Military admits firing at reds

[Flashermac]

Bangkok Post

14 Apr 2010

 

 

 

Some soldiers fired live rounds at red shirt demonstrators to provide cover for injured comrades as they were retreating during Saturday's clashes, a spokesman for the Centre for Public Administration in Emergency Situations says.

 

Col Sansern Kaewkamnerd said yestersday the soldiers had no choice but to open fire at terrorists hiding among demonstrators to protect their colleagues. They were ready to testify before the committee investigating the clashes.

 

The CPAES released its comments as public suspicions grow over the use of violence by government forces during the April 10 violence. Video footage, including news coverage by foreign media outlets, shows pictures of soldiers firing automatic guns in the direction of red shirt protesters.

 

Col Sansern told a news conference yesterday soldiers only fired live rounds for two reasons. First, they fired into the air to intimidate demonstrators, and then at advancing crowds to protect the lives of wounded comrades. They fired only one bullet at a time and did not switch to fully automatic to avoid causing more casualties, he said.

 

The CPAES showed reporters five video clips of Saturday's clashes. One of the clips showed soldiers firing at demonstrators. According to Col Sansern, the soldiers were protecting the injured as they were retreating from the area.

 

[color:red]In another clip, a red shirt demonstrator was shot in the head from behind. Col Sansern said judging from the direction, it meant the man was not shot by a soldier.[/color]

 

[color:red]Other clips include the accounts of red shirt protesters saying they saw a man wearing a blue shirt firing some kind of explosive from a rooftop of a building; another red shirt protester asks, "Has Seh Daeng [Maj Gen Khattiya Sawasdipol] come to help us?"; and footage of red shirt protesters attacking authorities and blocking a vehicle carrying the injured to hospital.[/color]

 

Col Sansern said judging from the five video clips he did not believe red shirt leaders were unaware there was a group of terrorists among the demonstrators.

 

Meanwhile, Maj Gen Khattiya, an army "specialist" who supports the red shirts, claimed armed militants he called "Ronin warriors" fired weapons at soldiers after soldiers fired M16 rifles at red shirt demonstrators first.

 

He said he believed those firing the M16 rifles were army snipers. They fired from the rooftops of high buildings in the area.

 

"Ronin warriors", originally called "King Taksin's warriors" when set up by the red shirt movement after the 2006 coup, were trained by Seh Daeng until he stopped when ordered by the army.

 

Meanwhile, Bangkok Emergency Medical Service's Erawan Centre yesterday confirmed two more deaths from the April 10 clash, bringing the number of fatalities to 23. The two latest victims are Pvt Anupol Hommalee, 29, and Napaton Paopanas, a 30-year-old civilian.

 

Pvt Anupol succumbed to shrapnel wounds to his head, while Napaton died from a gunshot wound to his abdomen.

 

The centre reported 195 injured civilians and soldiers are still in hospital, with 14 in a serious condition.

 

 

Rink

 

[Wallenda]

So what would happen in England if a military commander was referring to guys who were firing on his own army's troops as "warriors". Court martial at least. Probable dishonorable discharge.

[TheCorinthian]

I cant speak for the rest of the post but I watched the one from France today. On a list of firearms experts on Thai360 I would have to be near the top, and I can tell you there is no way to tell if the troops in that video are shooting metal or rubber bullets.

 

In fact there is next to no way to know with out taking the weapon and unloading it and looking.

[Flashermac]

Can M16s fire rubber bullets? I wouldn't know, since we only used ball cartridges against the bad guys.

 

And what are those strange looking weapons with the long barrel and a wooden stock? I figured they must be some sort of rubber bullet weapon. The police have them.

 

p.s. Wonder if the troops were armed with rubber bayonets.

 

 

[TheCorinthian]

Yes, there are rubber bullets for just about any fire arm these days.

 

They are simply regular rounds with a rubber projectile instead of a metal one. (They do gunk up the barrel a bit though.) At close range they will really hurt you, and just like a bb gun, a hit in a soft part like the eye, ear, mouth, ect., will draw blood.

 

I cant get a good enough look at the other weapons from that link to tell what they are, but could be some sort of LTL gun.

[Flashermac]

Maybe the Thai army should use paint ball guns on the reds. Use some kind of dye that won't wash out for a month. Make it easy to tell who was involved in a riot.

 

 

[TheCorinthian]

We have stuff like that. It is a sticky shit that is not soluble in water. Makes a hell of a mess and is just hard as crap to get off. And it glows!!!

[Julian2]

Yes, there are rubber bullets for just about any fire arm these days.

 

They are simply regular rounds with a rubber projectile instead of a metal one. (They do gunk up the barrel a bit though.) At close range they will really hurt you, and just like a bb gun, a hit in a soft part like the eye, ear, mouth, ect., will draw blood.

 

I cant get a good enough look at the other weapons from that link to tell what they are, but could be some sort of LTL gun.

I seem to recall quite serious injuries and even deaths occurring during troop control of riots during the Irish "troubles".

The instructions seemed to be to bounce them off the ground in front of the crowd to slow them down a little rather than aim directly.

[Flashermac]

Those were big things fired from a special rifle. As I recall, if they hit you in the head they could do you in.

 

 

[TheCorinthian]

If you get hit in the head with a rubber bullet form a conventional rifle it can kill you, esp at close range. I think the idea is to be less lethal than a real round, which will sure enough kill you.

 

But google "rubber bullet" and hit the "images" button. Plenty of pics of the damage they can do.

 

 

(Personally, I would be doing other things to break up the protest if I were in command. None of which call for shooting at anyone.)