▁Ch uan ▁Le ek p ai , ▁which ▁led ▁to ▁controvers y . ▁Th an om ▁settled ▁the ▁matter ▁himself ▁by ▁turning ▁down ▁the ▁appointment . ▁ ▁Th an om ▁K itt ik ach orn ▁died ▁in ▁ 2 0 0 4 ▁the ▁age ▁of ▁ 9 2 ▁in ▁Bang k ok ▁General ▁Hospital , ▁after ▁suffering ▁a ▁stroke ▁and ▁a ▁heart ▁attack ▁two ▁years ▁earlier . ▁His ▁family ' s ▁medical ▁exp enses ▁were ▁paid ▁by ▁King ▁B hum ib ol ▁Ad uly ade j , ▁which ▁some ▁saw ▁as ▁pay back ▁for ▁Th an om ' s ▁agree ing ▁to ▁the ▁king ' s ▁request ▁that ▁he ▁leave ▁the ▁country ▁to ▁end ▁the ▁violence ▁in ▁ 1 9 7 3 . ▁Th an om ' s ▁cre m ation ▁was ▁held ▁on ▁ 2 5 ▁February ▁ 2 0 0 7 ▁at ▁Wat ▁Deb s ir in . ▁Queen ▁Si rik it ▁pres ided ▁over ▁the ▁cre m ation ▁ceremony , ▁light ing ▁the ▁royal ▁fl ame ▁on ▁beh alf ▁of ▁King ▁B hum ib ol . ▁Her ▁young est ▁daughter , ▁the ▁Princess ▁Ch ul ab horn , ▁also ▁pres ided . ▁Th an om ' s ▁wife ▁died ▁in ▁ 2 0 1 2 ▁aged ▁ 9 8 . ▁ ▁Hon ours ▁Th an om ▁received ▁the ▁following ▁royal ▁decor ations ▁in ▁the ▁Hon ours ▁System ▁of ▁Th ailand : ▁▁ 1 9 2 5 ▁- ▁ ▁King ▁R ama ▁VII ▁Cor on ation ▁Medal ▁▁ 1 9 3