THE CULTURE Ministry announced |yesterday
morning a ban on entering the Royal Crematorium of the late King
Bhumibol Adulyadej after visitors reportedly touched exhibits and
displayed other inappropriate behaviour during a trial run on Wednesday
spread on social media.
After HRH Princess Maha Chakri Sirindhorn
presided over the opening of the Royal Crematorium exhibition yesterday
morning, the ministry announced a new rule restricting photography to
the area outside the Royal Crematorium in an effort to protect the
sacred structure.
The Culture Ministry hosted “trial run” tours for 16,500 invitees on
Wednesday, including governmental officials, monks, students, physically
disabled people and other citizens. Three separate hour-long tours of
the complex took place.
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The exhibition organising committee, led by Deputy Prime Minister
Tanasak Patimapragorn, permitted the select audience a close-up look of
the Royal Crematorium, including visiting the interior second level.
But photos posted on social media showed visitors with their heads
leaning together and posing with the Crematorium in the background.
Additionally, people were seen touching the sculptures decorating the
masterpiece, while others took items from the exhibition.
“In order to run the tour smoothly with appropriate manners, the
ministry announced that from November 2 [yesterday] onward, the general
public can visit only the surroundings of the Royal Crematorium,” Anan
Choochote, director-general of the Fine Arts Department, told Kom Chad
Luek.
He added that the committee was also concerned for the safety of visitors.
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In the afternoon, Deputy Prime Ministry Wissanu Krea-ngam met with Prime
Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha at Government House to discuss Princess
Sirindhorn’s advice regarding related problems.
“The government will take action immediately on HRH Princess
Sirindhorn’s advice to solve problems related to visitors crowding the
area at the Royal Crematorium Exhibition, where items could be broken
before the exhibition closes at the end of this month. However, there is
no discussion on the extension of timetable,” Wissanu said.
Officials were seen yesterday equipping sensors on some items, which
were said to be a preventive measure to detect if people came in too
close a proximity.
Wassachon Thiangtae, a second-year student at Rajamangala University of
Technology Rattanakosin Poh Chang, said that it was a pity that people
cannot enter the second floor of thcrematorium after the prohibition was
issued. “Because of them [people displaying inappropriate behaviour],
people today missed an opportunity to get closer and to have an
experience to visit the Royal Crematorium.
“Those people are selfish and did not think about others,” said Wassachon.
She added that she and her friends would return to the site since one hour was not enough.
“We waited at the screening point only a short time. Officials there have very good management,” Wassachon said.
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Sanchai Premsiri, 53, from Bangkok, said at first he planned to just
look around, but after an official told him the queue was not long, he
waited only 20 minutes to take the tour.
He agreed with the prohibition preventing people from entering the
second floor, saying items could be damaged if 100,000 of people went
there each day for one month.
“This place is not a tourist attraction, it is a sacred site,” Sanchai
said. He said he wanted the Royal Crematorium to be kept intact for the
next generation.
A Cultural Ministry official said the tours were running smoothly, with
people dressing properly, behaving well and following the rules.
As many as 100,000 people are expected to visit the exhibition daily,
with the eight roads adjacent to Sanam Luang remaining closed. In total,
more than 3 million visitors are projected to visit the Royal
Crematorium exhibition, which is open to the public until the end of
November from 7am until 10pm.
Source - TheNation
