Navy urged to allow third party join probe of corvette sinking

By Thai Newsroom Reporters

THE NAVY WAS TODAY (Dec.26) suggested to have a third party join an ad hoc committee in investigating the sinking of HTMS 442 Sukhothai corvette which has claimed 18 fatalities among sailors and 11 others yet unaccounted for.

Move Forward MP Picharn Chaowapattanawong called on the navy to allow some third persons who may be MPs or other civilians with relevant knowledge and experience to sit on the investigating panel in addition to navy officers.

Picharn, who sits on the House Armed Services Committee, said members of society may doubt the transparency and straightforwardness of the investigating committee which only comprises navy officers headed by navy chief-of-staff Adm Chonlathit Navanukhroh.

The tragic incident of HTMS 442 Sukhothai which sank to the 40-metre-deep bottom of the stormy sea in the Gulf of Thailand off Prachuap Khiri Khan on Dec.18 could possibly have been attributed to flaws in some repair and maintenance process or post-repair inspection or questionable procurement process earlier carried out at the cost of safety of the sailors aboard, the MP said.

The navy’s search and rescue mission for the missing sailors has been conducted since last Monday with several ships, helicopters and divers.

CAPTIONS:

Top: Search and rescue operation for the missing sailors.

Front Page: HTMS 442 Sukhothai sinking on Dec. 18. Both photos: Thai Rath

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