Rumours abound; truth remains at a premium

Although initial examinations have not revealed much except that coral has grown on the container, which is more than 20 years old, speculation has already run wild. While the age of the coral predates the Black May incident, there have been allegations or suggestions the container holds the skeletons of shooting victims who died in that traumatic event.

Before anyone jumps to conclusions, let's recap the known facts about the mysterious shipping container. So far, no one knows what's inside it because it has remained on the seabed off Sattahip district for many years.

The theory of a possible link to Black May 1992 arose after fishermen found what could be human bones in the sea near the container. There is no proof that human bones came from the container in question. But even so, the discovery of bones has been enough to spark curiosity and rumour.

Nonetheless, this curiosity has apparently not been strong enough to prompt the authorities to lift the shipping container from the seabed. A suggestion to cut into the container has also faced opposition from the Pollution Control Department which reasons that if the container happens to accommodate toxic or hazardous substances, any release would cause damage to the environment.

Forensics officials are trying to figure out economical options to find out what's inside the container. Yesterday, Khunying Porntip Rojanasunan, director of the Central Institute of Forensic Sciences, suggested that a tiny underwater camera could be slipped through a hole drilled in the container.

Amid this fragile economic and political environment, Thais are desperate for facts and truth to replace unfounded rumour and speculation. This is the current mood in our society. It is to be hoped that forensics experts can provide a definitive scientific answer to this latest news mystery. Otherwise, rumours and speculation will continue to swirl around.

Getting an answer to what's inside the container may be worth the effort so that we can react to it and then move on. After all, our social reconciliation effort should start with people asking straight questions and telling the truth.