National park rangers seeking more weapons

Apart from new firearms, the department is also seeking another 300 firearms from the Army - 200 HK assault rifles and 100 shotguns - as well as to borrow 150 bulletproof vests, director general Kasemsant Jinnawaso said.

The department is also seeking funding for the purchase of 700 HK or M16 rifles as well as another 300 shotguns, he said, adding that weapons were needed because poachers and illegal loggers were dangerous and frequently better armed than the rangers.

He said the department was pushing for a legal amendment so it can buy weapons without the Army's intervention. Under the new weapons quota, rangers' squads will be equipped with one automatic rifle and shotguns for all members.

The Army recalled all 300 firearms from the department during political conflicts prior to the military coup on September 19, 2006, reportedly to prevent the forest rangers, then under the supervision of a Thai Rak Thai executive who was opposed to the military, from using them in anticoup campaigns.