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Thousands Attend The Cremation Of Tuan Leekpai


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Thousands attend Tuan's cremation

By The Nation on Sunday

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Tens of thousands of people joined the royal-sponsored cremation of Tuan Leekpai, mother of former prime minister and Democrat chief adviser Chuan, in Trang yesterday.

Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva joined the ceremony after hosting his weekly television programme in the province.

Among the guests were Deputy Prime Minister Suthep Thaugsuban, Education Minister Chinnaworn Boonyakiat, PM's Office Minister Satit Wongnongtaey, Finance Minister Korn Chatikavanij, Commerce Minister Porntiva Nakasai, PM's adviser Supatra Masdit, Democrat secretary-general Chamni Sakdiseth and party adviser Banyat Bantadtan, revered monks and governors from provinces.

About 2,000 troops and police from Trang and adjacent provinces guarded the event.

Tuan, who died on March 2 at the age of 99, was a highly revered person in Trang.

The crowd gathered at Tuan's house before 12.30pm when her body was moved to Kuan Wiset Temple, which is located just 50 metres away.

As the procession led by Tuan's children moved quietly to the temple, the Trang elephant lovers' group had eight elephants wait in line at the temple gate to honour her.

Tuan's crematorium, made in Songkhal, was 15 metres high. The design was similar to ancient royal crematoriums but decorated with a classic Southern artistic pattern.

Yesterday was the first time that the crematorium was used for layman's cremation. It has been used for cremation of nine revered monks earlier.

The souvenirs include a book on Tuan's role as female canvasser, book of Chuan's drawings collection and amulet of the revered Luangpu Tuad of Huay Mongkol Temple, Prachuap Khiri Khan. Due to the large number of guests and the book not being published in time, some people received a coupon yesterday that they can change for the book later.

The family has not decided how to spend the donation received from guests and its amount has not been revealed. However, the money is expected to be added up to the foundation for children's education Tuan founded many years ago. The foundation currently has over Bt1 million left in bank.

About 3,000 people attended the chanting rite for Tuan's funeral on Friday - the last of the nine-day rite. The guests included Korn, Foreign Minister Kasit Piromya, Culture Minister Nipit Intarasombat, former interior minister Sora-at Klinpratoom, director-general of the Government Lottery Office Wanchai Surakul, singer Daojai Paijit, plus Chuan's son Surabot and his mother Pakdiporn Sucharitkul.

Chuan thanked the guests and said transport to Trang was inconvenient and out-of-date. Trang trains have some of the oldest compartments in the South while the airport can serve only small planes. The transport should be improved. Transport Minister Sophon Saram, who attended the event, just smiled and did not reply.

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-- The Nation 2011-03-13

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