Naradhiwas Rajanagarindra Hospital publicly apologised on Wednesday after a photograph of two of its nurses flashing a victory sign in front of a slain bomb squad officer circulated on the internet.
Naradhiwas Rajanagarindra Hospital staff apologise to the public after a photo of its nurses acting 'inappropriately' circulated on the social media.
The two nurses flashed the two-finger victory sign as they posed for a photo in front of the body of Pol Sgt Nimit Deewong, who was in the hospital's intensive care room.
The 35-year-old sergeant was one of the three bomb squad members killed by an explosion while examining another bomb planted in a hole beside Phetkasem Road in Narathiwat on Monday morning.
The photo was widely shared on social media. Many web board posters criticised the nurses for lack of professional ethics and for their inappropriate action.
The hospital made its apology in a letter made public. it said:
1. The photo was shared on the Line communication app and the incident did occur in Naradhiwas Rajanagarindra Hospital.
2. An initial investigation found the nurses were guilty of professional misconduct but were not aware of the situation. However, there was no other agenda.
3. All hospital staff working at that time were determined and committed to their work.
4. Naradhiwas Rajanagarindra Hospital will set up a committee to investigate the issue and take disciplinary action against all staff involved in the incident.
5. The hospital would like to apologise and expresses its condolences to the families of the officers and everyone concerned. The hospital will not allow this situation to happen again.
A nurse who was in the photograph posted a message on her Facebook page saying she did not know how the photo was shared or who posted it.
"I did not mean any disrespect to those who suffered. (As for the victory sign), I was only trying to give moral support to my colleagues and security officers," she said. "I am very sorry and ask for forgiveness from the families and all sides who have been affected."
Investigators inspect the crime scene where a municipal public parks worker was slain in Pattani's Panare district on Wednesday, Oct 30, 2013. (Photo by Abdulloh Benjakat)
Meanwhile, in Pattani's Panare district, two people were shot dead in separate attacks on Wednesday morning.
Police said Wicharn Chadarat, 41, a municipal public parks worker, was attacked in front of the Panare district library while driving to work on a motorcycle. The shooting occurred around 7am about 200 metres from the park where he was to work.
Two men on a motorcycle followed him and the pillion rider opened fire with a handgun. Wicharn was shot in the head and died instantly.
About two hours later, 59-year-old oil palm farmer Kaewkul Nilsri was killed at his farm.
Kaewkul, who was the uncle of Thailand's Got Talent winner and song-for-life singer Somchai "Chai" Ninsri, was shot by an unidentified gunman on a motorcycle while he was taking a rest from work. The gunman fled after the shooting.
A bystander, Nit Wanghongklang, 22, was also injured in the crossfire. She was rushed to Panare Hospital.
The YouTube video below, uploaded by LAKORNHD ThaiTV on Aug 25 this year, shows Somchai "Chai" Ninsri performing a song about the southern unrest at Thailand's Got Talent television programme.