Interior Minister Anupong Paochinda led the parade of dignitaries who paid last respects to Somchai Kunplome, patriarch of Chonburi’s political dynasty.
An estimated 10,000 people turned out for the start of the funeral for “Kamnan Poh” June 26 at Jangcharoendon Temple in Bang Saray. Somchai died of cancer June 17 at Samitivej Chonburi Hospital. He was 82.
Business leaders, current, and former political officials came out to both the temple and then Nong Nooch Tropical Garden, which decorated his funeral pyre.
Anupong, who served as head layman in the Buddhist ceremony, laid sandalwood on the pyre, followed by Prommangkalajan, abbot of Wat Trimitwittayaram Woramahawihan in Bangkok and other mourners, who received “I Love Kunplome” t-shirts from the family in thanks.
The family also paid redemption by donating money to purchase equipment for Burapa University Hospital, Queen Savang Vadhana Memorial Hospital and Chonburi Hospital.
A parade of local leaders, including Chonburi Gov. Pakarathorn Thienchai, Interior Ministry Permanent Secretary Chatchai Promlert, and former Attorney General Patchara Yuthithamdamrong made merit in Somchai’s name by donating monk’s robes and necessities.
Somchai’s middle son Wittaya, president of the Chonburi Provincial Administration Organization, recited Somchai’s biography, covering his rise from a bus boy to partner in a fishing firm to owner of a laterite-mining business and later, founder of a sprawling construction and property enterprise in Bang Saray and Pattaya.
Despite his influence as the main conduit between the central government and Chonburi businesses during Pattaya’s rise in the 1980s and 90s, Kamnan Poh never held an office higher than mayor of Sansuk Subdistrict in Chonburi.
Somchai’s legacy is a political dynasty that has permeated every level of Chonburi politics, including Wittaya, Pattaya Mayor and former Cabinet minister Sonthaya Kunplome, former Pattaya Mayor Itthiphol Kunplome, and Narongchai Kunplome, the current Sansuk mayor.
