MILITARY BARS USE OF MUNITIONS AT CENTRE OF SCANDAL
10th April, 2011
By Wassana Nanuam
Bangkok Post
The army has suspended the use of the M198 shell used with 155mm towed artillery, following allegations that cluster bombs were employed in border clashes with Cambodia in early February.
The army, however, insisted this type of shell was not classified as a cluster bomb, despite some similarities.
The army has suspended the use of M198 shells and the French-made Caesar self-propelled howitzer since late February after Cambodian soldiers complained to the United Nations that Thai troops had used cluster bombs during clashes on Feb 4-6, said an army source.
Cambodian soldiers had collected samples of what they believed to be cluster bombs and showed them to the UN, said the source.
The Caesar self-propelled howitzer is usually used with "cargo" rounds that burst in the air into groups of multiple bomblets, but unlike the cluster bomb, these bomblets immediately explode on impact, said the source.
The cluster bomb is a munition that bursts into bomblets after being launched and these bomblets often lie dormant and could later explode, maiming or killing people or animals who happen upon it, the source said.
The army at first denied using a cluster bomb because it thought the term referred only to those dropped from aircraft, but the definition also covers ones fired from the ground if they later burst into multiple bomblets, said the source.
"But because some bomblets were duds, the Cambodian soldiers collected them as evidence to falsely accuse the Thai troops of using a cluster bomb," said the source.
"This claim is untrue because those bomblets automatically destroy themselves, otherwise the Cambodian troops would have been able to collect a far greater number of samples," said the source.
Normally, only a division commander would have had the authority to order the use of the artillery and its ammunition but at that moment the Thai troops had to respond immediately to the Cambodians' attacks to protect people living near the border, said the source.
"After that, a new order was issued that a request to use the artillery and its ammunition must be approved by the army chief first," the source said.
The Thai troops did not care if the weapons they used were cluster bombs, they just had to respond promptly as the Cambodians attacked Thai border villagers with artillery shells and BM-21 multiple rockets, the source said.
Army chief Gen Prayuth Chan-ocha had already received a report about the M198 ammunition matter but his decision on whether the army should admit to using cluster bombs or keep denying it remained unknown, said the source.
In any case, Thailand was not among the countries that have signed the Convention on Cluster Munitions, banning their use, said the source.
Therefore, the source said, even if the Thai troops had used cluster bombs in the border clashes with Cambodia, it would not have contravened any agreement or broken any law.
The Cluster Munition Coalition (CMC) last week said the Thai ambassador to the United Nations in Geneva confirmed Thailand's use of 155mm Dual Purpose Improved Conventional Munition (DPICM) cluster munitions at a meeting on Tuesday.
But Sihasak Phuangketkeow later denied that he said the Thai army used cluster munitions during the Thai-Cambodian border skirmish.
Mr Sihasak claimed he said the Thai army had actually used 155mm DPICMs, which it did not classify as cluster munitions.
He said the CMC misunderstood Thailand and was trying to pressure the country to accede to the Convention of Cluster Munitions.
The army has suspended the use of the M198 shell used with 155mm towed artillery, following allegations that cluster bombs were employed in border clashes with Cambodia in early February.
The army, however, insisted this type of shell was not classified as a cluster bomb, despite some similarities.
The army has suspended the use of M198 shells and the French-made Caesar self-propelled howitzer since late February after Cambodian soldiers complained to the United Nations that Thai troops had used cluster bombs during clashes on Feb 4-6, said an army source.
Cambodian soldiers had collected samples of what they believed to be cluster bombs and showed them to the UN, said the source.
The Caesar self-propelled howitzer is usually used with "cargo" rounds that burst in the air into groups of multiple bomblets, but unlike the cluster bomb, these bomblets immediately explode on impact, said the source.
The cluster bomb is a munition that bursts into bomblets after being launched and these bomblets often lie dormant and could later explode, maiming or killing people or animals who happen upon it, the source said.
The army at first denied using a cluster bomb because it thought the term referred only to those dropped from aircraft, but the definition also covers ones fired from the ground if they later burst into multiple bomblets, said the source.
"But because some bomblets were duds, the Cambodian soldiers collected them as evidence to falsely accuse the Thai troops of using a cluster bomb," said the source.
"This claim is untrue because those bomblets automatically destroy themselves, otherwise the Cambodian troops would have been able to collect a far greater number of samples," said the source.
Normally, only a division commander would have had the authority to order the use of the artillery and its ammunition but at that moment the Thai troops had to respond immediately to the Cambodians' attacks to protect people living near the border, said the source.
"After that, a new order was issued that a request to use the artillery and its ammunition must be approved by the army chief first," the source said.
The Thai troops did not care if the weapons they used were cluster bombs, they just had to respond promptly as the Cambodians attacked Thai border villagers with artillery shells and BM-21 multiple rockets, the source said.
Army chief Gen Prayuth Chan-ocha had already received a report about the M198 ammunition matter but his decision on whether the army should admit to using cluster bombs or keep denying it remained unknown, said the source.
In any case, Thailand was not among the countries that have signed the Convention on Cluster Munitions, banning their use, said the source.
Therefore, the source said, even if the Thai troops had used cluster bombs in the border clashes with Cambodia, it would not have contravened any agreement or broken any law.
The Cluster Munition Coalition (CMC) last week said the Thai ambassador to the United Nations in Geneva confirmed Thailand's use of 155mm Dual Purpose Improved Conventional Munition (DPICM) cluster munitions at a meeting on Tuesday.
But Sihasak Phuangketkeow later denied that he said the Thai army used cluster munitions during the Thai-Cambodian border skirmish.
Mr Sihasak claimed he said the Thai army had actually used 155mm DPICMs, which it did not classify as cluster munitions.
He said the CMC misunderstood Thailand and was trying to pressure the country to accede to the Convention of Cluster Munitions.
9 comments:
If Thailand can get away with it Cambodia should consider using in the next clash and see how Thailand react.
I tell you guy the truth...
Thailand's government and military are the most stupid one in the world.
Even I am young, I know this game clearly...
I know, my prime minister is so clever. We play with them....
Someone might be angry with the aggressive Thailand, but I am happy seeing this bully cow act and dance with a naked body.
If you guy know how to play chess, it is better.
Everything is under the our estimated plan.
Let see for the next election.
Thailand military insist that they don't use cluster bomb, buy they use DCPICM thing. It is the same.
These people are dumb and want other countries in the world dumb in as the same way as them.
The evidences are overwhelming and concrete Thai can deny all they want they only can fool their fellow country man but they can't fool the world community the world know what it is cluster bombs or not Thailand doesn't need to explains.
In the world of laws guilty 200% .
Thailand is outlaw country what you expect from country like that the only way to teach outlaw country is to beat them to submission .
Les thailandais sont des lâches !
De toute façon , ils ne vont pas reconnaître l'utilisation des bombies , malgrés des preuves accablantes !
Ils sont toujours malhonnêtes .
Le jour où il y a une bataille avec eux , les cambodgiens doivent aussi employer d'autres moyens plus méchants !
Listen you stupid Siem monkeys, if our brave soldiers were targeting civilian there would be more death and destructions than currently constituted. You Siem monkeys are liars and cheater and thieves. You broke international rules of engagement. you can deny all you wants. The world community already your behavior.
Cluster bombs and DPICMs are the same thing. So if Thailand admitted to have used DPICMs during the fighting, it is like admitting to have used cluster bombs. This is a war crime.
The condemnation of the use of cluster munition by Thai army from international community has emerged. This one is from Norwegian foreign ministry:
http://www.regjeringen.no/en/dep/ud/pressesenter/pressemeldinger/2011/klase_thailand.html?id=639681
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