FRIDAY, March 29, 2024
nationthailand

Seeking accountability for the cave calamity

Seeking accountability for the cave calamity

Rescuing the soccer players and their coach from Tham Luang cave has cost millions, untold hours of toil by genuine heroes – and, worst of all, the tragic death of former Thai Navy SEAL Saman Gunan. 

We must study this calamity, so that we don’t repeat it. Meriting special scrutiny is the role of coach Ekapol Chanthawong, since none of this would have happened if the team had stayed out of the cave.
National Parks spokesman Sompote Maneerat said the cave had been closed to the public for the wet season before the team entered. 
An independent committee should determine the coach’s accountability for this disaster, and take action accordingly. As a local leader, the coach should have known that park authorities had closed the cave, and that the rains had begun: why did he lead his charges, albeit unwittingly, into harm’s way? Yes, they were having an adventure – but a dangerous lark cannot be justified. 
In mitigation, he reportedly gave all his food to his team, led them in meditation to prevent panic, etc, while the sign at the entrance stated that the cave was closed from July (the kids entered on June 23). I have no desire to see the coach's career wrecked. But we cannot permit Saman to have died in vain, nor entrust other students to Ekapol’s care until the coach has earned our trust.
Burin Kantabutra

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