Thread: Abhisit protected by amulet shield

PM protected by amulet shield


By Traithep Krai-ngu
The Nation on Sunday
Published on December 13, 2009

Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva can boast of only one notable piece in his Thai amulet collection - the Luangpor Thuad M16 - while the other prized specimens are "on loan", an expert says.

Following speculation that he was wearing light armour for self-protection under his shirt due to the political turmoil, Abhisit unbuttoned his shirt to show journalists 10 amulets around his neck.

The public especially amulet enthusiasts wondered what was in the premiere's collection.

Abhisit reportedly had been given several outstanding examples, so his collection could be worth an eight-digit figure.

However Democrat MP for Bangkok, Thana Cheeravinij, who frequently visits the Sunday Moradok Thai amulet club at Pantip Plaza's Mall Ngam Wongwan branch, said Abhisit was Western-schooled so he was not into Thai amulets.

When Abhisit first took the top job, he had none of the highly-regarded Benjapakhi amulets, but only the "Luangpor Thuad M16" anointed at Pattani's Sai Khao Temple in 1991, which was the only one that could impress enthusiasts, he said.

Other significant amulets the premiere obtained later on were "ones that people lent to him to wear for a period of time". They include the Jatukham Ramathep amulet's Lakmuang 1 edition anointed in 1987, which Democrat MP Thepthai Senpong lent to Abhisit, and the Luangputhuad Wat Changhai clay amulet anointed in 1954.

Law expert Sukit Pulsrikasem said amulet lending needed to take into consideration the period of time because an indefinite lending period could be the equivalent of giving as a gratuity.

Thanadech Rakchucheep, an expert in Jatukham Ramathep amulets, said the Jatukham Ramathep amulet's Lakmuang 1 edition anointed in 1987 at Nakhon Si Thammarat's Phra Mahathat Temple was highly valuable.

Especially those with a black colour body and tints of silver could have fetched Bt1.8 million each during the Jatukham Ramathep craze of 2007, he said. Even with the price dropping to Bt800,000 to Bt900,000, most of those obtaining this edition would not want to part with it because they it was regarded as the "super Jatukham Ramathep amulet", he said.

Chainarit Panthong, an expert on Buddha statues and amulet enthusiast association's Phra Luangporthuad amulet, said the Luangputhuad Wat Changhai clay amulet anointed in 1954, especially the "large A Hua Khid print edition" amulets in good condition, could be worth Bt5 million each.

The "large B print edition" amulet was worth about Bt2 million to Bt3 million, while the "large C print edition" was worth about Bt1 million to Bt2 million, he said.

The Luangputhuad Wat Changhai clay amulet anointed in 1954 could appreciate in the future because it was regarded as a highly revered talisman among people, especially Trang residents, he said.

As for the Luangpor Thuad M16 that the premiere owned, many southern amulet collectors agree that it was "highly experienced" and "believed to bestow on the wearer the outstanding feature of immortality". It was nicknamed "M16" because of a story in which the amulet wearer was shot at with a M16 assault rifle until all of his shirt was torn but the bullets could not penetrate his skin.

This amulet anointed by Phra Ajarn Nong Thammaphuto was worth from hundreds of baht to over Bt1,000. Chainarit said the low price was because the amulets were mass made.

The amulet's reverse was printed with "Nor 72", meaning that Phra Ajarn Nong made them when he was 72 years old.

The giving of a Buddha amulet as a souvenir and for self-protection was reportedly popular among Thais from the past until the present time. Some villagers offered them as a gift to Abhisit on several occasions.

On January 2, during Abhisit's visit to the Tha Chin riverside community in Nakhon Pathom's Nakhon Chaisri district, Lor Khiewkhramchin, 79, presented him a Luangpu Boon amulet and a Luangpu Pherm (First Edition) amulet from Klang Bang Kaew Temple, both worth over Bt100,000, to show moral support.

On March 20, while Abhisit was conferring awards to the outstanding health volunteers of this year at Muang Thong Thani, one of the recipients, Payom Kaewwongchan, handed him a Buddha amulet.

She said in an interview that she gave the premiere the Luangputhuad clay amulet from Pattani's Changhai Temple as a sacred gift that would protect him from all harm and let him serve as the prime minister for a long time.

On November 23, Democrat MP for Bangkok Samart Maluleem invited venerated Thai tattoo master Ajarn Noo Kanphai to meet the premier at Government House. The master also gave the premiere and his bodyguards a medallion inscribed with five lines of sacred Thai scripture and a Luangputhuad clay amulet from Pattani's Changhai Temple.

Abhisit unbuttoned his shirt to show journalists 10 amulets around his neck.

he needs to be careful he doesn't fall in the klong then

An Oxford-educated fellow... my, my, my hasn't Mark Vejj zoomed backwards.

Amazing Thailand. The fellow's gone native.

However Democrat MP for Bangkok, Thana Cheeravinij, who frequently visits the Sunday Moradok Thai amulet club at Pantip Plaza's Mall Ngam Wongwan branch, said Abhisit was Western-schooled so he was not into Thai amulets.

would have thought so so why did he have ten round his neck

The Thai solution is easy, do away with those who lent him their amulets, which not only benefits Avashit but also doubly-proves they work.

The amulets are gifts to the pm, could this constitute corruption?

Originally Posted by Mid

However Democrat MP for Bangkok, Thana Cheeravinij, who frequently visits the Sunday Moradok Thai amulet club at Pantip Plaza's Mall Ngam Wongwan branch, said Abhisit was Western-schooled so he was not into Thai amulets.

would have thought so so why did he have ten round his neck

There's no doubt an election (of sorts) looming in the near future so mark is just trying to get a bit of 'street cred' by wearing the amulet bling bling, to cast off the stink of ochford.

Originally Posted by shunpike

There's no doubt an election (of sorts) looming in the near future so mark is just trying to get a bit of 'street cred' by wearing the amulet bling bling, to cast off the stink of ochford.

Nah, for "street cred" you need the majic golden star tattoo from Wat Bang Phra

Originally Posted by gjbkk

As for the Luangpor Thuad M16 that the premiere owned, many southern amulet collectors agree that it was "highly experienced" and "believed to bestow on the wearer the outstanding feature of immortality". It was nicknamed "M16" because of a story in which the amulet wearer was shot at with a M16 assault rifle until all of his shirt was torn but the bullets could not penetrate his skin.

Sounds a tad far-fetched - would need to see a video clip to convince me

Originally Posted by gjbkk

Originally Posted by shunpike

There's no doubt an election (of sorts) looming in the near future so mark is just trying to get a bit of 'street cred' by wearing the amulet bling bling, to cast off the stink of ochford.

Nah, for "street cred" you need the majic golden star tattoo from Wat Bang Phra

Now that's good thinking...perhaps he could drive motosai taxi a few days a week as well. Great photo op..the amulets, the tatt, and the orange vest!

Originally Posted by watterinja

An Oxford-educated fellow... my, my, my hasn't Mark Vejj zoomed backwards.

Amazing Thailand. The fellow's gone native.

He'll be using squat toilets and chewing betel nut soon.

^

Originally Posted by Happyman

Sounds a tad far-fetched - would need to see a video clip to convince me

The Luangpor Thuad M16 amulet works much better with one of these

Originally Posted by gjbkk

a story in which the amulet wearer was shot at with a M16 assault rifle until all of his shirt was torn but the bullets could not penetrate his skin.

Rumour has it that there's an M150 amulet that stops you falling asleep at the wheel