Crown Prince in Thailand

12 June 2006- His Royal Highness the Crown Prince Jigme Khesar Namgyel Wangchuck arrived in Bangkok, Thailand yesterday afternoon at 2:30 pm local time for a two-day official visit to attend the 60th anniversary celebration of His Majesty the King Bhumibol Adulyadej's Accession to the Throne.

The Crown Prince with Princess Maha Chakri Sirindhon

Her Royal Highness Princess Maha Chakri Sirindhon of Thailand and senior government officials received His Royal Highness the Crown Prince Jigme Khesar Namgyel Wangchuck.

His Royal Highness is accompanied by the foreign minister, Lyonpo Khandu Wangchuk, the Thai Honorary Consul to Bhutan, Dasho Ugen Tshechup Dorji and senior foreign ministry officials.

Foreign monarchs and their representatives from 25 countries will attend a ceremony at the Ananta Throne Hall today where they will offer their best wishes to the Thai King.

In the evening His Majesty the King Bhumibol Adulyadej, will preside over the opening of the exhibition "The King and the Development of Thailand".

Tomorrow, His Majesty will host a banquet for the foreign monarchs and their representatives at the Chakri Maha Prasat Throne Hall.

By Karma Choden in Bangkok
kchoden@kuensel.com.bt

University offers Trongsa Penlop Scholarships

University offers Trongsa Penlop Scholarships

Dasho Bap Kesang and Dr. Arthit Qurairat signs the MoU

27 August, 2007 - The Rangsit University in Thailand will provide 15 full scholarships and 30 short-term courses in a span of ten years as part of what it calls the ‘Trongsa Penlop Scholarships’. In addition, the university will also provide 10 scholarships in civil engineering in 2008, to commemorate the accession of Bhutan’s 5th king to the throne.

A memorandum of understanding was signed this week between the university’s president, Dr. Arthit Qurairat, and the Royal Civil Service Commission’s secretary, Dasho Bap Kesang.

The scholarships will be activated this year. They include programmes for masters, bachelors, post-graduates, and other short-term courses in areas such as engineering, education, management, information technology, and human resource development.

Dr. Arthit Qurairat said that the scholarships were a contribution towards Bhutan’s nation-building.

“It is also a gesture of great reverence to both the fourth Druk Gyalpo and His Majesty the King for their noble intention to lead Bhutan towards Gross National Happiness (GNH),” said Dr. Arthit Qurairat.

The scholarships will include expenses for books and study materials, insurance, accommodation and living expenses, apart from tuition fees.

His Majesty the King Jigme Khesar Namgyel Wangchuck was conferred an Honorary Doctorate in philosophy, politics and economics from the Rangsit University last year.

Dr. Arthit Qurairat also spoke on the Thai-Bhutan relationship at the Royal Institute of Management.

Dr. Arthit Qurairat said that the “visionary transition” of Bhutan under the “revolutionary” new concept of GNH by His Majesty King Jigme Singye Wangchuck was inspiring.

The Thai National Economic and Social Development, Dr. Arthit Qurairat said, has adopted the GNH’s noble principles to formulate an Human Achievement Index aside from Gross National Product (GNP).

“Education meant nurturing and socializing the citizens from childhood throughout their lifetime,” said Dr. Arthit Qurairat. “The way we paint this lifelong learning picture of development will decide the future of our nations, the future of our world. And that is an immense responsibility we have in our hands.”

By Kinga Dema
kinga_d@kuensel.com.bt

Rights Group Documents Brutality Of Insurgents in Southern Thailand

By Nora Boustany

Washington Post Foreign Service
Tuesday, August 28, 2007; Page A09

Separatist militants in Thailand's mostly Muslim southern provinces have stepped up a decades-long, low-intensity insurgency into a wave of brutal bomb attacks, assassinations, machete hackings and, in some cases, beheadings and mutilations in the past three and a half years, an extensive Human Rights Watch report said today.

Interviews with witnesses, family members, academics, lawyers, journalists and human rights activists painted a bloody picture of the predominantly ethnic Malay provinces of Pattani, Yala, and Songkhla from January 2004 to last month.

Of the 2,463 people killed in attacks during that time, a total of 2,196, or 89 percent, have been civilians. "Violence against civilians is being used by separatist militants to scare Buddhist Thais away from these provinces, keep ethnic Malay Muslims under control and discredit the Thai authorities," said Brad Adams, Asia director at Human Rights Watch.

Village-based militants who call themselves the Patani Freedom Fighters have emerged as the core of a more violent generation of separatists bent on carving up the southern border provinces between ethnic Malay Muslims and so-called "infidels." They claim the land is a religious "conflict zone" that must be freed from what they term a Buddhist Thai occupation.

More than 3,000 attacks have targeted civilians since January 2004, including attacks on schools. Teachers, public health workers, hospital staff and infants in their mothers' arms have been victims of violent rampages that have terrorized inhabitants.

Summary executions based on ethnicity have been carried out by green-clad gunmen with assault rifles, who ambush victims along country roads, the report said.

Ethnic Malay Muslims suspected of collaborating with Thai authorities or known for their opposition to the militants have also come under attack. Those Malay Muslims are treated as "traitors or hypocrites" for betraying what Human Rights Watch described as "a radical blend of Malay nationalism and Islamist ideology."

One example was the killing of the son of one Muslim Malay village chief. Usman Jaema told Human Rights Watch that his 15-year-old son was hacked with machetes and axes in January 2004 by separatists who wanted to warn the chief not to oppose their operations.

"There are around 10 Muslim youths in this village who join the militants. They have been trained to become guerrilla fighters. They do not like me," Jaema was quoted as saying. "After the attack, my villagers look down on me. They said I could not protect my own son, then how could I be able to protect them? Some of them even said that it might be practical to give support to the militants to ensure their safety."

Getting the right balance with a Thai yoga massage

Getting the right balance with a Thai yoga massage

By Lindi Bilgorri

Thai yoga therapist Alison Waverley (wearing black) giving Carolyn Collins a Thai yoga massage

Feeing a little bit lethargic after Christmas and the New Year? A Thai yoga massage could give you more energy and iron out any tightness says Lindi Bilgorri.

When I told a colleague that I was having a Thai yoga massage, he replied: "I had one in Thailand and the therapist walked on my back."

Alison Waverley admits that she doesn't go to that extreme when she gives Thai yoga massage, but she does follow the rhythmic acupressure massage of this ancient art of healing that is 2000 years old.

I got along to her home where the massage takes place. She has devoted a small room, painted in a soothing purple, to the treatment. There is no bed, as Thai yoga massage is done entirely on the floor on a mat. And unlike other Western massages, it is done fully clothed without oils.

But if I thought I was just going to lie back and let Alison knead away the aches and pains while I drift off, Alison has another idea. As the name suggests Thai yoga massage uses yoga stretches to ease out the stiffness and to improve the flow of energy (or chi) through body.

Alison says: "Thai yoga massage is so much more than a massage. It is an energising treatment that is balancing with the mind, body and spirit. And with the assisted yoga positions it stretches the body to increase flexibility, reduce tension in the muscles and corrects the right and left side imbalances in the body."

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Thai yoga massage is good for treating back, neck, shoulder and knee pain; headaches and migraine; sciatica, menstrual pain, IBS and chronic muscle tension.

"If you are sitting at a computer all day you become imbalance. Thai yoga massage is to balance the body."

Alison became interested in Thai yoga massage when she was travelling in Thailand and became fascinated with the holistic therapy. She was so impressed with the benefits of Thai massage that she took a course in the village where she was staying. Later, when she returned to England, she did another year-long course at the British School of Thai Bodywork.

Alison begins my treatment by pressing the acupressure points along my legs to remove any energy blockages where it is painful, that is where I have a blockage. During the one hour and 30 minute treatment, Alison moves my body into different positions pulling and stretching out my body. The postures have yogic names downward facing dog, cobra and cat.

"I am working on the subtle energy lines of the body. You get a very relaxing, rhythmic and nurtured feeling."

Traditional Thai massage is an ancient form of healing which spread from India, along with Buddhism, to other parts of Asia more than 2000 years ago.

The founder of Thai massage was an Indian doctor Jivaka Kumarabhacca. He was the physician to the Buddha and Bimbisara, the king. He introduced the manipulative techniques, along with dietary change and the use of herbs, which were taught to monks and nuns in the temples. These temples then became a place of both medical and spiritual healing.

Because of its roots, Thai yoga massage is so much more than a therapist kneading away the tension.

"It is given and received in a medative state. It provides a space where the receiver can let go' not just of physical aches and pains, but mental, emotional and spiritual blocks as well. It is a truly holistic experience," says Alison.

After having a Thai yoga massage it will help to increased energy levels, increased flexibility and mobility, improved circulation of the blood and lymph systems and helps to clear waste and toxins from tired or stressed muscles.

It is indeed a very relaxing therapy. Even though Alison didn't walk on my back and just used her hands during the session, she did manage to release the knots in my shoulders and neck, and the next few days I had bags of energy.

Alison Waverley at Healing Thai: 01494 636801 or www.healingthai.co.uk

4:45pm Wednesday 11th January 2006