Thai - Cambodia Conflict Aussie with a Thai Heart Donates Rice to Soldiers at Sakon Nakhon Border Relief Centre

[Georgealbert]

 

Picture courtesy of SiamRath.

 

An Australian man and his Thai wife won the hearts of locals on 29 July as they arrived to donate bags of rice and essential supplies to soldiers deployed along Thailand’s border, amid ongoing tensions.

 

The donation drive, held in front of the Sakon Nakhon Provincial Hall, saw a large turnout of officials and citizens contributing non-perishable food, bottled water, canned goods, coffee, medicine, blankets and other essential items. The items were collected for military personnel and displaced civilians in Ubon Ratchathani province.

 

Among those donating was Mr Royce, an Australian national, accompanied by his wife Sunisa, a native of Ban Nong Phue, Phon Na Kaeo District. The couple walked in carrying sacks of rice, along with packs of instant noodles, canned fish and drinking water, prompting a round of spontaneous applause from organisers and volunteers.

 

Mr Royce, visibly moved, said, “I’ve been amazed by the unity and compassion of the Thai people. I wanted to be part of it. I love Thailand, it’s number one.”

 

The donated goods, loaded onto ten trucks, were sent to Muang and Det Udom districts in Ubon Ratchathani. Most of the contributions came from local government departments, civic groups and residents across all 18 districts of Sakon Nakhon.

 

The event was overseen by provincial governor Mr Chusak Ruaying, district chief Mr Ekaphop Sophon, and provincial development officer Mr Ong-art Songthummin, who joined hands with local officials to coordinate, sort, and dispatch the relief supplies to those in need.

 

  Adapted by Asean Now from SiamRath 2025-07-31

 

 

 

[JoePai]

Why does the Thai military not feed it's troops ?

[Gsxrnz]

Okay, who else expected a story about a heart transplant recipient?

[Iron Tongue]

What?  Is this a story about North Korean soldiers maybe?

 

Thailand's military far outnumber, outclass, and are better supplied than the Cambodians -supposedly.

When did Thailand run out of rice?

I can understand refugees needing to be fed, but Thai troops?

 

[newbee2022]

Is that the rice left by Yingluck some time ago? Cheap cheap

[Watawattana]

I doubt the food is needed, but it's nice to see some symbolic support for those putting their necks on the line.

 

[norsurin]

This they do for looking good and hope they get praised all over Thailand. 

No soldiers need rice. 

 

[Nick Carter icp]

I expect that the soldiers would have appreciated a KFC more

[josephbloggs]

Is this the guy who started a thread on here asking for people to donate cigarettes and tampons for the soldiers a few days ago?

[JAG]

8 hours ago, JoePai said:

Why does the Thai military not feed it's troops ?

On one notable occasion my stepson returned to his unit after leave, only to return home a week later. I asked him if he was AWOL ( absent without leave) but no, they had sent their conscripts home because they had no food to give them!

 

Much of their time was spent on the training area adjacent to the barracks - cultivating vegetables!

[ChipButty]

Has he got a work permit for doing voluntary work? 

[SunsetT]

24 minutes ago, JAG said:

On one notable occasion my stepson returned to his unit after leave, only to return home a week later. I asked him if he was AWOL ( absent without leave) but no, they had sent their conscripts home because they had no food to give them!

 

Much of their time was spent on the training area adjacent to the barracks - cultivating vegetables!

When my girlfriend's son did his national service the canteen food was so bad he used to buy food from an on-site fast food vendor who happened to be the wife of a commander (I forget his rank) there. Apparently she did a roaring trade.... A nice little earner!

[JAG]

5 hours ago, Iron Tongue said:

What?  Is this a story about North Korean soldiers maybe?

 

Thailand's military far outnumber, outclass, and are better supplied than the Cambodians -supposedly.

When did Thailand run out of rice?

I can understand refugees needing to be fed, but Thai troops?

 

They certainly outnumber the Cambodians, and have some better equipment.  

 

Mind you prominent amongst the newsreel footage were several batteries of the US M101 howitzer - a Second World War piece which also saw service in Korea and Vietnam, and which ceased production in the 1950s. It fires the US M1 ammunition system out to a relatively short range of 11000m. It is outperformed by the Soviet Era ( Chinese made) equipment which the Cambodians have; principally the D30, more modern (1960), and fires a larger shell (122mm) out to a greater range (15000m).

[josephbloggs]

3 hours ago, ChipButty said:

Has he got a work permit for doing voluntary work? 

There's always one.

[Peter Crow]

This would be my best shirt.. Looks a bit stage doesn't? 

 

But I can understand why.

[Peter Crow]

1 hour ago, JAG said:

They certainly outnumber the Cambodians, and have some better equipment.  

 

Mind you prominent amongst the newsreel footage were several batteries of the US M101 howitzer - a Second World War piece which also saw service in Korea and Vietnam, and which ceased production in the 1950s. It fires the US M1 ammunition system out to a relatively short range of 11000m. It is outperformed by the Soviet Era ( Chinese made) equipment which the Cambodians have; principally the D30, more modern (1960), and fires a larger shell (122mm) out to a greater range (15000m).

Well neither side needs that gear to hold the hilltops. Reckon they use them as fireworks.

[Packer]

Thankfully he didn't deliver Vegemite and be shot for attempted poisoning. 

[wensiensheng]

Thailand doesn’t feed its soldiers now?

 

Donating to poor local citizens I can understand, donating to soldiers sounds like a publicity stunt

[NedR69]

But the Sunglasses!  

 

What are you hiding? Why are you wearing dark glasses?  

Low self-confidence, or just a poor decision?