'Wild Boars' coach, 3 players get Thai citizenship

Wild Boars' soccer coach Ekkapol Chanthawong (left), who is currently in the monkhood, receives his identity card denoting Thai citizenship from district chief Somsak Kunkamin during the ceremony in Mae Sai district, Chiang Rai, on Wednesday. (Photo: Chiang Rai public relations office)

CHIANG RAI: Three young footballers and their coach who were among the 13 dramatically rescued from the flooded Tham Luang cave in early July yesterday took the oath of citizenship after being granted Thai nationality.

They were born to parents from ethnic groups who never registered their birth with the Interior Ministry.

Adul Sam-on, Mongkol Boonpiam, Pornchai Kamluang and Ekkapol Chantawong officially became Thai citizens when they, along with 26 other people, took part in a ceremony held at Mae Sai district office yesterday afternoon to present them with Thai ID cards.

District office chief Somsak Khanakham said all 30 people were granted Thai nationality because they qualified for it under either Section 7 or Section 23 of the Nationality Act.

Adul, Mongkol and Pornchai qualified under Section 7, while Mr Ekkapol was eligible for reasons stated in Section 23. said Mr Somsak.

The three boys obtained their birth certificates and used them as evidence to prove they were eligible to receive the Thai nationality, said Mr Somsak.

Mr Ekkapol, of Shan descent who was born at Mae Sai Hospital and has a parent born in Thailand, has a track record of doing good deeds, which qualified him for Thai nationality, Mr Somsak said.