Thais hold merit-making rite for fallen soldiers at Ta Kwai

Hundreds of Thai villagers from 30 communities in the vicinity of the Ta Kwai ancient ruins in Phanom Dong Rak district of Surin province took part in a mass merit-making ceremony today to pay their respects to soldiers who fell while fighting to retake the site from Cambodian forces last December.

The ceremony was chaired by Defence Minister Lt-Gen Adul Boonthamcharoen and Culture Minister Sabeeda Thaised.

Many villagers, dressed in traditional costumes, joined a bai sri procession and performed a ramwong folk dance as they advanced slowly towards the ceremonial ground, where wreaths were laid in front of a statue commemorating the fallen soldiers.

The normally restricted Ta Kwai ancient ruins were briefly opened to visitors during the Songkran festival. Thousands of Thai people visited the site, prompting a strong protest from Cambodia’s Ministry of Culture and Fine Arts, which claims that the ruins are located on Cambodian soil.

Phanombootra Chandrajoti, director-general of the Fine Arts Department, told the media today that restoration of the ancient ruins will take about two years.

He added that the department plans to survey more than 30 other ancient sites along the Thai-Cambodian border, with a view to registering them as Thai archaeological sites and eventually opening them as tourist destinations.