12 Wild Boars to be ordained for 9 days

The process of upgrading Tham LuangKhun Nam Nang Non forest park in Chiang Rai, where 13 footballers were recently trapped inside a cave for two weeks, to national park status will not affect community land held by local people, the government said.

Villagers should not be concerned because no land in the Doi Pha Mee area, where residents have lived for generations, will not be infringed upon, Chongklai Worapongsathorn, chief of the Department of National Park, Wildlife and Plant Conservation, said yesterday.

Mr Chongklai said the forest park will be expanded to form the national park but the extra land will be drawn from a neighbouring national forest reserve.

Residents have asked the department to clarify its plan as they fear losing their land.

Twelve young footballers aged 11-16 from the Moo Paa academy and their 25-year-old coach were trapped in the partially flooded Tham Luang cave in Mae Sai district for up to 18 days from June 23. They were all safely extracted from July 8-10.

Eleven of the team and their coach are due to have their heads shaved today and be ordained tomorrow for a period of nine days ending Aug 3. Some will spend the time as novice monks at Wat Phra That Doi Tung, a Buddhist temple near the cave. It was unclear whether others would stay there or at other temples in the vicinity.

Adul Sam-on, the only Christian member of the formerly trapped team, has been excused on religious grounds.

Their ordination is seen a gesture of gratitude to Lt Cdr Saman Gunan, a former Thai Navy Seal who lost his life during this month’s daring rescue mission.

Praphan Khamjoi, the Buddhism director of Chiang Rai province, said related activities would start today, including a ceremony to honour ancient deities at Wat Phra That Doi Wao at 9am, a head-shaving ceremony later that evening and a morale-boosting ritual.

They will then participate in a Lannastyle procession for 1 kilometre from Wat Noi Doi Tung to Wat Phra That Doi Tung, the temple.

They will sleep at the temple until Aug 3 and leave the monkhood on Aug 4, authorities said.

The 11 boys are to serve as novice monks but their coach Ekkapol Chanthawong, who was left orphaned as a young boy and has reportedly already spent a decade training as a monk, will serve as a monk.