Hospitals, medical units and medical personnel are protected underinternational humanitarian law, and they should not be targeted or used formilitary purposes at any time.
At about 5 pm on 13 March, some 40-50 insurgents entered Joh I RongHospital in Narathiwat province, taking control of the main building andstaff residence. At least 11 patients and 10 staff were in the buildings atthe time, reports said.
The armed group then used the facility to launch an attack against thenearby Army Ranger Base Camp 4816. Reports said the assault lasted nearly30 minutes. No one was killed or hurt during the attack. Before leaving thehospital complex, the armed group allegedly destroyed or damaged hospitalequipment and medical records.
"This incident is a flagrant breach of international law. We are appalledthat a public hospital was used in such a manner, and that the lives ofhospital staff and other civilians were put at risk," said Laurent Meillan,the acting regional representative for OHCHR.
At least 112 public health officials and volunteers have been killed orwounded and 28 medical centres burned or bombed during the 12-year longinsurgency, according to the Ministry of Public Health of Thailand, butthis is believed to be the first time a public hospital has been used tostage an attack. "This new tactic is deeply concerning. We remind allparties to the conflict that they must abide by international humanitarianand human rights law," said Meillan.
All civilians, including medical personnel, teachers and other publicworkers, as well as civilian infrastructure such as hospitals, schools andplaces of worship and culture should be protected at all times.
All parties to the conflict should also ensure that they distinguishbetween civilian and military targets, comply with the principle ofproportionality, distinction and necessity when conducting operations, andto take all feasible precautions to avoid harming civilians.
The Government's response to this incident should also be guided by therule of law and respect for human rights.