Child's death at Trat rally prompts national alert for rescue teams

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VIOLENCE
Child's death at rally prompts national alert for rescue teams
Pongphon Sarnsamak
The Nation


The Facebook page of the Royal Thai Police spokesperson has a set of four pictures of violent scenes in Khao Saming in Trat, when assailants attacked an anti-government rally last night, killing a five-year-old girl and injuring 35 other people.

TRAT: -- Saturday night's shooting and bomb attacks on an anti-government rally in Trat's Khao Saming district, which killed a 5-year-old girl, have prompted a call from the Public Health Ministry for medical rescue teams to stand by around the clock and prepare for any unprecedented violence nationwide.

The attack occurred at around 9.30pm at Yingcharoen fresh market in Tambon San Tung, Khao Saming district. The five-year-old girl was shot in the head. She underwent emergency treatment in hospital, where a team of doctors tried to save her, but she succumbed to her injuries at 3.30am yesterday. She was the first child killed during the current political violence.

About 35 people were injured and received treatment at three hospitals - Trat, Krungthep-Trat and Rayong - after the attack. Five of the victims have now been discharged from the hospital.

The Public Health Ministry reported that another 5-year-old girl was also in a critical condition from bullets or bomb fragments. She has undergone treatment in the intensive care unit and is under close observation at Rayong Hospital.

The mother of the girl killed in Trat said they were not there for the rally. She said her daughter was playing while she was helping the girl's grandmother wash dishes at the grandmother's noodle stall.

The girl's uncle told Nation TV that six other members of his family were injured in the attack while they were selling noodles. His family's stall had been opened only three or four months before it was destroyed in the attack.

Since political unrest broke out on November 30, 2013, the Public Health Ministry reports 740 people hurt and 17 killed nationwide. Of this number, 696 of the injured were in Bangkok, two in Rayong, eight in Pathum Thani and 34 in Trat. To date, 52 casualties were still undergoing treatment at hospitals in Bangkok and upcountry.

To handle unexpected violent incidents, the ministry's permanent secretary Dr Narong Sahametapat has instructed health officials nationwide to prepare medical rescue teams and stand by around the clock.

The ministry has prepared 11 medical rescue teams from hospitals under the Medical Services Department, Ramathibodi Hospital, the Thai Red Cross Society, the Poh Teck Tung Foundation and the Ruam Ka Tan Yu Foundation to provide medical treatment at rally sites in Bangkok and nearby provinces.


-- The Nation 2014-02-24

[shaggy1969]

When will this madness end?

My heart goes out to the family of that little girl,may she rest in peace.

[noitom]

Now is not the time for this Thai to be calling for medical rescue teams to be on alert. That was a long time ago. The time now is for violence prevention security. Security in Thailand has collapsed.

[Maggusoil]

I wonder who is sponsoring violent attacks on anti government rallies. The government?

[Mr Yim]

Very, very sad but predictable. When the Governments hands are tied by the courts and military, this type of action is inevitable. I urge anyone who is going to a protest rally or protest site, not to take their children with them. They are too precious to lose.

[billd766]

When will this madness end?

My heart goes out to the family of that little girl,may she rest in peace.

I agee with you 100%.

[khunken]

Very, very sad but predictable. When the Governments hands are tied by the courts and military, this type of action is inevitable. I urge anyone who is going to a protest rally or protest site, not to take their children with them. They are too precious to lose.

Absolute crap.

Not in any way predictable for a goon squad to attack a rally and those trying to earn a living nearby. The government's hands are not tied to prevent deadly violence - only not to use it.

You appear not to have read the Op where the child was not a part of the rally but with her mother who was helping out with a noodle stall in the market. Probably the only predictable part is that the culprits won't be found.