Prasit Ruangsombat is a 68 year old man. He’s disabled, and his wife died a few years ago. There’s no-one to look after him, so he begs around town. On Sunday he was sleeping rough near one of the main markets in Ayutthaya, close to Chankasem Palace. He awoke to find himself engulfed in flames. He’d been set on fire (for the second time in a week!) by members of a gang who extort “protection money” from beggars. The cost of protection is, apparently, 400 Baht a day – that’s twice the legal minimum wage.

Passers-by took him to the local hospital where he’s recovering.

Sometimes I’m just lost for words …

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