Hundreds of hostages freed in commando raid on hospital

Thai commandos killed all 10 hostage-takers

January 25, 2000
Web posted at: 4:23 p.m. HKT (0823 GMT)

In this story: Disguised commandos sneaked into building Rebels demand medical assistance Group led by twin 12-year-olds RELATED STORIES, SITES

RATCHABURI, Thailand (CNN) -- Thai government and military authorities said Tuesday that all 10 of the Myanmar Karen guerrillas who held hundreds hostage in a hospital had been killed by commandos.

After a 22-hour standoff, about 30 Thai commandos on Tuesday stormed a provincial hospital that had been held by a group of Karen guerrillas from neighboring Myanmar. Sporadic gunfire and explosions could be heard for about an hour after the raid began.

"We were able to save all the hostages, one of our officers was injured by gunshot on the shoulder," said Lt. Gen. Thaweep Suwannasingha, the regional Thai army commander.

Of the 10 hostage-takers, nine had died at the hospital complex, and the another was killed in a gun battle while fleeing, according to Thai army Lt. Gen. Anant Heamathanong.

VIDEO CNN's John Raedler shows scenes from inside the hospital before the raid. (January 24) QuickTime Play Real 28K 80K Windows Media 28K 80K     AUDIO CNN Bangkok Bureau Chief John Raedler reports on the hostage situation moments after the hospital was raided 441k/40 sec. AIFF or WAV sound     ALSO Twin brothers lead 'God's Army' against Myanmar dictatorship     RESOURCES The Week Ahead: Hospital Siege Myanmar-Thailand Relations Thailand: The Struggle for the Highlands

Later, ten bodies wrapped in white cloth were placed in front of a hospital building for display to the media.

Thai Prime Minister Chuan Leekpai called the operation "very successful," and condemned the hostage-takers.

Most of the freed hostages have been released from the hospital complex, and many have been taken to other hospitals in western Thailand for medical checkups. Many of the hostages were already hospital patients and sick when the guerrillas took control of the complex.

CNN has learned that Thai security forces infiltrated the hospital during the day-long seige dressed as hospital workers and fed intelligence on the situation inside to those planning the raid.

On Monday, the Myanmar rebels said they would not release the hostages until all their demands were met.

The gunmen, believed to be from the insurgent group known as God's Army, swept into the hospital in downtown Ratchaburi, about 95 kilometers (60 miles) west of Bangkok, early Monday morning. They have released several elderly hostages, a schoolboy, a pregnant woman and a man and a boy who were carried from the hospital on stretchers.

Thai Interior Minister Sanan Kachornprasart said about 700 people were still inside the hospital, with about 200 in areas directly under rebel control.

A gunman who identified himself as "Knui," speaking by telephone to Thailand's Independent Television, said that the Thai government had received the group's demands "but have not accepted them."

"We will go back (to the Thailand-Myanmar border) when our demands are met, when we reach an agreement," he said.

Rebels demand medical assistance

The raid was carried out shortly before dawn

A Thai television cameraman allowed inside the hospital brought back pictures showing frightened hostages sitting on rows of benches.

The video showed that the rebels appeared to be mostly in the general and emergency wards, and that staff was still treating patients.

The hostage releases, made in exchange for food, came after Thai army chief Gen. Surayudh Julanond said he had ordered his troops to stop shelling a rebel base on the border and allow unarmed refugees to cross the border for medical treatment, two of the rebels' demands.

The group has also demanded that Thailand stop aiding Myanmar's campaign against them, that Thailand provide medical care for wounded soldiers and that Thailand open the border to wounded fighters.

Provincial governor Komain Daengthongdee said he ordered the evacuation of nearby administrative offices and schools after the takeover.

"I am now asking the army to send men to help us as soon as possible," Komain added. "At this moment, we believe that the armed men are Karen guerrillas. We are seeking more details."

Ratchaburi province is home to a holding center for dissident students who fled military rule in neighboring Myanmar, formerly known as Burma. The U.N. High Commissioner for Refugees administers the center. UNHCR's spokesman in Bangkok said he had not yet heard of the hospital's seizure.

Sanan told local radio he had ordered security forces to protect the hostages, but to stand firm against the insurgents.

"Firstly, I have ordered security forces to protect the lives of the hospital staff and the patients. I have also told them to take tough action against the attackers," he said.

Group led by twin 12-year-olds

While the gunmen did not name their group identity, Surayudh and Sanan said they were members of God's Army.

That group, led by 12-year-old twin brothers Johnny and Luther Htoo, is a band of about 100 Christian fighters based just inside Myanmar. The group broke away from the mainstream Karen National Union guerrillas who have been fighting for greater autonomy from the Myanmar central government for more than 50 years.

Followers of the twins believe the pair has mystical powers and are invincible in battle. God's Army is fighting Myanmar government forces near the Thai-Myanmar border, about 50 kilometers (30 miles) to the west.

The rebels who took over the hospital hijacked a bus near the border earlier Monday, ordering the driver to take them to downtown Ratchaburi.

God's Army is currently providing shelter and protection to five student rebels who raided the Myanmar embassy in Bangkok in October last year. The students were demanding democracy in their homeland, which has been ruled by the military since 1962.

Bangkok Bureau Chief John Raedler, The Associated Press and Reuters contributed to this report.