The pain and anguish are vividly evident in the eyes of Phraiwan Suchat, 53, and Warunee Daosai, 30 – the mother and wife, respectively, of 29-year-old Phongphat Suchat. Their world collapsed with the news that Phongphat, a Thai migrant worker, has been killed in a horrifyingly unexpected mortar attack in the southern part of Israel. In their heart-wrenching devastation, they are directing their pleas for help to none other than Prime Minister Srettha Thavisin himself. Their appeal – assistance in repatriating Phongphat’s body back to their home in Ban Krachaeng Muang, located in the Kantharalak district of Si Sa Ket province.
The gut-wrenching attack took place on a seemingly ordinary Tuesday, catapulting into a chaotic scene of destruction and death. In addition to Phongphat, another Thai worker also lost his life when the reddening sky rained down mortar rounds. Phongphat’s brother, Surat Suchat, 34, was horrifyingly close to the barrage, becoming an unwilling eyewitness to the calamitous event. The brotherly bond they once shared brought to an abrupt end, 20 metres short of escaping from the deadly rain.
The piercing shrill of the warning siren barely giving them enough time – a mere five seconds. Israel’s soldiers, steadfast and professional, arrived posthaste for the grim task of tending to their bodies. The magnitude of this shocking turn of events hits home, and Surat adds his voice to the plea for help to Prime Minister Srettha – to facilitate the repatriation of his brother’s body back to Thailand.
Meanwhile, amidst this devastating event, the usually bustling worksite is now echoing with silence – 60 Thai workers have been shaken to their core, too terrified to step out and continue their duties. To add salt to their gaping emotional wounds, their employer is yet to make an appearance to enquire after their well-being. As for Surat – he is adamant in his resolve. Once the formalities for his brother’s body are taken care of, he will bid adieu to Israel once and for all, swearing off any future work in the region’s soil.
In a related story, the mystery unravels around a certain ‘SuperBallAI’, a Thai worker tried to escape from his work camp to a military shelter after the attack. Selling his labour rights to an unanticipated employer was never part of his plan. His desperate plea echoed in the virtual world: “I had run for cover with a single backpack in hand. And I desperately want to go home.”
Fortunately, his ordeal came to end when a helpful friend arranged transport to ensure him a temporary haven, while churning the wheels to find an air ticket to return to Thailand. Following similar complaints, diligent investigations into enviable labour practices are underway, with the Thai labour attaché in Israel being apprised of the situation.
Pairoj Chotikasathien, the permanent secretary for labour, meanwhile, has instructed assistance in rendering moral support and aid for these distressed Thai workers, marooned in the temporary shelters across Israel. Timely interventions are helping at least 5,000 of these workers find their way back home, thanks to the government-arranged free flights to Thailand.
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