Some Thai Citizens Express Interest in Bearing Arms for Ukraine’s Defense

[misskit]

Sa-nguan Monlakhon, a former Thai soldier, despises bullies.


That is why he wants to sign up to join the international brigade of Ukraine’s military, after the country’s president said he would welcome citizens from across the globe to join the Ukrainian people’s armed resistance against invading Russian forces.


“I want to join the force because of my democratic ideology. I hate bullying,” the 44-year-old ex- soldier who was formerly stationed in Thailand’s troubled far-southern border region, told BenarNews, referring in this case to Russia as the bully.


“I have six years of experience fighting the [separatist] insurgency in the Deep South as a ranger – lots of experience. …To take over the former territory of the USSR is a declaration of war that no one agrees with.”


Sa-nguan is among scores of Thai citizens who have phoned the Ukrainian Embassy in Bangkok, including around 40 who have shown up there to express interest in volunteering to join the former Soviet republic’s armed resistance against the invasion, according to an embassy official.


Sa-nguan, a native of Nong Bualampoo province in northeastern Thailand, quit his combat job 10 years ago because he had young children and his wife was worried for his safety.


“Now I’m single again. So I came here to apply for a position,” he said, referring to standing in line outside the Ukrainian embassy to sign up to fight alongside the Ukrainian army.


However, the Thai government is perturbed by this kind of show of solidarity with Ukraine because it is concerned about its own citizens’ safety.


“There is a lot of concern if there will be Thai people traveling to fight in Ukraine. [We are] afraid they will be harmed, [in] which [case] we have to take care of them,” Tanee Sangrat, spokesman for the Thai foreign ministry, told BenarNews.


Hundreds of Thai citizens have also sent the embassy emails to apply to sign up for the international section of Ukraine’s territorial armed forces, according to a Facebook group created about the endeavor.


This was after the Ukrainian Embassy here posted a notice on its premises appealing to foreign volunteers to enlist in the international legion of the territorial defense force.


Before it was taken down, the sign said “all volunteers with military experience who want to join the defense of Ukraine, Europe and world can come fight side by side with the Ukrainians ….”


On Feb. 27, three days after Russia launched the invasion, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said that any world citizen who wanted to join the fight against “an unjustified criminal and cynical intrusion” was welcome in Ukraine, according to a statement from the Ukraine Crisis Media Center that cited the country’s Ministry of Defense.


A Thai official working at the Ukrainian Embassy in Thailand said there were many inquiries about the embassy notice.


“As many as a hundred called in about it Wednesday,” the official at the embassy told BenarNews on the condition of anonymity as she was concerned for her safety.


The embassy source said there were no details on how applicants should go about arranging their trip to Ukraine.


“The Embassy does not know the details about qualification, compensation, or schedule because … no detailed directions are available yet,” she said.


“Initially, we asked applicants to submit a passport copy and their CV [curriculum vitae]. If they could eventually go, they would have to pay about U.S. $1,000 for the journey.”


Not everyone wants to fight, though, because participating in a war is a dangerous proposition, and, some believe, morally wrong.


For instance, in Ukraine, the Russian attack has killed more than 2,000 civilians and destroyed hospitals, kindergartens and homes, according to the country’s emergency service, news agencies reported. Among the casualties were 21 dead children and 55 wounded ones, according to Ukraine’s ombudswoman, Reuters reported.


On the other side, Moscow says nearly 500 Russian troops have been killed during the invasion of Ukraine, Agence France-Presse reported.


A Thai man who wished only to be identified as M. for security reasons, said he was applying to serve in Ukraine, but in a humanitarian capacity. He said he had had taken a few military training courses but had never enlisted and would never take up arms.


“I feel pity of the people there. Ukrainian people have to pay for the price of the governments,” M. told BenarNews.


“They don’t deserve this. I want to help them with humanitarian work.”


He acknowledged, though, that his family is worried about his plan and does not want him to take risks.


“If I make it [through the crisis] I will take it as a good change in my life,” he said.


“If not, I take the risk of becoming a prisoner of war.”


Some Thai Citizens Express Interest in Bearing Arms for Ukraine’s Defense — BenarNews

[Bonecollector]

I think it is very risky, you may be used and you may be forced into doing things you thought the Ukranian's were not doing. You then may be held for war crimes when you get back. I suspect the Russian's will also slide in some spy's who will be giving away your positions regularly.

War is war, both sides will be up to no good and unless you are fighting for your own land, It is probably a total waste of your life. Putin is a [at][at][at][at] but if you read more into this whole situation, you will see there have been some pretty atrocious acts against some Russian speakers in the east. I do not even need to know whether everything I have read is true or not, I am pretty sure some of it will be because this is just how humans are.

That having been said, I hope the Russian's are totally embarrassed and Putin is strung up by his balls and beaten with nail ended bats with his head then being cut off by a real Chechen and not these fake Chechen's who had nothing to do with the insurgency during the Chechen wars. This is Ukrainian's war for their own freedom, if they really want that freedom and to join the EU/ NATO, then they have to do this themselves, they have to fight for it.

However, if you do decide to join, all praise to you, stay frosty out there, keep ya head down and check ya corners.

[nidhogg]

Was reading an article about Brits signing up. One man (no family links to Ukraine) who was heading out had a wife and five kids. He had quit his job, and noted that his family would be stretch with his loss of income.

I just do not get it.

[david44]

A Thai man who wished only to be identified as M. for security reasons, said he was applying to serve in Ukraine, but in a humanitarian capacity. He said he had had taken a few military training courses but had never enlisted and would never take up arms.

Presumably fluent in Russian and Ukrainian dialekts which vary from East to West in that vaste

I suggest all Thais try 10m in a meat freezer before qualifying, winter is almost over but plenty snow on the Carpathians which near Hungary and Slovakia will be the last redoubt..

Sure for volunteers with good will plenty of useful tasks in Poland helping refugees ad for those with action experince in deep South maybe training Ukrainian volunteers who wish to re enter.

IMHO there is plenty to set right against injustice right here.

[Buckaroo Banzai]

Now if they can only find where Ukraine is in the map , they will on their way.
Shell oil will be grateful for their service.

[Switch]

War has a unique way of teaching Americans geography. Thais might get similar lessons, (and cold weather clothing issues).

[katie23]

Thai ex air force guy who signed up



Other westerners who signed up



Ukrainians from abroad going back to the motherland to fight



I get fed stuff about Ukraine on my YT feed due to the algorithm.

[sabang]

If you are so anti bullies Soldier, why aren't you combatting your own nations Junta? They say good housekeeping starts at home.