Myanmar Rebels Invade Thai Hospital
About 10 men from the Myanmar insurgent group God’s Army raided a hospital today in western Thailand, taking an estimated 500 hostages and demanding that doctors treat their injured, a Thai official and witnesses said.
The insurgents also wanted Thai authorities to open the border and allow about 200 God’s Army soldiers to seek refuge in Thailand, Interior Minister Sanan Khachornprasart told a radio station.
Sanan arrived in Ratchaburi, situated between the border and Bangkok, the capital, to negotiate an end to the siege. Thai special forces and police deployed in the area. There were no reports of casualties.
According to reports, the armed group raided the hospital and seized the emergency room after hijacking a bus near the border.
God’s Army rebels have been under sustained attack by Myanmar troops since last week.
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