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CMU’s new students’ welcome parade to Doi Suthep
Unity between students, alumni and academics
The traditional “welcome” parade of new and established
Chiang Mai University students from the CMU campus to Doi Suthep mountain
took place recently, beginning at the gates of the university with a
religious ceremony and a traditional Lanna performance from the Student
Union’s Lanna Folk Club.
The massive parade of more than 10,000 people, including posters,
administrators and alumni, traditional Thai dancers and musicians and
students from the university’s 27 faculties, moved off along Huey Kaew Road
to pay respect to the Kruba Srivichai statue, then continued to Doi Suthep
in order to pay homage to the auspiciousness and physical strength of Phra
Boromathat. This “welcome” parade, which has taken place every year since
the university’s inception in 1964, is intended to create unity between new
and established students, alumni and academics.
Buddhist Lent begins this week
The Buddhist Holy Day of Ahsala Bucha falls this year on Thursday July 17,
the 15th night of the full moon during the eighth month of the Buddhist
Lunar calendar. “Ahsala Bucha” means paying homage and worshipping on the
day identified according to the lunar calendar during the eighth month,
Ahsala being the name of the eighth month in the Pali language.
Ahsala Bucha Day commemorates three events which occurred on the same day in
the life of the Lord Buddha; his first sermon, the “Dharmachakapavattama
Sutta,” which outlines the “Four Noble Truths” and which was presented to
the first five disciples; the birth of Buddhism itself on that day, and the
creation of the Sangha, when the first person to hear the Lord Buddha speak
became a Buddhist monk by pledging to follow the Buddha’s teachings. From
these three events arose the “Triple Gem” of Buddhism, the Buddha, Dharma
and Sangha.
The sermon, which set in motion the “Wheel of Dharma”, (Dharmachaka),
concluded that all things are a source of suffering from the constant cycle
of birth, disease, old age and death; that desire or the inability to obtain
what one desires is the cause of suffering, resulting from cause and effect;
that freedom from suffering can only be obtained after the complete
cessation of desire, and that only the “Middle Way” - the path between
extremes of asceticism and indulgence - can lead to the elimination of
desire. These conclusions, the “Four Noble Truths” are the basis of Buddhist
philosophy - the Eight-Fold Path which leads to their full understanding
consists of maintaining and practising correct views, resolve, speech,
conduct, livelihood, effort, mindfulness, and the practice of meditation.
Buddhism itself is considered to have begun on this day when, having left
the location of his enlightenment, the Lord Buddha came to a forest area
near the city of Pharansi, and gave his sermon, (the Dharma), to five
ascetics, who immediately became his disciples. The third event, the
establishment of the Sangha, (the Buddhist community), occurred as the first
ascetic, having heard the Lord Buddha’s words and realised their truth,
became the first Buddhist monk. Ahsala Bucha day, as a result, is also known
as Sangha Day.
The Thai government established the observance of Ahsala Bucha Day in 1958.
Each year Buddhist temples throughout the Kingdom arrange ceremonies
venerating the historic founding of Buddhism. Devout Buddhists participate
in the ceremonies by presenting offerings to monks, listening to sermons and
performing ritual prayers.
The entire day is revered and certain precepts are adhered to by the more
devout Buddhist community, and by those who have the inclination and
opportunity to do so. The Wien Tian ritual ceremony is performed in the
evening; worshippers go to nearby temples bringing candles, flowers and joss
sticks and complete three circumnavigations around the temple area’s sacred
grounds.
The day following Ahsala Bucha Day, begins the traditional three-month
period of time during which Buddhist monks must return to, and stay in,
their temples, neither leaving nor staying overnight at another location,
“for the duration of the rains”. Often referred to as Buddhist Lent, the
correct name is “Khao Pansaa,” one translation of which refers to the
beginning of the rains and the practice of returning. The day falls on the
first full moon of the Buddhist Lunar calendar during the eighth month of
every year, (July 18 this year), and is another important Buddhist holy day
in Thailand. At the end of the three-month period the Katin ceremony, during
which new robes are presented to the temples, takes place, after which monks
may leave and go elsewhere. Originally, monks were discouraged from
travelling during the rainy season as they might have accidentally stepped
on the rice crops or the numerous small insects and other creatures.
Inclement weather also made it difficult and dangerous to travel. Monks were
therefore ordered to remain in their temples, studying and discussing the
Buddhist scriptures, following the proper disciplines, meditating and
performing ritual ceremonies.
The tradition of Khao Pansaa has continued to this day with three classes of
ceremonies, a Royal ceremony conducted by HM the King of Thailand, ritual
ceremonies for devout followers of Buddhism throughout the Kingdom and
ceremonies performed by monks in the temples. The Royal ceremony is similar
to the ceremony performed by the general public, but more elaborate. HM the
King and members of the Royal Family perform ritual ceremonies to pay homage
to Buddhism, and present Khao Pansaa candles and traditional garments to
Buddhist monks. The Royal Family also donates many other items used in these
ceremonies. Lay followers of Buddhism all over Thailand will attend temples
in the morning with flowers and candles in their hands, bringing food,
necessities, money, traditional candles, garments and ceremonial items for
the monks. Devout Buddhists may refrain from the recognised eight offences
for the duration of the three month rainy season just as monks do, while
others may give up a single vice, with yet others avoiding 5-8 offences for
the day. The ceremonies performed by monks in temples revolve around rituals
accepting new monks, who take vows for periods of up to three months, with
some staying even longer. Senior monks at each monastery perform ceremonies
which lead followers in worship and prayer.
The two main items presented to monks during Khao Pansaa are candles and
garments, specifically the bathing robe. Candles were essential in former
times, needed both for ceremonies and for studying scriptures - the
tradition continues to this day. The presentation of garments worn by monks
is said to have originated from methods of bathing in former times, commonly
done in community areas using streams, rivers, ponds and other sources of
water, with monks requiring a bathing robe. The garments worn by monks
continued to develop - the custom now includes presenting the entire
arrangement of costume worn by monks.
Both Ahsala Bucha Day, July 17, and Khao Pansaa, July 18, are recognized
public holidays; banks and most businesses will be closed, and the sale of
alcohol will be forbidden. Many people take time away from their work on
Khao Pansaa to recognise the importance of this Buddhist holy day. Everyone
is invited to participate in the temple ceremonies and to refrain from
offensive behaviour for the day, and to make the same effort thereafter.
Initially, monks were discouraged from travelling during the rainy season
because of the idea that it was inappropriate to walk about during the rainy
season when many small living creatures were about, which could be
accidentally stepped on. This included the rice crops. Inclement weather
also made it difficult to get out and about. Therefore, it was established
long ago that the monks would remain in temples during the rains for three
months, discussing and studying Buddhist scriptures, following Buddhist
disciplines, meditating and performing ritual ceremonies.
Tree planting to celebrate birthday of HM Queen Sirikit
1 million tree target for CM province almost achieved
Saksit Meesubkwang
Chiang Mai province has designated August 8-12 as Tree Planting
Week, according to the deputy governor, Phairoj Saengphuwong. A project to
plant 1 million trees in the province to commemorate HM Queen Sirikit’s
birthday on August 12 has been under way since the beginning of 2008, and
has resulted in a total of 840,000 trees being planted to date. The project
is part of a nationwide scheme involving all provinces; the aim is to plant
76 million trees across the kingdom. All government and private sector
organizations, state enterprises, students and the general public are asked
to participate in planting the remaining 160,000 trees across the province
during Tree Planting Week.
Mia Farrow to speak at
CMU-hosted Nobel Women’s Initiative seminar
Focus on women’s political and human rights crisis in Burma and Thailand
CMM Reporters
The Nobel Women’s Initiative, established in 2006 by a group of
women Nobel Peace Laureates will hold a special seminar at Chiang Mai
University on Monday July 21, led by one of NWI’s founder members, Professor
Jody Williams. International participants will include the UNICEF goodwill
ambassador and American actress Mia Farrow, Chinese labour rights activist
Qing Zhang and Dr. Sima Samar from Afghanistan. Discussion at the seminar
will focus on the political-rights crisis faced by women in both Burma and
Thailand.
Video testimony by Daw Aung San Suu Kyi, (herself a Nobel Peace Laureate
whose house arrest has recently been extended for another year), and others,
will be presented and discussed, as will the systematic violations of
women’s rights, the crackdown on democracy activists and the ongoing
violence in Burma. A background of the ongoing situation in Burma will be
presented, highlighting Aung San Suu Kyi’s situation, the regime’s criminal
blockage of aid to Nargis victims and the situation of refugees on Burma’s
borders who are continuing to flee from persecution.
Statements from two Burmese women and from ethnic women in Thailand will
also be presented.
The President of the Foundation for Women, Law and Rural Development, Virada
Somswasdi, stated that “We don’t have such a special event very often in
Thailand, let alone Chiang Mai, so I do hope that it will create interest,
more understanding and support for women’s causes. The efforts of NWI
members and other women involved in the delegation to Thailand are not only
to keep alive the issues of peace with justice and equality, which include
violence against women and the crises of political rights, but also to
highlight the importance of a just and peaceful global community for women.”
Women’s rights scholar Kritaya Archavanitkul hopes the dialogue will promote
the voices and unseen works of women to local governments.
“One Village, One Product” SME’s
exhibit in Borneo
Flowery fish-scale brooch
grabs attention
Twenty village entrepreneurs from Chiang Mai, Pettani and other locations
recently took “get up and go!” a step further than usual when they got up
and went, together with their products, to Kampung Bunut in Borneo. The
small trade fair, which closes next Friday and is being hosted by the Thai
Embassy, is the second held in Borneo, the first being in 2003. Various
products are being shown, including woven materials, women’s jewellery and a
selection of items made from disposable products. These last attracted the
attention of a delegation of thirty members of Himpunan Parti Wanita
Pembangunan Bangsa, a local organisation which also produces goods from
disposables and sells them to benefit their welfare fund. The piece which
particularly caught their imagination was a flowery brooch made entirely
from fish scales - a very original idea!
90 day period of inspection launched to help consumers
Businesses to be targeted on random basis
Saksit Meesubkwang
The deputy governor of Chiang Mai province, Pairoj Saengphuwong,
has issued a directive to businesses regarding the practice of raising
prices for goods and services unnecessarily, thus taking advantage of
consumers already struggling with the rising costs of fuel and food,
stating that such practices would be dealt with strictly according to
the law during a three month period of observation.
 Consumer
product prices will be subject to a three month period of investigation
to prevent unnecessary rises.
Pairoj also noted that businesses are able to use several strategies to
avoid complying with the law, including quantity manipulation and
refusal to deliver, and that the three month period of observation would
help protect consumers from such practices. Enforcing officials will be
chosen at random to perform inspections over the stated period, which
started on June 20 and will continue for 90 days.
Businesses or individuals found guilty of breaching the Price of Goods
and Services Act in this way will be subject to a fine or imprisonment
of no more than one year.
“Waste to Value” village product display at Northern Village
Reducing burning by recycling into commercial products
The results of a project launched last year by Prof. Doungchan
Charoenmuang and sponsored by Chiang Mai University’s Social Research
Institute, its Faculty of marketing and its Fine Arts Faculty, were on
display recently at Northern Village, Airport Plaza, pending an official
opening in August.
Entitled “From Waste to Value avoiding Burning,” the sales exhibition
featured many items, including bags, flowerpots, handicrafts and works
of art, all transformed from garbage and waste material by workers in
three Chiang Mai villages, who had been trained for almost a year in
this unique method of reducing burning and its environmental and health
hazards.
Confiscated drugs worth $310 million burned on Anti-Drug Day
CMM Reporters
The UN’s recent Anti-Drugs Day was marked here in Thailand by
the burning of confiscated drugs worth approximately $310 million
dollars by drug enforcement officials. The conflagration took place in
Ayutthaya; police personnel involved apparently experienced the residual
effects from the burning bonfire of drugs. In developed countries,
special incinerators are provided to protect technicians and the
environment from contamination. Drugs burned included 2.2 kilos of
cocaine, 32,000,000 tablets of methamphetamines, 1.1 tons of heroin and
7.2 kilos of ecstasy.
The health minister, Chiya Sasomsub, stated that the Thai government is
determined to solve the drugs problem, as no Thai family wants their
children to get involved in drugs which may damage their brains. He also
estimated that there are at present approximately 200,000 drug users in
the Kingdom.
Canada Day celebration in Chiang Mai
For the 126 Canadian families living in
Chiang Mai, Canada Day, held annually on July 1, is a special day for
celebration. Those who could make it this year joined up for the second
annual “Stampede Breakfast” - a traditional breakfast of pancakes and
bacon. 70 Canadians, including representatives for the Canadian
Consulate, business professionals, NGO workers, missionaries, retired
folds, and even a few “wanna-be” Canadians, enjoyed the meal and each
other’s company.
Upper Northern Region development seminar held at Empress Hotel
Cooperation between officials and residents stressed
Saksit Meesubkwang
A seminar concerning the development of the upper northern
provincial areas of Chiang Mai, Chiang Rai, Lamphun, Lampang, Phayao,
Phrae, Nan and Mae Hong Son was held July 9 at the Empress Hotel,
chaired by Somchai Chumrat, Director of Public Works and City Planning.
More than 500 delegates attended.
 Somchai
Chumrat, Director-General of Public Works and City Planning Department,
pictured chairing the seminar.
Discussions were held which stressed the need for each province to set
up city development plans which were suitable for local communities, and
which did not impact on the environment. Somchai stated that planning
for fast-growing cities such as Chiang Mai needed cooperation and
consultation between officials and residents as to the location of
residential, hotel, entertainment and industrial districts. He mentioned
that the areas in the upper north still had room for development, and
stressed that the benefits of such development should not be confined to
any one single group, but should be acceptable to all in the community.
Abductors of 11 Kayan to be charged with human trafficking
Concern that Thailand may seem
to support inappropriate treatment
Khajohn Boonpath
The Governor of Mae Hong Son, Thongchai Wongrianthong, recently
attended a stressful meeting with concerned parties regarding the recent
abduction of 11 members of the Kayan sub-tribe of the Karenni people,
often disparagingly referred to as the “long-necks”. The meeting also
discussed ways to return the abducted tribespeople.
 Concerned
relatives of the 11 abducted Kayan waiting for news in Mae Hong Son.
During the meeting, Thongchai insisted that human trafficking laws would
be observed and that those who failed to observe such laws would be
punished. He added that letters requesting cooperation would be sent to
Chiang Mai, Chiang Rai, Chonburi and other major tourist provinces in
order to determine whether fake Hill Tribe villages had been set up to
exploit the Kayan as tourist attractions. Concern was expressed that
foreigners and their governments would consider that Thailand was
encouraging inappropriate treatment of refugees. Mae Hong Son officials
will be sent to suspect areas to investigate.
A task force has been set up comprising the deputy governor of Mae Hong
Son, Mae Hong Son police, immigration police, labour officials, public
prosecutors, administrators and representatives of the Northern Tourism
Association with the aim of returning all Kayan to Mae Hong Son and
taking legal action against the human traffickers, who will be charged
with violating the Immigration, Human Trafficking and Employment Acts.
At present, the whereabouts of the 11 abducted Kayan, including four
children, remains unknown, but attempts are being made to verify the
routes used in the abduction. Karenni villages in Mae Hong Son province
are also being investigated. The Kayan are considered as refugees,
having fled from the heavy fighting in the Burmese border areas, and are
required to stay at designated locations.
Controversially, the governor insisted that, contrary to claims made by
the United Nations High Commission for Refugees, (amongst many others,
including members of the Kayan themselves), the refugees are not badly
treated, as Mae Hong Son province has established its own tourist sites,
(referred to as “conservation villages”) where they may live in their
“natural surroundings” and lead a “normal way of life”. Presumably
referring to Huay Sua Tao and Huay Pukaeng, he mentioned that tour
operators are involved, which, he said, protects the refugees and
ensures that they do not move elsewhere to the detriment of the Mae Hong
Son tourist industry. UNHCR recently accused Thailand of being more
concerned about tourist revenue than human rights.
A Festival of Bright Ideas from the British Council
The British Council has announced a series of talks to be held in Chiang
Mai under the title of ‘A Festival of Bright Ideas’. The Education UK
talk will cover essential issues for Thai students who plan to pursue
their education in the United Kingdom.
There are five set dates, all Saturdays, and all at the Amari Rincome
Hotel on Nimmanhaemindha Road. The July 26, talk will be on Business
Studies, the August 6 talk on Engineering and Science Studies. August 30
will concentrate on preparing a good portfolio and will also offer an
Art and Design Studies talk. The series will end on September 20 with a
Hotel and Tourism Studies talk. Admission is free to all talks, which
will also be held in Bangkok and Khon Kaen. The first talk, Business
Studies, will be from 1 pm until 4 pm. For more information, please
contact the British Council on 053 242 103 or email
educationuk@britishcouncil.or.th.
Ratchapruek Royal Flora Expo upgrade due December
Convention Centre budget to be submitted
Saksit Meesubkwang
Government ministers and representatives of local administration
departments met July 7 in Chiang Mai to discuss a plan for construction
of the new International Convention Centre and Exhibition Hall, to be
situated near the 700 year Anniversary Stadium. Also on the agenda was
the upgrading of the Ratchapruek Royal Flora Expo Park, to be completed
in time for the celebration of His Majesty the King’s birthday on
December 5.
The leader of the Chart Thai Party, Banharn Silapa-archa, together with
the Minister of Agriculture, Somsak Prisananantakul, and the Minister of
Tourism and Sports, Veerasak Kowsurat, inspected Ratchapruek Royal Flora
Expo 2006 Park.
China, Japan, Bhutan, and Brunei will be invited to add their native
floral displays to the exhibition in time for the December 5
celebrations held to honour His Majesty the King. In addition, Veerasak
announced that the Ministry of Tourism and Sports is joining with the
Ministry of Agriculture to organise the Lanna Culture Fair, which will
take place at the Park each Friday, Saturday and Sunday throughout
August from 10 am to 10 pm. For this event, the 8 northern provincial
authorities of Chiang Mai, Chiang Rai, Lamphun, Lampang, Phrae, Nan, and
Mae Hong Son will take turns to host the entertainments, cultural
performances and Lanna arts on display. A drum contest is also being
planned, to take place at the Park in October. Governmental approval for
a planned budget of 40 million baht is being sought.
Regarding the plans for the Convention Centre project, a budget proposal
of an amount in excess of 2.3 billion baht, which will take into account
increasing construction costs, will have been submitted to the Cabinet
July 14 for further approval.
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