moving messages for victims, mourning kin
His Majesty the King has expressed his condolences to the bereaved families of Thursday’s tragedy at Nong Bua Lam Phu, saying he shares their grief.
Their Majesties the King and Queen visited the wounded and relatives of the victims at Nong Bua Lam Phu Hospital in Nong Bua Lam Phu’s Muang district late on Friday, a day after a former police sergeant killed 36 people, including 24 children, at a childcare facility in Na Klang district.
They visited four wounded survivors being treated at the hospital, presented them with baskets of gifts and asked doctors about their condition.
They also met and gave moral support to relatives of the victims.
“I come here to visit and give you moral support. I want to express my condolences. I am deeply saddened by what has happened.
“I share your grief and sorrow,” His Majesty said in video footage filmed at the hospital and broadcast on national television.
“If you have any trouble, I will see to it that you are given help and are looked after.
“There are no words that can express the sorrow. I give support to you all and wish you to be strong, so the spirits of the children can be free from worry, knowing that their relatives are strong and can carry on with their life.
“We will make merit and hold prayers for the departed as well as to boost the morale of everyone. A bad incident has happened and now we have to do as best as we can,” His Majesty said, with Her Majesty the Queen by his side.
They later travelled to Udon Thani Hospital in Muang district of Udon Thani to visit and give a basket of gifts to a three-year-old boy, Krissakorn “Mix” Ruangcharoen, who survived the incident but needed an operation for his injuries.
Their Majesties have also sponsored the medical treatment of victims and their funerals.
Pruan Chaikruen, 58, Nong Mix’s grandfather, said his condition is improving.
He said he was glad Their Majesties were concerned about the boy and visited him at hospital. Their Majesties also gave a basket of gifts, he said.
Mr Pruan said His Majesty also offered moral support to his grandson as the monarch touched Nong Mix’s leg. “This little kid is strong,” His Majesty was quoted by Mr Pruan as saying.
Mr Pruan also said that before leaving the hospital, the King told him: ”Don’t worry. Take care [of the boy] as best as you can.”
Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha will attend a funeral rite for the victims in Nong Bua Lam Phu today and he will also take cabinet ministers to attend a royally-sponsored cremation rite on Tuesday.
Deputy government spokeswoman Traisulee Taisaranakul yesterday invited the public to make donations to a fund for victims of public disasters to help the families of victims via Krungthai bank account no.067-0-06895-0.
Shortly after noon on Thursday, a former police sergeant armed with a pistol and a long meat cleaver rampaged through the child care centre, attacking children and adults, in tambon Uthai Sawan of Na Klang district.
The killer was sacked from the police force in June for possession of methamphetamine pills. He attended a court hearing shortly before his killing spree.
He murdered sleeping children and their teachers and killed more people while driving back home, where he killed his wife and 3-year-old child before taking his own life.