temple had been rejected because there were weapons belonging to the red-shirt leaders hidden there. The temple only permitted a search after the weapons had been moved out of the building, the source claimed.

 

Police yesterday continued their raids in nine locations in seven provinces in a hunt for more weapons possibly connected to Wutthipong.

 

Source: http://www.nationmultimedia.com/news/national/30309720

 

-- © Copyright The Nation 2017-03-21

Weapons stolen 7 years ago and still hidden away ... 

 

Sure.

 

The Junta must think that Thais are stupid and will believe any old nonsense that the Junta spits out... 

39 minutes ago, tbthailand said:

Weapons stolen 7 years ago and still hidden away ... 

 

Sure.

 

The Junta must think that Thais are stupid and will believe any old nonsense that the Junta spits out... 

For sure and the only people who are stupid are those that that come up this hogwash for the people to swallow.  And it is exactly because the people are not stupid that it gives support to the populace that what is going on in Thailand maybe not be in the national interest and has potential to fuel the flames of discontent further.

Weapons stolen 7 years ago and still hidden away ... 
 
Sure.
 
The Junta must think that Thais are stupid and will believe any old nonsense that the Junta spits out... 

I don't think anyone really cares less. It' obvious to everyone that the present government hate the red shirts and probably no suprise that they found weapons the other day. No, I doubt your average Somchai gives one hoot, just another news story to watch on breakfast tv. A bit of light entertainment.

Now, remember when a few months back the tv stopped showing Thai movies due to the sad event. Well I know many were missing their soap opera. If you mess with their soap opera then the average Thai will sit up and notice. Oh and if you block facebook the average Thai will notice. And maybe if you legalise gambling the Thais will notice. But anything about Ko Tee, red shirts, Thaksin and the ufo temple is just breakfast news entertainment. No one gives a Ship.

How do you 'snatch' a gun from a soldier?  Distract him with a 1000 baht note?

36 minutes ago, Wilsonandson said:

I don't think anyone really cares less. It' obvious to everyone that the present government hate the red shirts and probably no suprise that they found weapons the other day. No, I doubt your average Somchai gives one hoot, just another news story to watch on breakfast tv. A bit of light entertainment.

Now, remember when a few months back the tv stopped showing Thai movies due to the sad event. Well I know many were missing their soap opera. If you mess with their soap opera then the average Thai will sit up and notice. Oh and if you block facebook the average Thai will notice. And maybe if you legalise gambling the Thais will notice. But anything about Ko Tee, red shirts, Thaksin and the ufo temple is just breakfast news entertainment. No one gives a Ship.

People this guy are threatening give a Ship.  And for good reason.  He's made it clear he has an underground army that is armed.  And wants to use it.

 

Guns last a long time.  And are expensive.  Not unusual to have them stored for future use.  Every government does this.

 ... thanks for that photo - again!

That's 'Che for the poor' strike 2 ...   

 

A machete wielding taxi driver

(just another possible headline}

 

It doesn't matter whether people believe what the Government says or not. Or whether the weapons charges stick or not won't matter. The 2nd charge always does stick, and cannot be discussed. Game over.

 

Might be better to lock this thread for that reason.

3 hours ago, esprit said:

For sure and the only people who are stupid are those that that come up this hogwash for the people to swallow.  And it is exactly because the people are not stupid that it gives support to the populace that what is going on in Thailand maybe not be in the national interest and has potential to fuel the flames of discontent further.

Absolutely outrageous to accuse the redshirt movement of ever being armed or worse still using arms, they must really think we are all wooden tops................right?  

I can think of a more plausible scenario on how those weapons which belonged to the Military got there... But I cannot say it because it may cause serious damage to my health and mental well-being.

 

The police colonel revealed: “After checking the firearms, we found that they belonged to the Army  ..."

 

Right! Stop right there. That's all we need to know!

guns stolen 7 years ago 

and

not followed up

Also weapons in the temple

but I thought the army searched the place and found it "clean"

3 minutes ago, AGareth2 said:

guns stolen 7 years ago 

and

not followed up

Also weapons in the temple

but I thought the army searched the place and found it "clean"

It was up to the police to investigate this theft. And we know where their loyalties lie. Thus, nothing was done. 

10 minutes ago, craigt3365 said:

It was up to the police to investigate this theft. And we know where their loyalties lie. Thus, nothing was done. 

are you their official spokesman?

11 minutes ago, AGareth2 said:

are you their official spokesman?

http://tastythailand.com/thailands-red-shirt-protesters-beat-back-military-and-steal-their-weapons/

 

Quote

Later, some soldiers arrived to shake hands with the protesters (it’s common knowledge in Thailand many soldiers and police support the red shirts and not the current government the red shirts are fighting) and congratulate them on their win.

 

3 hours ago, klauskunkel said:

 

A machete wielding taxi driver

(just another possible headline}

 

Freedom for Tooting

3 minutes ago, Golden Triangle said:

Freedom for Tooting

 

Good old Wolfie Smith.

Democracy.............. with a machete in one hand and UAE Dirhams in the other.

It took them over six years to find the weapons, this does not bode well for the little issue of finding a certain monk in Phatum Thani. Please tell me that sage isn't going to drag on for over six years

Edited March 21, 20179 yr by sjaak327

7 hours ago, webfact said:

Three red-shirt banners and other material deemed to violate the lese majeste law were also found.

 

Gift wrapped and name tagged all in one neat parcel amazing. 

7 hours ago, craigt3365 said:

People this guy are threatening give a Ship.  And for good reason.  He's made it clear he has an underground army that is armed.  And wants to use it.

 

Guns last a long time.  And are expensive.  Not unusual to have them stored for future use.  Every government does this.

And are expensive.

 

right. And that is why this story of weapons from 7 years ago is so unbelievable, ... well, that and the complete lack of integrity and honesty that can be expected from anyone in power who has an obvious self-interest in the outcome of any particular affair.  This latter point being an issue that crosses all color-coded factions in Thailand.

 

The military are not geniuses. If I were betting on this, then I would put money on planted weapons and paraphernalia ... wouldn't you?

10 hours ago, tbthailand said:

Weapons stolen 7 years ago and still hidden away ... 

 

Sure.

 

The Junta must think that Thais are stupid and will believe any old nonsense that the Junta spits out... 

They aren't? 

58 minutes ago, tbthailand said:

And are expensive.

 

right. And that is why this story of weapons from 7 years ago is so unbelievable, ... well, that and the complete lack of integrity and honesty that can be expected from anyone in power who has an obvious self-interest in the outcome of any particular affair.  This latter point being an issue that crosses all color-coded factions in Thailand.

 

The military are not geniuses. If I were betting on this, then I would put money on planted weapons and paraphernalia ... wouldn't you?

I only know the red shirts were a violent group with weapons just like those captured.  Caches like this have been found for years all over Thailand.  Not all are planted.  Guaranteed.

more likely sold by army personnel ...

On March 21, 2017 at 10:39 AM, craigt3365 said:

I only know the red shirts were a violent group with weapons just like those captured.  Caches like this have been found for years all over Thailand.  Not all are planted.  Guaranteed.

and the Yellow shirts are a violent group with weapons like those captured, but caches of them never seem to be found by this government.... Must be that none of them were ever planted... 

 

See what I mean?

 

The point here is not to deny that there are weapons in the hands of people who are willing to use them in Thailand, but rather the point is that it is a standard MO of the army to plant stuff and then "find" it... Been doing it for decades. They are pretty transparent. :) 

Someone re-posted a photo of the alleged items recovered and pointed out one glaring discrepancy that casts doubt over this case. Have any of you seen that? Don't want to give out too many specifics as this is quite a sensitive issue.  I value my health and sanity more... wink wink..

 

"Meanwhile, a DSI source said police requests to search Boonraksa Building inside the temple had been rejected because there were weapons belonging to the red-shirt leaders hidden there. The temple only permitted a search after the weapons had been moved out of the building, the source claimed."

The DSI forgot to mention that the temple was encircled by 4000 policemen and soldiers!