Sisaket: His Majesty the King graciously bestowed royal patronage on the cremation of seven people who died in the Thai-Cambodian border conflict. Today, families and relatives held cremation ceremonies for the seven people killed in Cambodian shelling of Thai civilian areas in Kantharalak District, Sisaket Province, amid a sorrowful atmosphere.
According to Thai News Agency, officials carried the royal cremation box, royal robes, and royal sandalwood bouquet to the Buddhakun Hall at Wat Maha Phuttharam, a royal temple in Muang Nuea Subdistrict, Muang District, Sisaket Province, for the royal cremation ceremony for those who died in the Thai-Cambodian border situation. A royal command was then read, stating that His Majesty the King had graciously granted royal patronage for the cremation of seven deceased persons: Ms. Rungrat, Ms. Thaksaporn, Mr. Phongsapat, Mr. Kittisak, Ms. Sawitree, Ms. Arunrat, and Mr. Somsri. Five of them died when Cambodia fired a BM-21 rocket at a convenience store inside a gas station in Kantharalak District on July 24th. The other two died nearby.
A representative of the deceased’s family read a declaration of gratitude and the biography of the deceased. Afterward, everyone stood in silence to mourn the deceased. Ms. Narumon Pinyosinwat, the ceremony’s chairwoman, presented the royally bestowed robes in front of the chedi. Somdej Phra Maha Thirachan, a member of the Sangha Supreme Council and the Supreme Patriarch of the Northern Region, abbot of Wat Phra Chetuphon Vimolmangklararm Ratchaworamahawihan, Bangkok, the ecclesiastical chairwoman, along with monks of ecclesiastical rank, examined the royally bestowed robes. The chairwoman presided over the royal cremation ceremony. Then, family members, relatives of the deceased, officials from various agencies, and members of the public who attended the ceremony laid sandalwood flowers.
Prior to the royal cremation ceremony, the Minister of Education, who presided over the ceremony, presented financial assistance to the families of the deceased. He also spoke with and hugged the deceased relatives to offer encouragement. After the royal cremation ceremony, the family and relatives of the deceased held a ceremony to ask for forgiveness before moving the body to perform the actual merit-making ceremony at four temples: Wat Luang Sumangklaram, a royal temple; Wat Chiang I Sri Mongkhon Wararam, a royal temple; and Wat Phiang Nam.
At Wat Maha Phuttharam, a royal temple, the cremation ceremony for the Prachan family, three bodies and the Khamwang family, one body, was held. The atmosphere was filled with sadness. Relatives and family members were in tears. This was the last time they came to send off the family, hoping for them to go to a good place. The smoke rising from the fire seemed to send their souls to heaven.
Especially as a father and husband who lost three loved ones at the same time when Cambodia fired a BM-21 rocket at a convenience store inside a gas station in Kantharalak District on July 24th, all he wants now is for his wife and children to go to a good place, to be together and take good care of each other, and not to worry about anything anymore. In another family, the mother died in a rubber plantation near a gas station. The daughter said that although her mental state has improved somewhat since the early days, she still needs to take sleeping pills to rest. She wanted to tell her mother one last time: “Don’t worry about anything. We will take good care of everything you’re worried about.”