Red-shirt loyalists of fugitive former prime minister Thaksin Shinawatra in Chiang Mai have turned to the Divinity in their latest effort to help bring their dear leader home safe and sound.
A Lanna-style religious ritual was staged Tuesday at Wat (temple) U-mong in Muang district of Chiang Mai, Thaksin’s hometown, by his supporters, the so-called Rak Chiang Mai 51. It was led by Mr Petcharawak Wattanapongsirikul and Ms Kanyapak Maneechak and attracted about 300 red-shirt loyalists. Former army chief and a cousin of Thaksin, General Chaisit Shinawatra, was invited to preside over the “life-prolonging” ritual for the ex-premier who is living overseas.
Two pig heads, three cooked chickens, rice, lao khao liquor, fruits and sweets were placed on a table for worshipping in front of a half-metre high Buddha statue with a statement written on its base which read “Chao Moon Muang and Chao Sin demand power to be returned to Chao Chai (prince) Sika. Let forgive one another.”
The ritual began with the abbot of the temple and eight other monks chanted prayers to bless Thaksin so he lives a long life. Since the fugitive could not attend the ritual in person, a huge portrait of himself was placed at the ritual site. The prayers was eventually followed by another ritual staged by a trance medium dressed in white, a red-shirt woman in her 50s. Apparent in trance, she announced to the audience Thaksin, in his past life, was Chao Moon Muang, a local king in the North several hundred years ago. She further said that Chao Moon Muang had committed karma by killing many Burmans and plundering their treasures. The karma has followed him to this life hence his sufferings now.
After the completion of the ritual, General Chaisit told reporters that he believed Thaksin, in his past life, was a warrior and he had killed many of his enemies and plundered their treasures. He said the ritual would absolve Thaksin of his past-life karma.
Interestingly, there was a bowl containing sheets of paper bearing the names of those seen as Thaksin’s enemies. The names included Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva, Deputy Prime Minister Suthep Thuagsuban, privy councilors Prem Tinsulanonda and Tanin Kraivixien.
Thaksin’s loyalists who wrote the names believed that by cursing those names the ex-premier would be blessed and he would overcome all the obstacles and finally be able to come home safe and sound.
A wellknown expert in Lanna history, Mr Thanet Charoenmuang, said he doubted there actually was a local king by the name of Chao Moon Muang. However, he added that it could be the local king of other kingdoms such as Chiang Tung or Chiang Rung.
Mr Thanet went on saying that he didn’t know whether the trance medium meant Thaksin when she referred to the name of Chao Moon Muang. “There are many mediums. It depends on the belief of individuals.”
The ex-premier himself is said to be a believer in superstitution. A few years back while still in power, he staged a religious ritual at the Temple of the Emerald Buddha which provoked criticism from his critics that his conduct was improper. Also, he once held a cabinet meeting at the Phnom Rung ruins in Buri Ram, the hometown of his former right-hand man, Newin Chidchob, supposedly to seek devine blessings to strengthen his grip in power.
However, it remains to be seen whether the Almighty has heard the prayers and will respond to them and to come to Thaksin’s rescue. And for the time being, he has to hop from one country to another like a vegabond as he described himself and the only means that he has been keeping in contact with his loyalists is through his regular phone-ins.
Source: Bangkok Post
