The Thai Military Commander's Apology Regarding The Brutal Shooting Of His Soldiers

General Apirat Kongsompong (Twitter @ThaiPBSWorld)

JAKARTA - The Thai Military Commander has apologized for the brutal action launched by a soldier on Tuesday, February 11. The shooting that occurred during the 19 hours killed 29 people and injured 58 people.

During a 90-minute press conference, General Apirat Kongsompong said his troops would help compensate all the victims and their families.

"I, as military commander, would like to apologize and say how sorry I am for the incident caused by this army staff," Apirat said, occasionally wiping his tears.

"At that time, when the perpetrator pulled the trigger and started killing, at that minute he was a criminal and no longer a soldier," he added.

Following a mass shooting by a soldier who killed 29 people, Army chief Gen Apirat Kongsompong apologized & expressed his condolences for the damage caused by one of his men. He said the moment he shot his commander, he was a murderer, not a solider. # ปฏิรูป กองทัพ #savekorat pic.twitter.com/PWtSeEaW6q

- NBT WORLD News (@NBTWORLDNews) February 11, 2020

A Thai Army soldier, Jakrapanth Thomma, was finally shot dead by security forces on Sunday 9 February 2020. Previously, Jakrapanth Thomma carried out a shooting at the Terminal 21 shopping center in Nakhon Ratchasima.

The 32-year-old man had started shooting on Saturday 8 February, shooting his commander and his mother-in-law over an altercation.

Jakrapanth Thomma then went to his military base, stole lots of weapons and ammunition, then fired hot lead through a Buddhist temple before going to the Terminal 21 shopping center. At the shopping center, the vicious man blindly opened fire on visitors and detained the police for more than 12 hours. .

Apirat Kongsompong said the military team would investigate a commander who was killed, Colonel Anantharot Krasae. Apirat said that the commander took an advantage over the shooters in a land agreement where there was a treaty being violated by the commander.

In addition, Apirat added that the authorities would find out who else was involved in the shooting scheme and promised to open new lines of communication so that military personnel could provide direct information.

"The military members and I have instructed this," he said, adding his mission before retiring in October was to make things fairer for other military staff.

"I don't think the Thai people want this incident to happen again, so please don't blame the army or berate the soldiers," Apirat said.

“If you want to blame someone, you blame General Apirat Kongsompong. I accept all criticisms and opinions. You can blame me because I am the head of the army, "he said.

As is known, the shooter broadcast some of the shootings he carried out on social media. He managed to steal two rifles, namely the M60 machine gun and 736 ammunition. He then drove off in a Humvee-type vehicle and opened fire on the people outside and inside the Terminal 21 shopping center.

"I can't run away because I don't know where the shooter is. I'm here with about 20 people," one man, who calls himself Mr. Green, told an announcer from MCOT, a state-owned TV channel, on Saturday night from in the shopping center.

During the attack, the National Broadcasting and Telecommunications Commission urged the media as well as people inside the shopping center not to share footage of the police carrying out the rescue considering the perpetrator used social media networks while carrying out the action. The Secretary-General of Thailand's National Broadcasting and Telecommunications Commission, Takorn Tantasith, later announced that he would summon journalists for their coverage of the attack.

"From our investigations and our follow-up examinations, the National Broadcasting and Telecommunications Commission found that several TV stations were not fully complying with orders," Takorn said in a statement.

The incident shocked Thailand. While on the other hand, the White Elephant Country has a high level of weapon ownership. "This has never happened before in Thailand, and I want this to be the last time this has happened," said Thai Prime Minister Prayuth Chan-ocha.

In addition, the Thai PM also said that the King of Thailand Maha Vajiralongkorn had also given a royal funeral ceremony to the 29 victims who died.

"His Majesty the King and Queen wish to convey their condolences ... and wish to provide moral support to all the families of the victims and the authorities (who were victims of the shootings)," said Prime Minister Prayuth Chan-ocha.

Authorities in northern Thailand have handed over the bodies to relatives of the victims and the Ministry of Health has also sent a mental health crisis team to help relatives of the deceased cope with the death of their loved one. Meanwhile, 58 injured victims were still in serious condition.