உடைந்த தாய்லாந்து சிவபெருமான் கோவில் சீரமைப்பு

தாய்லாந்து சிவபெருமான் கோவில் சீரமைப்பு செய்யப்படுகிறது. இதனை சில போக்கிரிகள் சேதம் செய்துள்ளார்கள். அவை சரி செய்யப்படுகின்றன


Repairs to start at old temple
Apinya Wipatayotin and SURACHAI PIRAGSA

BURI RAM : Archaeologists have worked out a restoration plan for the Phanom Rung stone temple in Buri Ram as police step up their search for those involved in a black magic ritual which damaged the ancient site.

Dusit Thummakorn, the chief of Phanom Rung Historical Park, said yesterday the two broken Singha, or lion, statues would be the first items to be repaired, followed by the Hindu god Shiva's sacred cow Nandi, the guardian deity whose arms were hacked off and the heads of 11 statues of the mythical serpent Naga.

Plaster moulding will be the major method used in the restoration project, he said, adding that a 30,000-baht budget had been earmarked for the work.

He said the restoration was expected to be completed in only one a month because the Fine Arts Department already had moulds of the damaged statues.

Vichai Sangprapai, the deputy police chief in Buri Ram who is in charge of the case, said more than 30 witnesses had been interrogated so far and he believed they would soon identify the vandals.

An initial investigation suggests the culprits were not from Buri Ram, but likely to have come from other provinces. Pol Col Vichai said he has asked for cooperation from police in neighbouring Surin and Si Sa Ket, requesting they keep a close watch on any followers of black magic for any behaviour that might link them to the vandalism on May 20.

Reports of the vandalism at Phanom Rung have led to a large number of tourists visiting the historical site on the weekend, with the damaged spots becoming the centre of the tourists' attention.


Many cursed the vandals as they saw the wreckage.


"How could they do this to these sacred objects," said Thienthep Somwang, an eight-year-old boy from Lop Buri province.


"I want the officials to fix them as soon as possible."


Krisdee Onnom, 40, from Sa Kaeo province, said he was saddened by the incident and wanted to see for himself the scale of the damage caused by the vandals.


Phanom Rung Historical Park is still open for visitors every day, however part of the temple will be closed for restoration.