CRES display weapons used by armed elements

On 22 May 2010, Deputy Prime Minister Suthep Thaugsuban, in his capacity as the Director of the Centre for the Resolution of the Emergency Situation (CRES), together with Lieutenant General Daopong Rattanasuwan, Deputy Chief of Staff of the Royal Thai Army, Police Lieutenant General Santhan Chayanond, Commissioner of the Metropolitan Police, Lieutenant General Khanit Saphitak, Commander of the Army Region I, Khunying Porntip Rojanasunand, Director of the Central Institute of Forensic Science of the Ministry of Justice, and Colonel Sansern Kaewkamnerd, the CRES Spokesman, gave a briefing for the diplomatic corps, foreign defence attaches, as well as Thai and international media, on the overall operations of the security officers pursuant to the demonstrations by the United Front for Democracy against Dictatorship (UDD). Particular focus was given to the weapons that have been found and seized from the protest site and nearby areas, which were displayed during the briefing.

Deputy Prime Minister Suthep noted that while the UDD leaders – during their protests – had insisted in telling others that there were no terrorist elements among the protesters and no weapons in the protest areas, the truth has proven otherwise. After the protests ended, police and military officers conducted searches to clear the area accompanied by members of the press. They had discovered in the protest area a large number of weapons used by armed elements against security officers and members of the public. These included M79 grenade launchers, M-16 machine guns, guns the protesters had seized from security officers on 10 April 2010, as well as different types of grenades and materials used as components for car bombs. He stated that the weapons discovered and the perpetrators arrested would be used as evidence and witnesses, respectively in taking further legal action.

The Deputy Prime Minister noted that there were more weapons, but these were taken by those armed elements who had escaped. The security officers, he stressed, would do their utmost to seek them out and prevent further incidents.

On his part, Colonel Sansern elaborated on acts of arson and the weapons found. While it might be partly true that certain acts of arson and also of looting were due to some protesters’ anger and frustration, the fact remains that most acts were premeditated and done upon instructions from leaders in and outside of the country. To prove the point, seven video clips were played showing Police Lieutenant Colonel Thaksin Shinawatra, Jatuporn Phromphan, Arisman Pongruengrong, Veera Musikapong, and Nattawut Saikuea telling UDD protesters on different occasions that if anything happened to the protesters, they should, among other things, gather at provincial halls and raze them to the ground and that Bangkok would be a “sea of fire”. One clip also showed one protest leader speaking about unidentified armed groups who would come to help the protesters. These, according to Colonel Sansern, served as proof of the acts of terrorism and made self-evident the connection between the mastermind overseas and those in the country as well as their operators. He also showed photographs of armed elements, saying that they were dressed like police and military officers to cause misunderstanding.

With regard to the use of war weapons, the CRES Spokesman noted, first, that the weapons were illegally used to create a situation. These included M 79 and RPGs. An attempt was made to damage Wat Prakaew (Temple of the Emerald Buddha) with an RGP by shooting it over the Ministry of Defence, but it hit the Ministry instead. An RPG was also used to shoot at a petroleum tank.
In Bangkok and its vicinities, he said, there were a total of 46 bombing incidents, and 116 bomb counts. A total of 411 officers and 991 civilians were injured, making the total number 1,402. As for deaths, 11 soldiers and 74 civilians lost their lives, making the total 85, during period from when the demonstrations began in March until 19 May 2010 when it ceased.

As for weapons found, Colonel Sansern noted that they could categorized into different types, including guns (e.g. M-16 machine guns, AK-47, handguns and other types, including those which the protesters had seized from security officers), grenades (e.g. thrown-typed and other types such as 82-2, the M67, K75, M26, as well as incendiary bombs and giant firecrackers), bullets including different types of M79, 79 of which had been fired by armed groups, and casings which would be used as evidence of the use of weapons in the protest area.

In addition, Khunying Pornthip spoke about attempts to use car bombs. Four vehicles containing bombing devices were found in different locations on 19 and 20 May 2010, including at Ploenchit Intersection, in front of Martyr Dei School, on the bridge crossing Sansaeb Canal on Chidlom Road, and on the Chalermlok Bridge near the Central World.

Lieutenant General Daopong added that the weapons found, including home-made ones, were lethal. He also stressed that on 10 April 2010, the security officers were not the ones attacking the demonstrators because they were ordered not to use weapons against people even though they were fired on by M79 grenades. The officers, he said, operated under two principles consistent with international practice, namely, to use measures from light to heavy ones and to use weapons only in self defence, not to attack. Thereafter, these rules had to be adapted to take into account armed elements among the protesters so as to protect the lives of the security personnel and those of innocent people.

Finally, Deputy Prime Minister Suthep asked the public to inform the authorities if they had any lead about those armed with such weapons, so as to prevent further harm being inflicted on innocent people.

22 May 2010