Forgotten children of southern violence
Anybody remembers Nong Wan Mai?
Nong Wan Mai we are talking about here is not the adopted daughter of a rising star. In fact, her real name is Sirapassorn Chueysen, a two-year old orphan whose parents, Mr Supachai and Mrs Sirikwan Sangthong, were cold-bloodedly shot dead by suspected militants on a road in Pattani’s Kok Po district over two years ago. At the time, Nong Wan Mai was only two months old.
Immediately after the tragedy, Nong Wan Mai was sent to an orphanage in Pattani because there was no one to take care of her. Later on, a brother of the late Mrs Sirikwan, Mr Uthit Sangthong, decided to adopt her although he has already had two sons, 9-year old Charukit and 8-year old Pongsathorn.
Although the couple is not rich, they have taken good care of Nong Wan Mai as if she is one of their children. Thanks to the kind support of Mr Anusart Suwanmongkol, owner of the CS Pattani hotel and a member of the National Legislative Assembly, life has been made less burdensome for the couple otherwise they can hardly make ends meet to feed three mouths.
Wan Mai has one handicap which needs to be addressed – that is she has no anus since she was born. Since she was too young to be operated on, doctors said she had to be at least two years old before she could be operated on. Surgery schedule has been set in March at Songkhlanagarind hospital.
On Children’s Day this year, the three children received gifts from Mr Anusart which made them very happy, said Mr Uthit.
Meanwhile, 17-year old student Preechapat Waewchanchayakorn is lying unconscious on hospital bed at Patani hospital. He has been unconscious since he was seriously shot by suspected militants in Yaring district of Pattani last November 27 while his friend, Sutthipong Thongsuwan, was killed.
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Caption : Nong Wan Mai and her family