The Prime Minister presided over the ceremony to enshrine the remains of 42 brave soldiers who died while performing their duty protecting the Thai-Cambodian border at Victory Monument, paying homage to the spirits of veterans who sacrificed their lives for the nation.
At 09:00 hrs on 3 Feb 2026 GMT+7 Anutin Charnvirakul, the Prime Minister and Minister of Interior, presided over the ceremony to enshrine the remains of 42 soldiers who died while protecting the Thai-Cambodian border. Lieutenant General Dul Boonthamcharoen, Deputy Minister of Defence, General Kan Nat Nikornyanont, Director of the Veterans Welfare Organization, along with senior executives of the organization, as well as families and relatives of the fallen soldiers, attended the ceremony at Victory Monument, Ratchathewi District, Bangkok.
Siriwong Angsakulkiat, spokesperson for the Office of the Prime Minister, revealed that upon the Prime Minister's arrival at Victory Monument, he conducted a tribute and paid respects to the veterans who died in service, stating,
“I solemnly remember the spirits of the 42 brave soldiers who sacrificed their lives for the nation at the stupa before us, as well as the spirits of all those who gave their lives to protect the land of Thailand, preserving its sovereignty and independence from past to present. Their sacrifices have brought peace and tranquility to our country and upheld the nation, religion, and the beloved monarchy cherished by all Thai people.
We all respectfully honor the spirits of these 42 veterans who sacrificed for the nation. Your courage, determination, and great sacrifice will forever be a reminder engraved in the hearts of all Thais. May the spirits of all those who gave their lives rest in eternal peace. As a mark of respect, I invite everyone to stand in silence to honor and remember the great contributions of these veterans.”
Following this, the Prime Minister enshrined the remains of the 42 fallen veterans into Block 13, in their designated compartments, and stood in silence. Then, a lone bugler sounded the taps signaling lights out and salute once. After the order to rest was given, the officiating monk invited the Prime Minister, as ceremony chair, to light the ‘Thong Noi’ incense and offer the funeral cloth to four monks. The monks examined the cloth before the Prime Minister performed the water-pouring ritual to dedicate merit to the veterans’ spirits and offered food and alms to the monks, concluding the ceremony.
For 2026, the Veterans Welfare Organization under Royal Patronage has planned ceremonies and activities under the title “3 February: Veterans Commemorate the Royal Benevolence of Her Majesty Queen Sirikit, the Queen Mother” to remember the immeasurable kindness Her Majesty has bestowed upon the organization, veterans, and their families.
The enshrinement of remains was arranged alphabetically by Thai surname for 41 soldiers. The remaining soldier, a Muslim, was not physically enshrined but had his name included with the others. Prime Minister Anutin also greeted relatives of the fallen and veterans present. Some veterans thanked him for fully supporting the Thai-Cambodian border and wished him another term as Prime Minister. At one point, Anutin met “Nong Meesuk,” eldest daughter of Sergeant Major Satthawat Sujirit, a war hero. The Prime Minister told her, “I always think of you; I will visit Roi Et province soon.” Then, Nong Meesuk accompanied him to his vehicle, where he embraced her and said, “I will come to Roi Et, do you remember?”
At 09:30 hrs, Anutin spoke about assistance for veterans, saying that cooperation from all sectors has been received in providing aid to families of the 42 soldiers who died in the Thai-Cambodian border incident, including financial support and various rights. He has closely followed progress to ensure aid reaches families. Discussions with families of all 42 soldiers have been positive, with assurances that the government will support them until they can live normal lives. He acknowledged that veterans from other battlefields still need ongoing assistance, noting that the current 600 baht monthly aid is insufficient, which they intend to address.
He explained that injured soldiers who lost limbs worry most about life after hospital discharge because they do not want agencies merely to care for them but wish to have occupations. If they can return to work, support will be provided. He expressed happiness seeing many veterans from various battles remain healthy and self-sufficient, but noted some lack families and are abandoned. Some are volunteer soldiers without pensions and require care. He said that if names and records are submitted, full support will be provided.
If given the opportunity to return to office, he will expedite solving these issues for both deceased and active soldiers, focusing on their quality of life. Regarding increasing veterans’ aid, he refrained from discussing budgets during the election period to avoid perceptions of campaigning, but emphasized his commitment to rewarding veterans and current soldiers who defend Thailand’s sovereignty. When asked about public requests not to open the Thai-Cambodian border checkpoint, Anutin said Thailand has not yet opened it. Asked if he could promise the public, he affirmed, “Yes, I have stated this several times already.”
