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Discussion 1 : 15/07/2012 at 12:44 AM

Loss of face is far more important than loss of lives in Thailand, unfortunately.

Discussion 2 : 14/07/2012 at 10:06 PM

We must grant the army chief that whatever the army buys, it always serves - if not something, than still someone.

Discussion 3 : 14/07/2012 at 09:12 PM

@discussion 17 -"Do the Thai police and/or military ever utilize dogs for this sort of thing?" Yes, I have seen them doing so. But more often the police apparently do it with "intuition". I saw my local police reacting to a suspicious package a year or so ago. First, they ordered everyone away from it and put an old car tyre around the possible bomb. Then they called for help. An officer soon drove up in a pickup and put on a pair of latex gloves (for protection or to prevent static electricity?). Then he picked up the package, placed it in the back of the pickup and drove off with it. I think he was taking it to the police station!

Discussion 4 : 14/07/2012 at 09:08 PM

In defense of the army, well not really. The device may be a deterrent even though it doesn't work. If the population and insurgents thinks it may work it is a deterrent, although a dangerous one.

Discussion 5 : 14/07/2012 at 09:05 PM

The courage of this general has to be admired. There are 21 discussion entries to this story and not a single one is positive. Who is he trying to fool then?

Discussion 6 : 14/07/2012 at 08:03 PM

They must be very effective in the south as they say, since you never hear of deaths and injuries due to bombs in the south, do you?

Discussion 7 : 14/07/2012 at 07:53 PM

@Discussion 7: The test conducted previously DID NOT demonstrate that the device worked 20% of the time. The operator had to tell which of 4 containers had explosives in it, therefore, using pure luck he'd get 25% success in average. With the machine they scored 20%, which is EVEN LESS than pure luck!!! This device is less effective than a coin toss. It can't save any lives.

Discussion 8 : 14/07/2012 at 02:16 PM

I would love to see the army chief use one in a live testing setup by a third party to see how effective it is. If anyone read the brochure for the GT200, its quite a miracle device - heck you might even detect a lying politician using one. The army is alone on this one, both PT and DEM have said this device is no good.

Discussion 9 : 14/07/2012 at 01:25 PM

The person who sells these devices is facing fraud and bribery charges in the UK. There is no dispute in the UK and elsewhere that they don't work. Look it up on sites outside of Thailand (a good aggregator of the story can be found here: http://asiancorrespondent.com/85738/uk-fraud-charges-for-selling-gt200-like-dowsing-rod/). But in Thailand, the army officers and other officials responsible for this acquisitions insist - against all evidence - that it works. I think we all know what is really going on here.

Discussion 10 : 14/07/2012 at 01:19 PM

Quick question: Do the Thai police and/or military ever utilize dogs for this sort of thing? (I guess this question could be extended to drugs as well as bomb making material). They're highly effective in other parts of the world, and there's no shortage of free dogs hanging around. Training can be a lengthy process, but from what I understand virtually any dog can do it.

Discussion 11 : 14/07/2012 at 12:42 PM

Proven to be effective in the army's operations although a coin toss is more accurate.

Discussion 12 : 14/07/2012 at 12:15 PM

D9: Very interesting. Any idea as to why he seems to be saying one thing to the English language press and quite another to the Thai press?

Discussion 13 : 14/07/2012 at 12:07 PM

I used to be 100% skeptical about dowsing, until I found out I could do it myself. Reading about it it seems about one person in five has this ability to some degree. This is why these devices work 20% of the time (1 in 5). What is wrong is dressing these devices up as science and charging extortionate prices for them. I can do the same thing with two bits of bent wire.

Discussion 14 : 14/07/2012 at 11:20 AM

Frim Wiki: Pornthip Rojanasunand, Director of the Central Institute of Forensic Science, also defended the use of the GT200 devices, claiming that they were effective when searching for bombs and even nails under water. She said: "I do not feel embarrassed if the bomb detector is proven ineffective. Personally, I have never handled the device myself. But my people have used it and it is accurate every time. Long long time ago, people believed that the Earth is flat and anyone who said otherwise faced execution. Things which are not visible does not necessarily mean they do not exist. The devices are there and no one has the right to ban their use. I will continue to use it."

Discussion 15 : 14/07/2012 at 11:06 AM

Whatever happened to the investigation related to the procurement of these devices? There must have been real people involved. What are their names, job titles, what was the timing, where are the copies of the meeting minutes, their travels, where can one find copies of purchase contracts, what procedures were used in the detector's performance validation and who gave the final OK? All of the above will explain the general's position.

Discussion 16 : 14/07/2012 at 11:00 AM

A British university professor took the 'detector' cards to bits and examined them found out that they are 100% useless. The man who sells them is now being sued. Gen. Prayuth, Sir, the truth is out. Stop endangering life with a piece of rubbish just to save face because the Thai authorities bought some! from iPhone application.

Discussion 17 : 14/07/2012 at 10:20 AM

เมื่อถามย้ำว่ากองทัพภาคที่ 4 ยังใช้จีที 200 หรือไม่ พล.อ.ประยุทธ์ กล่าวว่า ไม่ได้ใช้แล้ว (…) หลังจากที่เครื่องมือตรวจวัตถุระเบิดมีปัญหาทาง พล.อ.ประยุทธ์ ก็สั่งการไม่กำลังพลในกองทัพภาคที่ 4 ใช้งานเพราะเกรงว่ากำลังพลจะไม่ปลอดภัย และขณะนี้ จีที 200 ถูกเก็บไว้ในกองทัพภาคที่ 4 When asked about whether or not the 4th Army Region is still using the GT200, General Prayuth says it is not being used anymore. (…) After the bomb-detecting devices have been found problematic, General Prayuth has ordered personnel in the 4th Army Region not to use it because it was deemed unsafe and the GT200 devices have been stored in the 4th Army Region. “‘ประยุทธ์’แจงทบ.ไม่ได้ใช้’จีที200′แล้ว“, Krungthep Turakij, July 13, 2012

Discussion 18 : 14/07/2012 at 10:19 AM

I'll get the same results simply by picking randomly, and all for the low low price of only half a million baht!

Discussion 19 : 14/07/2012 at 10:11 AM

Already thoroughly tested and discredited under its previous incarnation, the ADE 651. Does it need to be retested just because it has a fresh coat of paint?

Discussion 20 : 14/07/2012 at 10:01 AM

"I affirm that the device is still effective. Other armed forces are also using it," the army chief said. In a scientific test conducted in Thailand, GT-200 managed to find bomb 20% of the time. This will be able to save 20 live out of 100 killed. Not bad for merely 1 million baht per machine.

Discussion 21 : 14/07/2012 at 09:05 AM

Sadly, this comes from the same Armed Forces whose top Air Force commander said with a straight face that two F16's suffered simultaneous engine failures rather than simply admit the pilots collided while playing Top Gun. D3 said it well.

Discussion 22 : 14/07/2012 at 08:11 AM

Even if a scientific test is done, how is he going to understand the results? Other armed forces are using it. Thanks general for that exhaustive listing.

Discussion 23 : 14/07/2012 at 07:21 AM

Can we plop one of the detectors in the generals hands and then place him in a mine field. Love to see his reaction.

Discussion 24 : 14/07/2012 at 07:14 AM

corruption is still corruption regardless of what color it is. It has already been shown that it is nothing but a plastic box with a flashing light on it. There are nothing inside it to detect anything. D2 commonman is correct...the main feature of this device is the maximum kickback rate. That is also the main feature of used weapons. Any elected government that does not play the game will be on the wrong side of a coup. Now I believe the PT is playing the game with them as well and have agreed to spend on what they want and no questions asked.

Discussion 25 : 14/07/2012 at 05:31 AM

It's a matter face for the Army Chief but it's a matter of life and death for the soldiers. Let's get an official scientific test.

Discussion 26 : 14/07/2012 at 05:20 AM

Is admitting that the military got duped so embarrassing to Prayuth that he would prefer not to "lose face" over not putting people's lives at stake?

Discussion 27 : 14/07/2012 at 05:02 AM

It is very effective when used in coordination with a blimp, submarine or aircraft carrier. It can locate and dispell hot air. And, best of all, it is eligible for the maximum kick-back, 90%. lol

Discussion 28 : 14/07/2012 at 04:52 AM

Mr. Prayuth, if you do not use GT two hundred How those foreign companies will earn their butter and bread? Please don't worry even a bit Keep using this obsolete kit.