Thai family mourns soldier son killed just before ceasefire
The clock was pointing towards peace when Private First Class Theerayuth Krajangthong was cut down on the Thai frontier -- among the last casualties before a midnight ceasefire with Cambodia. His funeral rites began on Wednesday as Buddhist monks blessed his body with sacred chants, his remains in a shimmering silver coffin draped with the flag of Thailand and flanked by his neatly folded uniform. "He was brave -- brave until the very last moment of his life," said his sister, 26-year-old Hormchan Krajangthong, her voice breaking with emotion. "He gave his blood and body for our king and country," she told the village of Nong Yang Pong Sadao, just 27 kilometers (17 miles) from the border with Cambodia. Five days of clashes over ancient temples on the frontier killed at least 43 people on both sides, sending more than 300,000 fleeing as the countries battled with jets, artillery and ground troops. A truce deal took effect at midnight on Monday and ...