Cannon ceremony a man's job

Caretaker PM and defence minister, Yingluck Shinawatra, watched, but did not carry out the minister's traditional role in paying respect to the ministry's cannons.

Please join us on our Facebook page http://www.facebook.com/bangkokpostlearning

Caretaker PM and defence minister, Yingluck Shinawatra, watches during yesterday's ceremony marking the 127th anniversary of the ministry’s establishment. PATTARACHAI PREECHAPANICH

PM barred from cannon rite

Wassana Nanuam

As caretaker defence minister, Yingluck Shinawatra should have yesterday presided over a ritual to honour the cannons outside the Defence Ministry. But she was ruled unfit to do so. Not because of problems with her leadership, but because tradition dictates that women cannot oversee the ceremony.

Defence permanent secretary Nipat Thonglek was nominated to lead the "cannon worship" on her behalf to mark the 127th anniversary of the ministry’s establishment.

The defence minister is normally responsible for the solemn duty of paying respect to the cannons, particularly the Phaya Tani cannon, revered as being the most "magical". However, Gen Nipat carried out his assignment as directed, hanging a marigold garland onto the cannon on Ms Yingluck’s behalf, while members of the military top brass hung floral offerings on seven other cannons. There are a total of 42 cannons in front of the ministry.

Two of the cannons outside the Defence Ministry with traditional marigold garlands. PATTARACHAI PREECHAPANICH

The ancient Phaya Tani cannon is believed by some to have had a mysterious effect on unrest in the South since the violence in the region flared up again in 2004. Former army chief Gen Chettha Thanajaro — then defence minister — gave an order to adjust the position of the Phaya Tani cannon in the belief that the superstitious tactic would ward off violence in March that year.

His decision followed a weapons robbery at a military camp in the South in January 2004.

At the time, Gen Aud Bueangbon, then permanent secretary for defence, moved all 42 cannons from facing the Royal Palace to look out in the direction of Wang Saran Rom Park and the City Pillar Shrine instead.

But the 2004 arms robbery heralded a new wave of southern unrest that is yet to abate. A few months later, Gen Chettha lost his seat in a cabinet reshuffle in the Thaksin Shinawatra government.

No one has dared move the cannons since.

Gen Nipat has ordered a facelift for the front yard of the Defence Ministry — although the cannons will not be moved.

Instead, two musical fountains have been installed in the driveway leading to the ministry, amid speculation the revamp was aimed at correcting bad feng shui.

The outside of the Defence Ministry has had a revamp to mark its 127th anniversary. Two musical fountains have been built on the premises to attract tourists. PATTARACHAI PREECHAPANICH

Gen Nipat dismissed the rumours, saying he only wanted to improve the appearance of the ministry and make it a tourist attraction, similar to Tiananmen in Beijing.

“I cannot stop people from believing in whatever they want to believe,” Gen Nipat said, laughing.

The musical fountains are switched on in the morning, at noon, and again in the evening. A horn is blown at 8am every day as part of a routine to attract tourists and pay respect to the Thai national flag.

“The Phaya Tani cannon is the largest and most beautiful of all the 42 cannons in front of the Defence Ministry and is believed to be the most magical,” said a soldier who serves as a caretaker for the artillery. “Whoever takes care of it must know how to recite the right incantations.”

Given the negative effect the cannon move seemed to have on the southern situation, people now believe any further incorrect alignment of the weapons could cast another "evil omen".

Needless to say the position of the guns remains unaltered.

สามารถฝึกอ่านออกเสียงและดูคำแปลได้ที่ : http://www.bangkokpost.com/learning/learning-from-news/404148/cannon-ceremony-a-man-job