StoneSoup Posted June 9, 2006 Report Share Posted June 9, 2006 Man, you just can't make this shit up - extra points to the governor of Pattani for "thinking outside the box." From Thursday's Bangkok Post - page 2: Plan to pay civilians who shoot rebels Fears it may inspire extra-judicial killing BANGKOK POST and ISSARA NEWS CENTRE The governor of Pattani wants to offer cash rewards of 50,000-100,000 baht to civilians who kill or injure insurgents in gun fights. He says rewards would give people an incentive to fight back, but academics and law experts argue it would just encourage more extra-judicial killing. However, caretaker Justice Minister Chidchai Wannasathit and army chief Sonthi Boonyaratglin appeared to second the idea yesterday. Pattani governor Panu Uthairat said his proposal was a security measure aimed at protecting the lives of innocent people in the province. ''In some cases, people want to retaliate. Some have fired warning shots into the sky. Others clashed with insurgents who were killed or wounded in the process,'' he said.''Some wounded insurgents were caught. In the past, we handed out 5,000 to 10,000 baht in cash to civilians to boost their morale so they will fight back in self-defence,'' he said. A source said civilians would be given 50,000 baht each if their return fire hit any insurgents, leading to their capture. The amount would double if the insurgents were killed. Mr Panu said the authorities could not provide security for people around the clock. People should learn to protect themselves. They should be permitted to carry guns but only use them in self-defence, he said. Legal experts questioned the Pattani governor's authority to offer a cash reward. Outgoing Bangkok Senator Sak Kosaengruang, formerly president of the Lawyers Council, said the idea was dangerous and unlawful. If the reward was offered to police, it would lead to extra-judicial killing by unscrupulous officers, he warned. Mr Sak said the governor should tell people how he had conceived the idea and where he would find the money to pay the rewards. ''What I want to know is whether the Southern Border Peace-building Command is aware of this policy,'' Mr Sak said. The command is in charge of security administration in the deep South. Pol Gen Chidchai, also a deputy prime minister, downplayed fears a reward-system would give rise to extra-judicial killings. He promised to consider both sides of the proposal. Gen Sonthi said the reward offer was a strategy by the governor to stimulate people to be extra careful. People should trust the government's judgment in tailoring anti-insurgent strategies to the region. Two soldiers were shot dead in Yala's Bannang Sata district yesterday. Sgt-Maj Charaewat Khamnoei and Pvt Mongkol Prasuk were ambushed while providing motorcycle escort for teachers. Assailants fired shots at them shortly after a bomb blast. Caretaker Interior Minister Kongsak Wantana said the government would carefully study all aspects of the National Reconciliation Commission's proposal that the Yawi dialect should be introduced as the second official language in the deep South Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
vegasdave49 Posted June 9, 2006 Report Share Posted June 9, 2006 Wow! Only in LOS. Lets see, hmmm ok an insugent kills a civilian, then exchages clothes ect and collects the 100,000. Nice way to fund their activities. But on the other hand in LOS this idea might just work. There is part of me that thinks it will. Cowards do indeed cowar when confronted with actual threats. Also it could really help out the region economicaly. Can you imagine a village going after all these guys. Next thing you know they will be building new homes and driving new step throughs. The other thought is if a farlang was involved do they get the money. Probably need a work permit, oh well. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ckrisg Posted June 9, 2006 Report Share Posted June 9, 2006 Do all insurgents wear the same type of clothes then. I think its a great idea, I could organise trip for hunters sort of a live safari :: Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Palad_khik Posted June 9, 2006 Report Share Posted June 9, 2006 Harkens back to all the durg dealers that were shot dead. I found it oddly coincidental how virtually all were found splayed out amidst broken packets of YaBa pills. If this goes through, don't you think there'll be an immediate spike in the value of second-hand guns? Shoot first and plant later... if necessary... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Posted June 10, 2006 Report Share Posted June 10, 2006 Harkens back to all the durg dealers that were shot dead. I found it oddly coincidental how virtually all were found splayed out amidst broken packets of YaBa pills. cut down on the competiton drastically. I think some ppl in the south will use this to get rid of their rivals ( business, personal relationships, ect) even for uneducated persons it won't be a great leap of logic Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Flashermac Posted June 10, 2006 Report Share Posted June 10, 2006 Beg pardon, but does anyone realise how difficult it is to own a firearm in Thailand LEGALLY. One can own a single shot muzzle loading rifle or musket, which is what upcountry farmers sometimes hunt with. But anything else takes a helluva lot of paperwork and some heavy political influence to buy it from a gunshot, which records the purchaser's ID and permit. Even the Thai police are not supposed to carry their weapon off duty. Perhaps 80% of the pistols in private hands are owned illegally. So is this meant to give a carte blanche to illegal firearms and their use, or does the guv expect farmers to go out hunting well armed seperatist rebels armed only with a single shot muzzle loader of the type our ancestors carried 200 years ago? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MaiLuk Posted June 10, 2006 Report Share Posted June 10, 2006 >>A source said civilians would be given 50,000 baht each if their return fire hit any insurgents, leading to their capture. The amount would double if the insurgents were killed.<< For that kind of dosh i wouild think some gangs from bangkok and other places would make their way south and it would be open season on muslims. That is alot of baht! The place should be crawling with assassin types in dark sunglasses and cops from around thailand on vacation. Reminds me of the old west. The marshall would deputize the civilians and the posse would hunt down and lynch the outlaw or the indians who refused to vacate. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Posted June 11, 2006 Report Share Posted June 11, 2006 "Beg pardon, but does anyone realise how difficult it is to own a firearm in Thailand LEGALLY" anyone point this out to the bad guys? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Flashermac Posted June 12, 2006 Report Share Posted June 12, 2006 Bad guys don't follow laws. That is the absurdity with firearm control laws. Apparently, this brilliant guv in Pattani plans to reward the bad guys ... for killing other bad guys. Might be a clever idea after all. Get the troublemakers to eliminate each other... p.s. Note that except for Bangkok, governors are appointed civil servants. The folks in Pattani had no say in picking this lunatic, who more than likely is not even a southerner, let alone a Muslim. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Posted June 13, 2006 Report Share Posted June 13, 2006 "he folks in Pattani had no say in picking this lunatic" only a lunatic would take the job (IMHO) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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