Family and comrades
gather on the tarmac at Sattahip Naval Base to bring home the bodies of
three marines killed by a booby-trapped bomb in Thailand’s restive
south.
Patcharapol Panrak
The bodies of three marines killed by a booby-trapped bomb in
Thailand’s restive south have been returned to Sattahip Naval Base.
Lt. Chaisit Techasawangwong, chief of the Explosive Ordinance Disposal
team, Petty Officer 1st Class Rewat Khongnak and Petty Officer 1st Class
Thassanai Chomphuthawip were killed inside a Narathiwat naval base
inspecting a 25 kg bomb they thought they defused near a bridge in
Bancho district April 22. Investigators believe the bomb was rigged with
multiple trigger mechanisms, an unusual tactic among Muslim insurgents.
Six others were wounded.
Top naval officers, the Navy Wives Association, government officials and
relatives greeted the arrival of the fallen marines with honors at the
base April 23.
Royal Thai Navy commander, Adm. Surasak Runroengrom assigned top
personnel to preside at the April 24 funeral, where Chonburi Gov.
Khomsan Ekachai represented HM the King and laid garlands on their
caskets. Khomsan expressed the gratitude of the nation for the marines’
sacrifice.
Military personnel discovered the explosive while removing banners
against peace talks between the Thai government and a leading insurgency
group in Narathiwat, Pattani and Yala provinces.
