ADVOCATING FOR Transfer OF Victims
The Thai Foreign Ministry reiterated its ongoing efforts to bring the captives back home in its media briefing last year, but it did not release any new information regarding the remaining victims.
According to Nikorndej Balankura, a spokesman for the Thai government,” I would like to emphasize that the Thai government will continue to make every effort possible to support our remaining Thai captives in Gaza.”
We are in contact with important people in the area to discuss and ask for their support for the transfer of Thai captives. That is also the justification for our ongoing demands for a full resolution to the conflict, an immediate peace, and the discharge of all victims, including Thai nationals, in Gaza.
According to Wilas, Thai authorities immediately checked in on his missing child and paid the family about US$ 750.
Since then, he has heard much information, despite repeated and expensive follow-ups.
” There were dozens of times that I had to revise the documents ( for legal proof ) and they were being sent back and forth”, said Wilas, who has spent more than 7, 000 baht ( US$ 212 ) on legal fees alone.
” I have made so many journeys and I had to lease a vehicle to go to the Provincial Labour Office in Buriram, which cost me 1, 200 baht every day, to send the papers. These are all costs and I did n’t have enough ( to cover them ), so I had to borrow”.
However, his biggest want is for his child to gain alive.
” If my son is alive, whenever Israel can get the hostages released, I want ( him ) to come home quickly to ( his ) hometown”, he said.
” Most important, I want my child to become ordained ( as a Buddhist monk ) for his grandmother who died when he was apart”, he said, as he wiped away a tear.  ,
After a terrible struggle, Thai people believe a religious festival did purge the spirit of sin.
” This is the deepest desire in my life”, said Wilas. ” If he comes back, I did number the priesthood ceremony”.