After 15 months in the grip of a prison in Gaza, five men are adjusting to life again in Thailand.
PUBLISHED: 11 Feb 2025 at 20: 50
The five Thai citizens who were held hostage by Hamas in Gaza for more than a year thanked people involved in securing their release and pleaded not to go back to work elsewhere after returning home securely over the weekend.
Representatives from the Department of Labour on Tuesday met with Sathien Suwannakham, 36, one of the removed victims, at his house in Nong Bua Lam Phu to provide a 3, 000-baht community support account.
After being held acquiesced for 15 weeks, Mr. Sathien and four other associates were released on January 30.
Mr. Sathien claimed that the party remained optimistic despite having no connection to the outside world and that they were not assaulted or tortured while they were still being held.
He claimed that now that he had nothing to fret about, and that he was relieved that he had finally come home. He claimed that he would probably never travel overseas again and that he intended to save money to purchase land and create a home.
” I want to thank people for helping me to return home safely”, said Mr Sathien.
In Nan, Bannawat Saethao, another released captive, also insisted he would not be returning to work elsewhere, saying he plans to accomplish green farming in his home state.
Bannawat Saethao, another released captive, also insists he will not be returning to work abroad. ( Photo: Apichart Jinakul )
On Tuesday, Nan government Chainarong Wongyai and numerous officials took Mr. Bannawat to the City Pillar in Wat Ming Muang for worship.
On his way back, Mr. Bannawat also benefited from receiving holy water from Phra Sunthorn Munee, a lieutenant municipal bishop.
In Udon Thani, Surasak Rumnao, 30, enjoyed a delightful house party laid on by his relatives overjoyed by his safe return.
Mr Surasak’s family, Khammee Rumnao, said she had spent the past 15 times thinking she would never see her son again.
She claimed that Mr. Surasak’s safe return to 10 temples may require the family to honor its vows to the sacred spirits, with Mr. Surasak slated to receive ordination.
On Hamas strikes on Israel on Oct 7, 2023 resulted in the deaths of 46 Thai staff and 31 violence.
Sonthaya Akkharasri from Nong Bua Lam Phu and Sudthisak Rinthalak from Nong Khai, both of whom were afterward confirmed dead, were two of the victims.
One Thai is still being held by the militant Palestinian party, while twenty-eight victims have now been freed.
Boonsong Thapchaiyuth, everlasting secretary at the labor government, stated that the Ministry of Foreign Affairs was still contacting Israeli government regarding the final prisoner, who is reportedly alive and well.
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