Marine Police deny mini-sub report

PHUKET: Senior officers of the Phuket Marine Police today strenuously denied a news story in the Bangkok Post which asserted that authorities here had found a mini-submarine being built for Sri Lanka’s rebel Tamil Tigers. According to the Post, “Thai authorities” stumbled on the half-built 10-meter mini-sub in a shipyard in Koh Sirae, just outside of Phuket Town. Quoting “sources”, the Post said that although building a mini-sub was not illegal in Thailand, the shipyard was being watched closely to prevent the sub from being moved. Pol Col Misakawan Buara, the Superintendent of Phuket Marine Police, speaking from Bangkok, told the Gazette, “We didn’t make any checks in that area yesterday. Nothing happened during [the period mentioned in the Post story].” His deputy, Pol Lt Col Banjurd Piriyapong, told the Gazette, “We’re still following up on this. We don’t want to say any more about this because we don’t want to give information to anyone. “There have been many rumors about this. But after all, reporters can write anything they want in order to sell newspapers. “If someone wants to do something criminal, they don’t do it where everyone can see them. Like, if I wanted to sell ya bah, I wouldn’t do it in front of a department store. “Besides, if [the sub] is only 10 meters long, it’s not much bigger than a canoe. It can’t really do anything; it can’t go anywhere far. Maybe it could be used by fishermen wanting to collect shells.” At least two Japanese ships were sunk in Phuket during World War II by British commandos using mini-subs.