Prison governor honored at death

Prison governor honored at death

BANGKOK (AFP): The Thai prison governor who died of injuries sustained in a hostage drama staged by a band of Myanmar convicts last month is to be given a royal honor at his cremation this week, reports said on Sunday.

Governor Somwong Sirivej died on Saturday of organ failure after spending 17 days in a critical condition as doctors battled to treat gunshot wounds to his head, leg and arms.

In a major honor for Somwong's family, a flame from the Royal Palace in Bangkok will be taken by a palace official to the temple where he is to be cremated Dec. 16, and used to light the pyre.

Corrections Department director general Siwa Saengmanee said a posthumous promotion and a recommendation for a royal decoration were being considered for Somwong, a father of two young children who had taken the top job at the jail just two months ago.