More than 160 bodies found in 3 Thai temples

[News_Editor]

More than 160 bodies found in 3 Thai temples

2011-08-20 09:27:09 GMT+7 (ICT)

BANGKOK, THAILAND (BNO NEWS) -- More than 160 bodies have been found in three Buddhist temples in eastern Thailand and police are investigating whether they are missing red shirts, the Bangkok Post reported on Saturday.

The bodies - under the responsibility of the Chumphon-based Buddha Prateep Foundation - were found at three temples in the Klaeng district of the eastern province of Rayong. Police began investigating after a complaint was received alleging there were mass graves at the temples.

Officials said 72 corpses were located in the Wat Klong Ta Kwa temple, 65 at the Wat Huai Yan, and 32 more at the Wat Samor Prong temple. Red Shirt Rayong leader Rapin Pranonsatit said the bodies could belong to missing Red Shirt supporters who went missing during last year's United Front for Democracy Against Dictatorship (UDD) protest against the Democrat-led government of Abhisit Vejjajiva.

According to Buddha Prateep Foundation president Sa-nguan Nilrattanothai, as cited by the Bangkok Post, the bodies had been previously reported to the police with pictures before they were transported to the three temples for burial about a year ago.

The foundation stated most of the bodies belonged to Burmese immigrants who had drowned during the 1989 Typhoon Gay. It also explained that, before transporting the bodies, a report was submitted to then-chief of Lang Suan district police station Supoj Boonchooduang. The police chief later confirmed he had approved the transportation of the bodies.

In addition, head of the Buddha Pratheep rescue team, Thaweesak Longluerit, said the corpses were moved at the request of the Phutthasat Songkroh foundation, which plans to carry out a mass cremation for unidentified bodies next year.

Thailand's Justice Ministry's Central Institute of Forensic Science director Porntip Rojanasunan, meanwhile, said DNA testing would help identify the bodies but not determine when and where they died.

Since last year's mass anti-government protests in April and May, some 60 red shirt supporters have been reported missing, UDD chairwoman Tida Thavornseth said.

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