Broken statue means... bad omen
Astrologers warn Thailand:
2 Apr general election shouldn't be held
Thai PM Thaksin must step down to avoid bloodshed
March 23, 2006
IT was the work of one disturbed man. But it's a sign of trouble
ahead for the entire country.
The upper part of the statue was smashed, leaving just the base
intact. --AFP
That's what astrologers in Thailand are warning after a
mentally-ill man destroyed a four-faced Brahma statue at the famous
Erawan shrine in Bangkok with a hammer yesterday.
The man, Thanakorn Pakdeepol, 27, was immediately beaten to death
by enraged passers-by in the upmarket shopping district around the
Grand Hyatt Erawan Hotel.
Thousands of worshippers of many religions from across Thailand and
around the world flock to the statue every day to seek good
fortune.
Astrologers interpreted the incident as an omen that tragedy would
befall Thailand if the current political turmoil was not defused
quickly.
'The incident portends that something bad will happen. If the
upcoming general election goes ahead on 2 Apr, bad things will
happen,' well-respected astrologer Surattaphong Suwannarat told The
Nation newspaper.
Astrologer Pinyo Pongcharoen agreed with his assessment.
'The Brahma has four faces and now there are apparently four sides
in the country: The government, the opposition parties, the
People's Alliance For Democracy and poor-people demonstrators,' he
told the paper.
He said that if these four groups would turn towards other, the
country would be at peace again.
The vice-chairman of the Astrological Association of Thailand
(ATT), Mr Wiwat Jareogsiri, said the statue had been linked to the
country's horoscope.
'When the country's horoscope is not good, this affects many
things. Now that the sacred Brahma statue is destroyed, the
country's economy may suffer,' he said.
Another astrologer, Mr Samrit Klomkliang, said the fact that the
destruction was carried out by a mentally-ill man who was then
lynched to death was ominous.
'This is blood sacrifice,' he said.
He said it was a sign that Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra should
step down to avert bloodshed.
But AAT chairman Thanakorn Sinkasem dismissed talk of an omen,
saying that the current turmoil was instead the result of the
country's bad horoscope.
'If you notice, you will see that many monks have come out to join
protests this year,' he said.
Mr Thanakorn believes the country will become embroiled in crisis
as it marks its 224th year on 21 Apr, then improve after
that.
Police major Thanit Ratanopas said the mentally-ill man was
probably not fully aware of what he was doing.
'Based on his medical records, he was in and out of many hospitals
with mental illness,' he said.
Two garbage collectors have been charged over his murder and more
arrests are expected.
The shrine was built in 1956 to ward off bad luck during the
construction of a hotel that has since been torn down.
It has long been a prime tourist destination and is also immensely
popular with Thais - drivers take their hands off their steering
wheels as they pass by to pay their respects.
Thailand's deputy prime minister Surakiart Sathirathai ordered the
statue be rebuilt within two months using as many fragments of the
original as possible. - Wire services.
