Govt to treat protesters for trauma

"It will be great if you get to listen to them," said Dr Tavisin Visunuyothin, spokesman for the Mental Health Department.

He said that to help protesters recover mentally, the public should be open-minded about different political attitudes.

"We have to encourage each other to live together despite our differences. It would be better if you don't declare a winner or loser," he said.

The ministry will today decide on the total medical expenses for the 135 people injured during the crackdown, and will seek Cabinet approval for the funding.

Things seemed cool on the third floor of the Veteran Hospital where 43-year-old Nakhon Si Thammarat native Supasit Khonthaichimplee was resting after being admitted two days ago from bullet wounds in his right leg sustained during Monday's crackdown.

"I was standing at a petrol station near Din Dang intersection early Monday, ready to confront the military. Suddenly I was shot in my right leg and was later hit on my head before I fell down," he said. "One of the soldiers rescued me. He brought me to the hospital. I would like to thank him."

Supasit underwent surgery and doctors say it will take two months for him to recover fully.

"If his wounds don't get infected, he should be able to walk soon," said Dr Namchai Kuntarakorn, the hospital's director. He added that the government would be covering all of Suapsit's medical expenses.

Supasit said he had chosen to join the red shirts after learning that Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva and his government had not been democratically elected.

 "I don't think the leaders should have told us to disperse. I miss my friends from Government House," he said.

Meanwhile, Sergeant Subin Singroung, who was admitted to the same hospital, said he too had been shot in the leg when he tried to stop a taxi from ramming into a group of soldiers. He was also hit by a piece of wood, a stone and tear gas. "If I had not stopped the taxi, my colleagues would have been injured," he said.

He said he was not angry at the red shirts or under any stress, adding that he did not want to see any violence in Thailand.

"It doesn't matter what colour you wear, we must work together for our beloved country," he said. "We can have different opinions and beliefs but we should not be divided against each other because we all are Thai."

Subin, who has three sons, said his youngest told him that he wanted to give his father a gun to protect himself. However, Subin replied: "I don't want to fight with them because they are Thai just like you."