Jakrapob rails against weapons charges and accuses regime of human rights abuses

It was unclear whether he was referring to returning to Thailand.
Jakrapob and four other suspects are wanted on arrest warrants issued last week in connection with the reported discovery of military-grade weapons in Chachoengsao’s Bang Nam Priao district last week.
The former deputy commander of the 3rd Army Region, Lt-General Manas Paorik, as well as Wattana Sapwichian, Chaiwat Polpho and Somjet Khongwattana were also named as key suspects.
“The military government has just pressed charges against me and a few others of possessing military weapons with the intent to use them for political purposes,” he said on Facebook yesterday. 
Jakropob is known to be residing outside of Thailand.
The charges against him and the others were false, groundless and a major violation of human rights, he said, adding that he had left the Kingdom in exile since the political turmoil in 2009. 
“Any idea of using violence has never been a part of my political thinking and planning,” he said. 
While there was no information about Chaiwat and Somjet yesterday, Manas surrendered to authorities and was freed on bail on Thursday.
Meanwhile, Wattana was summoned and detained for questioning on December 1 and released on Thursday, according to junta Spokesman Maj-General Piyapong Klinpan yesterday.
Wattana had provided authorities with useful information, he said.
Wattana was convicted of crimes in 2014 related to military weapons and sentenced to 40 months in jail. Because of his confession, his jail term was commuted to 20 months and he had just completed the term. 
National Police Commissioner Pol General Chakthip Chaijinda said yesterday that Deputy National Police Commissioner Pol General Srivara Ransibrahmanakul was investigating the origins of the military weapons that were discovered in Chachoengsao late last month. 
Chakthip added that police had actually discovered military weapons periodically between 2014 and 2017.
“We have been closely monitoring groups related to national security, politics and social media mobilisation,” he said. “Without active intelligence operations, we would have not been able to seize the latest batch of military weapons.” 
In a separate development, Deputy Prime Minister General Prawit Wongsuwan will call a meeting with security agencies to discuss security measures next Thursday, Defence Ministry spokesman Lt-General Kongcheep Tantrawanich said. 
Prawit has ordered security agencies including the military, police and security officials from the Interior Ministry to gather information to prepare security measures for the public as well as measures for road safety, he said. 
The information will include past statistics for crime rates, unrest, road accidents and casualties, as well as drugs, he said. The measure was expected to be implemented from this month until after New Year’s, Kongcheep said.