Over 4,000 minority group people enjoyed the First
International Pop Concert by Mekong Hill Tribe Musicians arranged by the
United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO)
and Radio Thailand Chiang Mai (RTC).
The
Akha MC (center) entertains the audience and greets all Akha compatriots,
flanked by the two MC’s from the Public Relations Department.
The concert at the Public Relations Department Region
3’s Office in Chiang Mai, aimed at campaigning against HIV/AIDS, human
trafficking and drug abuse among hill tribe people, with emphasis on the
youth.
An
artist from the Lahu Na tribe performing.
Twenty of the most popular singers from the seven
minority groups of the Akha, Hmong, Karen, Lahu, Lisu, Mien and Shan
communities gathered to entertain, and raise awareness of the community
problems. The concert was the first joint activity by the seven minority
groups in the Mekong sub-region.
“They lack information on these issues in their own
languages, so that they are at risk,” said Sheldon Shaeffer, director of
the UNESCO regional office in Bangkok. Having young minority people as the
main target, pop music was used as the tool to get through to them.
“UNESCO is committed to providing people with
prevention information in their own language and based on their own specific
cultural context, and Radio Thailand Chiang Mai has operated minority
language broadcasting for nearly 40 years and is an essential partner in
holding this concert,” said Shaeffer.
It was broadcast live by Radio Thailand, to Thailand, southern China, Lao
PRD, northern Vietnam, Myanmar and parts of India, to spread the information
to approximately 15 million minority people in the Mekong sub-region. The
concert was also televised live by Channel 11.
A Lisu
wai to the audience at the end of their traditional performance.
Each
minority group representative takes the floor as the MC’s take turns to
entertain the audience.
Hmong
singers and dancers.
The Lisu
performance.
Sheldon
Shaeffer, UNESCO; Pol Col Peerapant Premphoot, Anti Money Laundering Office;
and MC’s from the seven minority communities show their solidarity in
fighting AIDS, human trafficking and drug abuse.
The
Public Relations Department MC (second left), the Thai Yai representative
(left), and the Lisu and Akha representatives (second and first right)
welcome the audience.
One
of the larger model train stations at the world’s largest exhibition of
model railways.
