Sompien Eksomya, Top Thai Police Hero dies

Sompien Eksomya (Thai: พ.ต.อ.สมเพียร เอกสมญา), superintendent of Yala's Bannang Sata district police, and three subordinates were seriously wounded in a roadside bomb attack in the district yesterday. Sompien had recently asked the premier for a transfer to a safer area before his retirement next year.



Pol Col Sompien was later pronounced dead at hospital. The home-made bomb exploded about 1.30pm when the pick-up truck carrying the four officers drove along a road in Thap Chang village in tambon Talingchan of Bannang Sata district.

The bomb destroyed the vehicle and left a 1m-deep hole.

The three other injured officers were Pol Lt Kittisak Loma, Pol Snr Sgt Maj Sophon Intharabovorn and Pol Cpl Ravikorn Sangsiri. Pol Col Sompien's team was attacked after visiting villagers following reports southern insurgents were active in the area. Last month, Songkhla native Pol Col Sompien - known as "the fighter at Budo mountain" - sought help from Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva at Government House. He asked to be transferred from the area to Trang province before his retirement next year.

He said he had worked in violence-affected areas in the southern border provinces for 40 years and he would like to end his career in safety.

Pol Col Sompien said he had been overlooked in the latest reshuffle of senior police, which in his view was unfair.

Pol Col Saratoon Pradit, chief of Sa Bot district police in Lop Buri and a friend of the dead officer, said Pol Col Sompien called him on Thursday.

He said he had not received any help, even though the Royal Thai Police assured him he would get fair treatment.

R.I.P The fighter at Budo mountain.