Major weapon find in Nakhon Ratchasima
An arsenal: that is how the collection of war weapons, which was found on Monday in a home in Nakhon Ratchasima, can be called. The police want to know: where did the brand new guns come from and who paid for them? Yesterday the find was shown to the media and that resulted in beautiful pictures (see photo).
The police investigation focuses on an armed network affiliated with the red shirts in Khon Kaen. The man who was arrested in the house would have ties to it. The weapon find is therefore no secret: four automatic M-16 rifles, six other automatic rifles, including an AK-47, two machine guns, a shotgun, a firecracker launcher, an M-79 grenade launcher, two bulletproof vests and various types of ammunition and grenades.
The police are trying to determine the origin of the weapons by looking at the registration numbers and government service symbols on some of the weapons. With the tracing of the financier, the police also hope that the mastermind of the operation.
Police consider it unlikely that the arrested man, Noppadol Petchmadan, 42, paid for the guns out of his own pocket, although Noppadol claimed during his interrogation that he bought the guns himself for prices ranging from 5.000 to 20.000 baht each. He denied any involvement with the network and said he was well known to many people in the arms trade, including soldiers, police and government officials.
Monday's weapon discovery follows a raid on May 23 in an apartment in Muang (Khon Kaen). There, the army detained 22 people who were preparing an action in Khon Kaen and other northeastern provinces in response to the military coup. Those guys would have ties to hawks in the red shirt movement. Since then, more suspects have been arrested and weapons have been found in other provinces.
The deadline for handing in illegal weapons without repercussions expired yesterday. Those who are still caught with that stuff now can wet their chest. They will be arrested and prosecuted, warns NCPO's Phaiboon Khumchaya.
Between June 19 and Monday, a large amount of illegal weapons was handed over to the authorities: 59 weapons of war, 32 rifles, 228 pistols, 33.884 rounds of ammunition, 332 hand grenades, 182 grenades and 356 weapon parts.
(Source: Bangkok Post, June 26, 2014)
I feel that this find is just the tip of the iceberg, it indicates that the military has taken over at the right time. If the registration numbers are registered then it seems like a piece of cake to me (provided the weapons come from Thailand) to track down the suppliers.
It is clear that something is going on with regard to investigations. Even here near me. The main road of Si Chumphu was watched by 2 x 2 police officers with guns yesterday. There were even two cars on the approach road to our village. Here too 2 people from the reserve police, so to speak, or vigilante, were standing by. For the first time I've seen these people with a gun. Normally they have sticks or a matrak.
A regime that wants to underline the correctness of the committed coup could of course also arrange such 'finds'…………… That would not be unique in history.
@ Cornelis Perhaps not unique, but difficult to keep a secret when many people are involved. In this case, the arrested suspect would also be involved in the plot. He even admitted to buying the weaponry. For the time being I assume that the report about the weapon find is reliable, unless the contrary appears.
@ Cornelis It was not a coup, it was rice farmers dressed as soldiers who wanted to arrange their money in this way……..That was unique in history. (LOL)
Hello wise gentlemen from the EU, are you paying attention??? (see : https://www.thailandblog.nl/nieuws/eu-bevriest-diplomatieke-banden-met-thailand/)
Instead of condemning the army and freezing everything, you can also be happy that they are doing a good job!
This could have turned into a much bigger problem if "democracy" is at stake
Hi Rick,
Agree with you Rik, not only the "wise gentlemen" from the EU but also
from the USA!
Inge
Dear Rick and Inge,
In the EU and the US people do not realize that the majority of Thais are fine with the army taking action after almost 6 months of demonstration and disturbances.
Hi Chris and Rick,
In the US in particular, people do not realize what is going on in other countries; they explain everything and everyone
along the US yardstick, which is quite limited.
Have lived in different countries for years, can talk about it!
Ask the average American where Thailand is; they have no idea!
Inge