The army humiliated : bozo explosive detectors “proven not effective”

At last !

The GT200 bomb detector has been found ineffective in field tests and no more of the devices will be purchased, Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva said on Tuesday.

Mr Abhisit said this in a press conference in the presence of army chief Gen Anupong Paojinda.

He said field trials by a committee of the Science and Technology Ministry found that the GT200 correctly detected explosives only four times in 20 tests.

“GT200 itself cannot be used alone without help from other devices,” said the prime minister. (Bangkok Post)

At last, common sense has prevailed.

Since the BBC has exposed the scandal, and since the british government has banned export of this “empty box” linked to antenna, the case was closed.

But of course, it was too much to handle for many thai officials, among the army but not only.

The loss of face was just terrible. First the buying price was inflated (corruption of course, like a red spot on the nose)… and then those “devices” were absolutely grotesque and ineffective, based on “voodoo science black magic”.

You know…. “magnetism”, “terrestrial force”, “spirit”… THE WAVES (micro, short, long who cares).

I repeat : the waves 😉

So we can congratulate the Prime Minister (for once, it’s a rare event on this blog).

Now of course, it’s too much to ask for the culprits and all the believers to be punished. No that won’t happen of course. Anyway it’s still a great victory of intelligence over dirty, muddy, sticky stupidity.

Let’s now have a look at the hall of fame of clowns :

Ombudsman, Mr Pramote Chotimongkol, announced to the public over the progress of the GT 200 investigation, that so far no suspicious acts had been found and that the device works perfectly fine, despite criticism.

Mr Pramote also stated that the GT 200 was built upon actual scientific theory and practice and had gone through actual field testing before being distributed to the police and armed forces. The devices were bought with the intention to protect the country and the general public especially in the deep south. (PRD)

Pramote is a sure winner. Among many others.

And of course the so called “doctor” Porntip, the funny woman with funny hairstyle (thai media love her, she’s so… special you know… with such haircut… people are fainting 😉 )

But eventually, she’s just another clown, and proud to be one (an aggravating factor).

“This type of device works by detecting the magnetic signal [of a substance] but it does not give a 100% result,” said Khunying Porntip.

“The device has been widely used in the deep South to help narrow down areas where bombs might be planted.”

She was speaking at a seminar yesterday on the reliability of GT 200.

Khunying Porntip, however, insisted the GT 200 has high sensitivity for detecting substances from far away, and the CIFS had never come across any instances of incorrect readings. (Bangkok Post, november 2009)

And this one :

Meanwhile, Dr Pornthip Rojanasunand, director of the Forensic Science Institute and who always uses the GT200, said the UK had only banned the ADE651.

She said the detector was effective when searching for bombs and even nails under water. (Nation, january 2010)

Hum… Nails under water, that’s really impressive. And the bouquet final, like a teenager caught smoking pot in the highschool toilets.

“The devices (GT200) are there and no one has the right to ban their use. I will continue to use it,” she announced apparently unperturbed by the tests which are to be undertaken on the detector. (ISRA news, february 2010)

Let’s remember she’s the director of the Forensic Science Institute. What should we say to Pornthip ?

Resignation of course, if she still has a few neurons connected. And a ounce of self esteem (but just an ounce).

But It won’t happen of course. We badly need her, for her…. hairstyle. It looks so nice on thai TV.