Why is the Thai military so defensive over the controversial GT200 "dowsing rods"? This question was on many people's minds when they watched both foot soldiers and top brass declare on TV Thursday that these devices were working perfectly fine. The men in uniform went so far as to say 7,000 lives had been saved by these ridiculously expensive appliances in the violence-plagued deep South.
This show of solidarity becomes even more mind-boggling when one takes into account the fact that the British government has banned these devices - albeit only in terms of exports to Iraq and Afghanistan - and that a storm of criticism is exploding both here and abroad.
The defiance did not just mock the BBC's attempt to paint Thailand as a victim to the unscrupulous British manufacturer, but it also had significant ramifications on the country's chance to take legal action against the producer.
Basically, we can virtually kiss any compensation lawsuit goodbye. If I were the manufacturer, the first thing I would do is find a recording of the press conference and lock it up in the safest vault. In fact, I might even use this tape to sue the British government for defamation.
"The Thai military has said this device saved 7,000 lives, your honour. What stronger evidence do you need to prove that it works?" my lawyer would tell the court, and we would both end up grinning all the way to the bank.
It needs to be pointed out that the number 7,000 was derived from the amount of explosives or chemicals the device detected in the deep South according to the military. The figures were impressive and if it wasn't for the UK ban, they could be used to boost sales of GT200 devices.
Now back to the question: why is the Thai military so blatantly defending the use of these so-called bomb detectors while British critics insist that they are nothing more than an empty plastic case? Some sbservers have come up with a few explanations. Whether they are right or wrong, here goes:
- The military's stance might have to do with the simple impulse to save face. Many people would rather die than be called naive or gullible. Besides, losing Bt800 million of the taxpayers' money to fraudsters is a charge that few generals will dare accept, no matter how brave they can be on the battlefield.
- There are whispers about "commissions" - a common thing in any arms deal. Personally though, I don't believe in the theory that the military has mounted a staunch defence of GT200 because some people do not wish to return the cash they earned from the deal. What's done, is done, and I don't think there is any legal evidence to prove that money exchanged hands to cement the government's purchase of this device.
- Maybe these things do work. Perhaps, this seemingly futuristic technology only performs when it's in the hands of the right users.
- A combination of the first and third. The equipment might have actually worked more often than not, and the military will stop at nothing to defend its dignity. If that is indeed the case, then Thursday's press conference carried a clear message: "We are no fools and here's proof."
Whatever the real motives are, this issue, which first started in the UK, has put the Abhisit government and the military on a collision course. Both sides should still be able to work things out, but Thursday's near-childish confrontation ("it works" versus "no, it doesn't") has caused undue tension ahead of next week's "Judgement Day" and made Thailand's already complex political situation even worse.
