Ghost-busting monks return on PM’s orders
PHUKET: Monks from Taiwan and Japan are due to perform a ceremony for tsunami victims in Patong on Monday, on the orders of Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra – 40 days after Phuket Governor Udomsak Usawarangkura ordered an end to rituals to appease ghosts.
Napasorn Kakai, Assistant Director of the Tourism Authority of Thailand Region 4, said PM Thaksin had declared that the ceremony would be good public relations and should make tourists more confident about traveling to and around the Andaman provinces.
Altogether, 26 people from Japan and 20 from Taiwan will take part in the ceremonies, one in Patong and one in Phang Nga. They will be accompanied by officers of the TAT offices in Japan and Taiwan.
The Phuket ceremony is due to take place at Loma Park, Patong Beach, from 10am.
On March 30, Governor Udomsak said there should be no more ceremonies to appease the ghosts of tsunami victims.
He said, “There have been enough religious ceremonies [for tsunami victims]. If anyone needs to hold a religious ceremony, they can, but only within 100 days [of the tsunami].
“We will not allow ceremonies to be held at the beach or in a public area after 100 days. There have been enough religious ceremonies. Now it is the time to get back to the real world.”
