5 replies to this topic

[Sexpat]

"An adviser to the Central Islamic Committee of Thailand (CICOT) yesterday called for retrials of insurgents or sympathisers in the South whose convictions were based on initial screenings by the GT200 explosives scanner.

Assoc Prof Jaral Maluleem said a scientific test proving the failings of the controversial device would mean all prosecutions and convictions relying on GT200 verification were in violation of human rights. He called on the military and the authorities to offer compensatory damages.

The Cross Cultural Foundation based in the deep South, said more than 4,000 people had been classified sympathisers since 2007 as a result of initial evidence based on GT200 scan results. The device was widely used in searches and raids by security officials on local communities. Most detainees were held automatically for a 37 day period or underwent four month forced rehabilitation courses.

Foundation director Phornphen Khongkajornkiat called on the government to set up an independent committee to investigate complaints lodged by those believed wrongfully detained or convicted, in order to pay them compensation. "There are also 500 inmates convicted and imprisoned for securityrelated incidents, who could also be innocent," she added."

http://www.nationmultimedia.com/2010/02/18...al_30122871.php

[Finian]

What's totally amazing to me is that some Thai generals fighting in the South are saying that they intend to continue using these worthless boxes to detect explosives, even though the Prime Minister recommends they be discontinued.

[DOLLY]

It looks like the army brass is starting to retreat from their faith in their Ouija Board boxes:

"To compromise with the Prime Minister, Army chief Anupong Paochinda said yesterday he would limit use of the GT200 bomb detector only to locating explosive substances and not as a scanner to sniff suspects' bodies as done previously. The operators also must be careful, as the equipment is not so accurate in indicating bombs, Anupong told reporters in the southernmost Yala province where he flew together with Deputy Prime Minister Suthep Thaugsuban on an inspection tour.

The expensive GT200 bomb detector failed to pass scientific tests last week. Its performance was equivalent to what might be detected by chance. As the performance of the equipment is questionable so the operators should be more careful," Anupong said."

[Garcia]

To compromise with the Prime Minister, Army chief Anupong Paochinda said yesterday he would limit use of the GT200 bomb detector...

There's what's wrong with this country's miliary institutions. The army chief is there to obey, not compromise, the orders of the prime minister. This kind of compromise could be privately discussed between the two men, but in public, the general is there to do one thing: execute the orders of the civilian government. If the Pm says to discontinue use of a worthless black box, that's all she wrote.

[Bob]

the general is there to do one thing: execute the orders of the civilian government

If you believe that, you simply have no grasp of how things work in Thailand. Presently, the civilian government (Khun Opposite) exists because of the grace of the general. The next coup will be the 20th or 21st in the last 70 years?

[Tony]

Chicken Little retreats:

"Premier Abhisit Vejjajiva relented yesterday to the Army's reliance on the unproven GT200 bomb detectors, but insisted that they must not be used against people.

"An immediate ban could lead to chaos," Abhisit said. "Those working in the field will ask what alternative do they have. And what can we say if we order a ban and bombs explode immediately?"

The "users who have come to trust" the device still had to be convinced, he said. "Time is needed to get those working [in the deep South] to understand the situation. But one thing must be clear. The device must not be used against human beings, as mistakes can lead to problems, not to mention lawsuits," he added.

"At tomorrow's Cabinet meeting, I will instruct the [Science] ministry to come up with a plan to decommission the GT200s," he said.The plan should include measures to assist the military in finding new devices, he said.

It was understandable why, in the absence of a replacement, the military wanted to keep the detectors in service, he said. "But everyone must bear in mind that the GT200 was proven ineffective," he said.

He dismissed claims that he lacked the courage to confront the military and phase out the detectors. That might hurt troop morale because soldiers needed to be well equipped to do their job, he said, reaffirming that a substitute would need to be available before the GT200 was withdrawn."

http://www.nationmultimedia.com/home/2010/...s-30123128.html