16-10-203 (BANGKOK) A woman in Chiang Rai, Suntree Saelee, is desperately seeking assistance from authorities to find her husband, who was abducted during an attack by the Palestinian militant group Hamas on October 7 in Israel. Suntree, a 28-year-old Hmong villager from Ban Kio Kan in tambon Rim Khong, Chiang Khong district, expressed her distress as she lost contact with her husband, 26-year-old Kong Saelao, during the assault.
According to Ms. Suntree, her husband’s colleague informed her that Hamas militants had raided a worker’s camp in an avocado orchard located approximately 3 kilometers from the Gaza Strip, a Palestinian territory, known as Khirbet Mador. While the colleague managed to escape, Mr. Kong and three other Thai individuals remained in the camp. In a heart-wrenching account, Ms. Suntree revealed that her husband’s colleague had shared pictures and a video clip depicting Mr. Kong being forcefully taken away by a group of men in military attire, with one picture capturing him struggling for breath while in a headlock.
Through tearful eyes, Ms. Suntree said, “When I saw the picture and the clip, I knew it was him. I am deeply concerned for his safety. Please help him.” Mr. Kong had been employed at the avocado farm for 11 months, earning a monthly salary of around 50,000 baht. He had been saving money with the intention of building a new home and purchasing a car for their family. As the sole breadwinner, his absence has left the family in a vulnerable position. Ms. Suntree revealed that she used to speak to her husband every day through an online platform.
On the morning of October 7, Mr. Kong informed his wife that a fight had erupted, accompanied by sounds of gunfire and explosions. Their conversation abruptly ended, and she lost contact with him around 11:30 a.m. Since then, his whereabouts remain unknown, adding to the anguish experienced by his loved ones.
In response to the distressing situation, Wirun Sitthiwong, the district chief, stated that the provincial governor had instructed a team from Chiang Khong Hospital to provide support to Ms. Suntree’s family. Additionally, the district is making arrangements for the repatriation of another Thai worker, Weera Khantan, from Israel, following a request by the subdistrict head of tambon Wiang.
Wilaiporn Saeya, the assistant village head of Ban Kio Doi Luang, revealed that over 20 Hmong men from Ban Kio Kan and Ban Kio Doi Luang have sought employment in Israel, while others have found work in South Korea. He explained that these young men aspire to secure better incomes for their families, resulting in a population shift within the villages, leaving mostly elderly individuals, women, and children behind. Typically, these men work abroad for a period of 2 to 5 years to save money and repay debts.
