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.
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.
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.
