SI SAKET — Nearly a week after the ceasefire agreement between Thailand and Cambodia following talks between the two countries’ leaders in Malaysia, families of Thai soldiers and civilians have begun holding cremation ceremonies with royal patronage in their hometowns for those who lost their lives. The ceremonies were held ahead of next week’s General Border Committee meeting.
Government and military representatives presided over the funeral services for the victims, with families receiving initial compensation of 1 million baht ($30,750) each, along with other government benefits. Officials acknowledged with sympathy that no amount could truly compensate for the loss of loved ones.
On Sunday, August 3, a joint cremation ceremony with royal patronage was held for seven civilians at Wat Mahaputtharam Royal Temple in Mueang Nuea subdistrict, Mueang district, Sri Saket province. Most of these victims died on July 24 when Cambodian BM-21 rockets struck a convenience store inside a gas station complex in Ban Phue, Nong Ya Lad subdistrict, Kantharalak district – located approximately 25 kilometers from the Thai-Cambodian border.
Ekarat Wansri, 39, the eldest son of victim Arunrat Wansri who died at the rubber plantation behind the gas station, told media during the ceremony: “This heartbreaking loss makes me want to ask the Cambodian military why they had to fire rockets at innocent civilians who knew nothing about the conflict and didn’t deserve to die.”
The gas station has become a significant site where the Thai government laid flowers in remembrance of the victims and used it to demonstrate to the international community – alongside hospitals, schools, and residential areas – that Cambodia deliberately targeted civilian infrastructure, including children.
Beyond the complete destruction of the building, clear evidence exists including weapon fragments found at the scene and CCTV footage showing the moment rockets struck the convenience store.
On August 1, victims’ families, including Komsant Prachan who lost both his wife and children, recounted this tragic event to ambassadors and chargés d’affaires from 11 countries, along with 28 military attachés from 23 countries, plus Thai and foreign media who joined a government and military-organized trip to witness the aftermath firsthand during the information war with Cambodia.
“I came to pick up my children from school and fill up with gas to prepare for evacuation from the area. This wasn’t a red zone area. My wife and children went into the convenience store to buy something, and that’s where they died,” Komsant said.
Several international representatives questioned senior Foreign Ministry officials about why Cambodian forces bombarded this convenienc store in gas station, hospitals, and schools on the Thai side – locations far removed from any Thai military installations.
Many Cambodian netizens on social media have tried to claim the attacks were carried out by Thai forces themselves, with some arguing the gas station was too far from the border for Cambodian weapons to reach. However, Thai security officials believe this was likely a pressure tactic aimed at forcing Thailand to quickly end the conflict, given Thailand’s superior military capabilities.
Thailand’s Foreign Ministry spokesperson Nikorndej Balankura said the diplomatic tour was intended to ensure the facts from the ground visit become as widely known as possible to the public, with both Thai and foreign media serving as channels to disseminate the truth to the global community.
Cambodia also earlier organized tour for foreign diplomats and observers, Both countries showcased damage allegedly caused by the other side, after the clash during July 24-28 killed over 36 people, both civilians and soldiers, and displaced more than 260,000 residents.
Under the terms of the ceasefire, according to the Thai Government Spokesperson, military representatives from both sides will meet between August 4-6 in Malaysia. Following this General Border Committee meeting, on August 7, General Nathapol Nakpanit, Deputy Defense Minister, and his delegation will travel to participate in the meeting, which has invited representatives from Malaysia, China, and the United States to attend as observers only. The results of the bilateral meeting will be summarized afterward.
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