The traumatic experience of a family of the Pattani bomb victims
"Every time that Nong Bass cries for me that his wounds hurt so much, my heart as a mother pains several hundred times more. Worse, when we see the wounds from bomb shrapnels on his body, we are deeply sad,"
So said a tearful Mrs Jaraporn Thongchua by the bedside of her two-year old son, Thanakit Daengmanee or Nong Bass.
Nong Bass was among 61 people who were injured during the night of terror in Pattani on May 24 when southern separatists detonated more than 20 bombs mostly against economic targets such as 7-Eleven convenience stores and gas stations. Three people were killed, including a five-year old boy.
Nong Bass sustained serious injuries on his head and body from bomb shrapnels. After the bombing incident, he was rushed to Soon Yala hospital which was reported to be better equipped than the other hospitals in the province. After one week in the hospital, his condition began to improve steadily.
Mrs Jaraporn and her two sons went to the 7-Eleven convenience store in front of Laem Thong school. She was standing in front of the cashier’s counter about to pay the money while her two sons were walking around in the store when there was a loud explosion from a bomb from the outside.
She admitted that they were lucky to be inside the store otherwise all of them would have been hurted more seriously.
When the dust settled, she saw Nong Bass’s body covered with blood and screamed for her. She recalled that the staff at the store called the rescue unit which arrived shortly afterward.
Mrs Jaraporn said she was initially relieved that her son could move his arms and legs and thought he was not badly injured. But she was shocked when a doctor at the hospital told her that his condition was bad and had to be sent to the Soon Yala hospital.
Mrs Jaraporn herself and the other son were slightly injured and could go home after being treated at the hospital.
Dr Aekthit Kupaibul, a specialist on neurology and brains who treated Nong Bass, said that the boy’s conditions have improved and he could move his arms and legs by himself and could breathe without respiratory system.
Nong Bass underwent brain surgery to remove blood clot from the brain and his body responded well four days after the brain operation although he still needs to be kept under close monitoring. But the most worrisome problem about Nong Bass is his mental condition.
Dr Aekthit said that the kid was very afraid and paranoid. "Besides his parents, he would scream every time that a stranger got close to him. As I doctor, I am concerned of his mental conditions which were badly affected by the incident. He needs psychological treatment," he added.
Mrs Jaraporn said that she was very angry with the perpetrators for planting bombs in places frequented by innocent people such as 7-Eleven convenience stores.
Her husband, Mr Suchin Daengmanee, told Isra news team, that he was at home during the time. When he heard the bomb explosions, he called Mrs Jaraporn but she didn’t respond. So he went out to look for them.
Suchin said that police had sealed off the area in front of the store and the police told him to go home. He went home and shortly afterward he received a call from Jaraporn who informed him that they were all at the hospital.
Suchin said he felt very sorry for Nong Bass who cried all night.
Commenting on the bombing incidents, he admitted that it was very difficult for the authorities to prevent the incidents from occurring and the perpetrators had no regard whatsoever for the safety of the innocent people.
However, he said security forces should step up their operations in pursuit of suspected separatists without letup.
"It has become very hard for people to live in peace. There seems to be no place which is safe from bombings or shootings. They have happened everywhere," said Suchin.
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Caption :
1 Mrs Jaraporn Thongchua
2 Nong Bass and his father