- Holds #4 Spot for Friendly Locals, #3 for Value for Money and #5 for Nightlife –
Given the genuinely warm and hospitable nature of its people as reflected in its reputation as the “Land of Smiles”, it is not surprising that Thailand is ranked #4 in the Friendly Locals category of the latest Country Brand Index (CBI). Adding to this commendable standing is Thailand’s position in #3 of the Value for Money category and #5 of the Nightlife category. These three pillars stand out among Thailand’s strengths, as recognized by the approximately 3,000 international business and leisure travelers from nine countries who were covered in the comprehensive study. The CBI examines how countries are branded and ranked, and identifies emerging global trends in the world’s fastest-growing economic sector – travel and tourism – which accounted for US$944 billion in international tourism receipts in 2008. In the case of Thailand, this sector makes up 6.7% of its economy and 7% of its workforce.
In the overall Top Country Brand rankings, Japan represents Asia by holding the #7 title.
2009 CBI Top Country Brands
This year’s index, conducted by FutureBrand, a leading global brand consultancy, in conjunction with public relations firm Weber Shandwick’s Global Travel & Lifestyle Practice, includes rankings and trends, themes in nation building and marketing issues, as well as more in-depth analysis of the strengths and weaknesses of the Top 10 country brands and a look at the “Next 10,” those top country brands ranking 11-20. Additionally, research was expanded to cover 102 country brands, which allowed a breakdown of regional rankings to be included. Other new topics include: the political and economic sides of country branding; discrepancies between perception and reality of a country brand; and “A New Focus on Value,” which speaks to one of the chief motivators in travel and tourism this year, (visit www.futurebrand.com/cbi for complete results).
“This is the fifth year we have been able to continue to innovate around country brand thinking, methodology and findings. This category remains one with tremendous potential not only for tourism but investment, trade and policy. Even with the global economic circumstances facing many nations, the need to maximize opportunity and present a cohesive identity is critical,” said Rina Plapler, senior executive director, FutureBrand.
"The days of countries marketing themselves with travel posters are over. Wise governments harness, propel and amplify their country as a brand, given it also encompasses culture, exports retail, real estate and of course tax revenue. The popular phrase says ‘tourism is too big to fail,’ but if no one is paying attention or if it is undervalued or taken for granted, the competition will benefit,” said Rene A. Mack, president, Weber Shandwick Travel & Lifestyle Practice. “The United States fared extremely well this year in part due to the change in administrations.”
This year’s CBI also touches on a variety of topics relevant to travelers and tourism professionals including: how small nations can compete with much larger countries; the different ways destinations can communicate value; and the year’s best and worst country brand marketing. Other notable topics focus on the use of social media in country branding and how icons, national companies and sports drive the development of country brand image.
The following are highlights from this year’s Country Brand Index, listing the top five countries in rank order for each category:
2009 Country Brand Index Ranking Highlights
The 2009 Country Brand Index reports a number of emerging trends in travel and tourism that include:
Value-Oriented Mindset – The global economic downturn has led consumers to think about travel from a financial standpoint and make decisions accordingly. The concept of value, as defined by more for less, continues to flourish in this environment. Whatever type of vacation travelers are able to afford, whether this be basic or luxury accommodations, consumers expect a bargain. Consumers are thinking like financial analysts in choosing destinations and properties that are undervalued and booking trips that allow them to maintain the style they were accustomed to in boom times.
Attitudes Towards Travel Planning – With the plethora of last-minute travel bargains and new internet tools allowing for instant bargain bookings, there is a growing divide between those favoring impromptu trips and others prone to careful organization and advanced planning to account for more meaningful and structured travel experiences. This being true, the study also finds that even in the downturn, must-do travel—whether attending a milestone event like a wedding or taking an event-driven trip like attending the Super Bowl to support a local team—still persists. Additionally, semi-permanent and open road trips are also aspects of the travel landscape that are expanding as technology permits passengers to plan on the go and hotels largely have vacancies and thus the ability to accommodate travelers at the last minute.
The Mystery of Authenticity – The importance of authenticity is well-known — but the differing attitudes toward and different definitions of the idea mean that there is some discrepancy on why some destinations are thriving and other travel experiences are reinventing the concept. Below are four trends emerging from this larger conversation:
Synthetic Destinations – Destinations conscious of “classic” places of the past—like Paris, Rome and London—are desperate for a piece of this tourism business and are subsequently planning and buying their ways onto the map by upgrading infrastructure and building attractions to build the number of foreign visitors and investors. Examples of new synthetic destinations include United Arab Emirates’ man-made islands and Qatar’s Museum of Islamic Arts.
Fauxthentic Travel – Travelers looking for authentic experiences yet would prefer not to put in the leg work and expense are turning to “faux authentic” hotels and tours for a simulated experience replicating the originals. Some travel to the Mayan Temple at Atlantis Paradise Island, Bahamas and take gondola rides at The Venetian Las Vegas to have “real” experiences from afar, while others pretend to rough it in luxury “tents” at places like the Molori Safari Lodge in South Africa while guides give them a real taste of the destination.
Tomorrow’s Hidden Jewels – For those constantly seeking out the next destination untouched by tourism, an authentic travel experience is an off-the-beaten path adventure. Destinations such as Croatia and Thailand used to top the list of uncharted spots, but the study predicts Azerbaijan, Ghana and the Balkans will be next to hit adventure seekers’ radars. Cradles of Civilization – Though many of the world’s most historic places are currently immersed in civil unrest, making them unsafe for most visitors, this study predicts an upsurge in visitors to these cradles of civilization as the zones become safer. Examples are the Fertile Crescent in Iraq, the Indus Valley in Pakistan and the ancient kingdoms of Mali and Songhai in modern-day Mali and Niger.
Rising Stars
CBI also identified the United Arab Emirates (UAE), China, and Vietnam, respectively, as the top three “rising stars” – those likely to become major tourist destinations in the next five years. Also making the list this year are Croatia, South Africa, and India.
Study Methodology
FutureBrand has developed a three-tiered system for examining and ranking country brands. The Country Brand Index incorporates global quantitative research, expert opinions, and relevant secondary sources for statistics that link brand equity to assets, growth and expansion. The result is a unique evaluation system that provides the basis of our rankings and insights about the complexities and dynamics of country brands. The 2009 survey tracks the perceptions of approximately 3,000 international business and leisure travelers from nine countries—the US, the UK, China, Australia, Japan, Brazil, UAE, Germany and Russia. Participants were screened to include frequent international travelers (who travel internationally more than once a year) between the ages of 21 and 65, with a balanced split between men and women. Respondent perceptions of 102 country brands were quantified through questions about behavior around destination selection; country associations across an array of 29 image attributes; and overall awareness, familiarity, past visits, intent to visit, and willingness to recommend destinations to others. Survey results were aggregated and weighted in proportion to regional volume of travel consumption. This was done in order to minimize potential bias around preferred locations from respondents from regions that may have been over-represented in the sample. Our 2009 expert panel consists of 47 travel, tourism and hospitality professionals who are not associated with one specific destination.
About Weber Shandwick
Weber Shandwick is a leading global public relations agency with offices in 77 markets around the world. The firm’s success is built on its deep commitment to client service, creativity, collaboration and harnessing the power of Advocates - engaging stakeholders in new and creative ways to build brands and reputation. Weber Shandwick provides strategy and execution across practices such as consumer marketing, healthcare, technology, public affairs, corporate/financial and crisis management. Its specialized services include digital/social media, advocacy advertising, market research, and corporate responsibility. Weber Shandwick was recognized as PRWeek’s 2009 Global Agency Report Card Gold Medal Winner, named Global Agency of the Year by The Holmes Report and Large PR Firm of the Year by PR News in 2008. The firm also won the United Nations Grand Award for Outstanding Achievement in Public Relations for a lifestyles educational campaign in India. Weber Shandwick is part of the Interpublic Group (NYSE: IPG). For more information, visit http://www.webershandwick.com.
About FutureBrand
FutureBrand (www.futurebrand.com), part of the Interpublic Group of Companies, Inc. (NYSE: IPG – News), is a leading brand consultancy within IPG that commands a global presence spanning 24 major cities around the world. Partnering with the world’s leading companies, FutureBrand helps its clients to develop profitable brands both today and into the future. Offering a full range of services from consumer branding and corporate identity, to brand identity, brand management and beyond, FutureBrand works with clients to measure and increase brand value, define breakthrough brand strategies and create powerful brand experiences. Clients include ArcelorMittal, P&G, Microsoft, Dubai World, Intel, Barclays Premier, Nokia, Nestle, MasterCard, UPS and Unilever.
Sunday, November 22, 2009
Thursday, November 12, 2009
SALES OF AMULETS ARE THRIVING
Sales of Jatukarm Ramathep amulets are thriving in Nakhon Si Thammarat's Muang district, with many sellers earning more money than they ever dreamed of. Duangchanok Amornsak closed down her traditional dance school in August last year and began trading Jatukarm Ramathep talismans.
She admits to making a good profit as demand for the amulets _ which are priced from 199 to 150,000 baht _ has surged. She also sells T-shirts bearing the image of the talisman, and books and pictures.
''I used to get about 10,000 baht a month as a dance teacher. Now I earn from 100,000 to 200,000 baht a month from selling the amulets,'' she said.
Stalls selling the amulets are on almost every road in downtown Muang district. Although the amulets were introduced in the province 20 years ago, Ms Duangchanok believes their popularity jumped only recently, with the funeral of Pol Maj-Gen Khun Phantharak Rajadej, a well-respected local aristocrat.
Thousands of people flocked to the cremation of Khun Phantharak to obtain the amulets, which were distributed by his children as keepsakes.
Sales of the amulets have stimulated the local economy, putting an estimated 100 million baht into circulation.
Pailin Arunjit also quit her job to become a talisman vendor.
Ms Pailin said she invested 30,000 baht to open her business three months ago. Now she earns about 100,000 baht a month.
''I had never thought that I would have what I have today. My monthly salary as a department store worker was a few thousand baht,'' she said, adding that she is now able to pay off her debts.
Ms Duangchanok said she believed the talisman would sell well for the next two to three years before dying down, as was ''the law of nature''.
She personally believed in the magical powers of Jatukarm Ramathep and had various versions of the amulets in stock.
''I don't try to persuade anyone to believe me or to buy the talismans from me. There is no point in owning the amulet but not behaving well. Jatukarm Ramathep will only protect decent people, bringing them good luck,'' she said.
She admits to making a good profit as demand for the amulets _ which are priced from 199 to 150,000 baht _ has surged. She also sells T-shirts bearing the image of the talisman, and books and pictures.
''I used to get about 10,000 baht a month as a dance teacher. Now I earn from 100,000 to 200,000 baht a month from selling the amulets,'' she said.
Stalls selling the amulets are on almost every road in downtown Muang district. Although the amulets were introduced in the province 20 years ago, Ms Duangchanok believes their popularity jumped only recently, with the funeral of Pol Maj-Gen Khun Phantharak Rajadej, a well-respected local aristocrat.
Thousands of people flocked to the cremation of Khun Phantharak to obtain the amulets, which were distributed by his children as keepsakes.
Sales of the amulets have stimulated the local economy, putting an estimated 100 million baht into circulation.
Pailin Arunjit also quit her job to become a talisman vendor.
Ms Pailin said she invested 30,000 baht to open her business three months ago. Now she earns about 100,000 baht a month.
''I had never thought that I would have what I have today. My monthly salary as a department store worker was a few thousand baht,'' she said, adding that she is now able to pay off her debts.
Ms Duangchanok said she believed the talisman would sell well for the next two to three years before dying down, as was ''the law of nature''.
She personally believed in the magical powers of Jatukarm Ramathep and had various versions of the amulets in stock.
''I don't try to persuade anyone to believe me or to buy the talismans from me. There is no point in owning the amulet but not behaving well. Jatukarm Ramathep will only protect decent people, bringing them good luck,'' she said.
Magnificent seven
In the most important, most revered event since the invention of the brontosaurus trap,Microsoft shipped the most incredibly fabulous operating system ever made; the release of Windows 7 also spurred a new generation of personal computers of all sizes at prices well below last month's offers.The top reason Windows 7 does not suck: There is no registered website called Windows7Sucks.com
Kindle e-book reader maker Amazon.com and new Nook e-book reader vendor Barnes and Noble got it on; B&N got great reviews for the "Kindle killer"Nook, with dual screens and touch controls so you can "turn" pages, plays MP3s and allows many non-B&N book formats, although not the Kindle one;Amazon then killed the US version of its Kindle in favour of the international one, reduced its price to $260(8,700 baht), same as the Nook; it's not yet clear what you can get in Thailand with a Nook, but you sure can't (yet) get much, relatively speaking, with a Kindle;but here's the biggest difference so far,which Amazon.com has ignored: the Nook lets you lend e-books to any other Nook owner, just as if they were paper books; the borrowed books expire on the borrower's Nook in two weeks.
Phone maker Nokia of Finland announced it is suing iPhone maker Apple of America for being a copycat; lawyers said they figure Nokia can get at least one, probably two per cent (retail) for every iPhone sold by Steve "President for Life" Jobs and crew via the lawsuit,which sure beats working for it -$6 (200 baht) to $12(400 baht) on 30 million phones sold so far, works out to $400 million or 25 percent of the whole Apple empire profits during the last quarter;there were 10 patent thefts, the Finnish executives said, on everything from moving data to security and encryption.
Nokia of Finland announced that it is one month behind on shipping its new flagship N900 phone, the first to run on Linux software; delay of the $750(25,000 baht) phone had absolutely no part in making Nokia so short that it had to sue Apple, slap yourself for such a thought.
Tim Berners-Lee, who created the World Wide Web, said he had one regret:the double slash that follows the "http:"in standard web addresses; he estimated that 14.2 gazillion users have wasted 48.72 bazillion hours typing those two keystrokes, and he's sorry; of course there's no reason to ever type that, since your browser does it for you when you type "www.bangkokpost.com" but Tim needs to admit he made one error in his lifetime.
The International Telecommunication Union of the United Nations, which doesn't sell any phones or services, announced that there should be a mobile phone charger that will work with any phone; now who would ever have thought of that, without a UN body to wind up a major study on the subject?;the GSM Association estimates that 51,000 tonnes of chargers are made each year in order to keep companies able to have their own unique ones.
The Well, Doh Award of the Week was presented at arm's length to the United Nations Conference on Trade and Development; the group's deputy secretary-general Petko Draganov said that developing countries will miss some of the stuff available on the Internet if they don't install more broadband infrastructure; a report that used your tax baht to compile said that quite a few people use mobile phones but companies are more likely to invest in countries with excellent broadband connections; no one ever had thought of this before, right?
Sun Microsystems , as a result of the Oracle takeover, said it will allow 3,000 current workers never to bother coming to work again; Sun referred to the losses as "jobs," not people; now the fourth largest server maker in the world, Sun said it lost $2.2 billion in its last fiscal year; European regulators are holding up approval of the Oracle purchase in the hope of getting some money in exchange for not involving Oracle in court cases.
The multi-gazillionaire and very annoying investor Carl Icahn resigned from the board at Yahoo ; he spun it as a vote of confidence, saying current directors are taking the formerly threatened company seriously; Yahoo reported increased profits but smaller revenues in the third quarter.
The US House of Representatives voted to censure Vietnam for jailing bloggers; the non-binding resolution sponsored by southern California congresswoman Loretta Sanchez said the Internet is "a crucial tool for the citizens of Vietnam to be able to exercise their freedom of expression and association;"Hanoi has recently jailed at least nine activists for up to six years apiece for holding pro-democracy banners. Iran jailed blogger Hossein "Hoder" Derakshan for 10 months - in solitary confinement.
Kindle e-book reader maker Amazon.com and new Nook e-book reader vendor Barnes and Noble got it on; B&N got great reviews for the "Kindle killer"Nook, with dual screens and touch controls so you can "turn" pages, plays MP3s and allows many non-B&N book formats, although not the Kindle one;Amazon then killed the US version of its Kindle in favour of the international one, reduced its price to $260(8,700 baht), same as the Nook; it's not yet clear what you can get in Thailand with a Nook, but you sure can't (yet) get much, relatively speaking, with a Kindle;but here's the biggest difference so far,which Amazon.com has ignored: the Nook lets you lend e-books to any other Nook owner, just as if they were paper books; the borrowed books expire on the borrower's Nook in two weeks.
Phone maker Nokia of Finland announced it is suing iPhone maker Apple of America for being a copycat; lawyers said they figure Nokia can get at least one, probably two per cent (retail) for every iPhone sold by Steve "President for Life" Jobs and crew via the lawsuit,which sure beats working for it -$6 (200 baht) to $12(400 baht) on 30 million phones sold so far, works out to $400 million or 25 percent of the whole Apple empire profits during the last quarter;there were 10 patent thefts, the Finnish executives said, on everything from moving data to security and encryption.
Nokia of Finland announced that it is one month behind on shipping its new flagship N900 phone, the first to run on Linux software; delay of the $750(25,000 baht) phone had absolutely no part in making Nokia so short that it had to sue Apple, slap yourself for such a thought.
Tim Berners-Lee, who created the World Wide Web, said he had one regret:the double slash that follows the "http:"in standard web addresses; he estimated that 14.2 gazillion users have wasted 48.72 bazillion hours typing those two keystrokes, and he's sorry; of course there's no reason to ever type that, since your browser does it for you when you type "www.bangkokpost.com" but Tim needs to admit he made one error in his lifetime.
The International Telecommunication Union of the United Nations, which doesn't sell any phones or services, announced that there should be a mobile phone charger that will work with any phone; now who would ever have thought of that, without a UN body to wind up a major study on the subject?;the GSM Association estimates that 51,000 tonnes of chargers are made each year in order to keep companies able to have their own unique ones.
The Well, Doh Award of the Week was presented at arm's length to the United Nations Conference on Trade and Development; the group's deputy secretary-general Petko Draganov said that developing countries will miss some of the stuff available on the Internet if they don't install more broadband infrastructure; a report that used your tax baht to compile said that quite a few people use mobile phones but companies are more likely to invest in countries with excellent broadband connections; no one ever had thought of this before, right?
Sun Microsystems , as a result of the Oracle takeover, said it will allow 3,000 current workers never to bother coming to work again; Sun referred to the losses as "jobs," not people; now the fourth largest server maker in the world, Sun said it lost $2.2 billion in its last fiscal year; European regulators are holding up approval of the Oracle purchase in the hope of getting some money in exchange for not involving Oracle in court cases.
The multi-gazillionaire and very annoying investor Carl Icahn resigned from the board at Yahoo ; he spun it as a vote of confidence, saying current directors are taking the formerly threatened company seriously; Yahoo reported increased profits but smaller revenues in the third quarter.
The US House of Representatives voted to censure Vietnam for jailing bloggers; the non-binding resolution sponsored by southern California congresswoman Loretta Sanchez said the Internet is "a crucial tool for the citizens of Vietnam to be able to exercise their freedom of expression and association;"Hanoi has recently jailed at least nine activists for up to six years apiece for holding pro-democracy banners. Iran jailed blogger Hossein "Hoder" Derakshan for 10 months - in solitary confinement.
Friday, August 28, 2009
Magic, mobs and millennialism
Thailand has often been termed the "Magic Kingdom," but few actually recognise how pervasive magic has become in Thai politics, very much including in the present crisis.
A recent book Lap Luang Prang (the title of which might be translated as "The Secrets that Deceive") by Bangkok Post reporter Wassana Nanuam provides a detailed and fascinating account of the use of astrologers and black magic not only by Thaksin Shinawatra, the former prime minister who was removed from office in a military coup in 2006, but also by many other high officials and especially military officers, including General Sonthi Boonyaratkalin, the army commander-in-chief who led the coup against Thaksin. Gen Sonthi is a particularly interesting case because, as Ms Wassana observes, as a Muslim, the general should not engage in superstitious practice.
Ms Wassana discusses how Thaksin, the 21st century politician, has sought to "channel," as mediums do, the spirit of Taksin, the late 18th century king who reigned at Thon Buri and was deposed by the founder of the present dynasty. Perhaps Thaksin, like King Taksin, also seeks to be a future Buddha.
Ms Wassana further examines the magical identification made between Thaksin's nemesis, Sondhi Limthongkul, and the famous King Narai of Ayutthaya. If Mr Sondhi is known to have been wearing an amulet during his miraculous escape from a barrage of bullets, one can expect copies of that amulet to be widely sought after.
One chapter of Ms Wassana's book is entitled Newin: Spirit Doctor of the Khmer. Newin Chidchob, a political boss from Buri Ram in northeastern Thailand and the scion of a Thai Khmer family whose men were often mahouts working with elephants, was once a major backer of Thaksin.
In 2005 when Thaksin visited Buri Ram, Mr Newin guided him in a ritual use of an elephant prod belonging to Mr Newin's grandfather to magically attack Thaksin's opponents. Since in 2009 Mr Newin abandoned Thaksin and led his supporters in parliament to back a Democrat-led government, one wonders whether the elephant prod was passed on to Abhisit Vejjajiva, the Democrat leader who is now prime minister.
Ms Wasssana is not the only one to have noted the significant role magic plays in Thai politics. Surasak Tumcharoen, another Bangkok Post reporter, observed in an article published on June 2, 2007, that the Democrat party as well as Thai Rak Thai party leaders gave considerable credence to the interpretation of omens and the predictions of astrologers. Mr Surasak wrote: "Horoscopes and astrology may sound unbelievable to some, but many politicians secretly rely on such superstition. Apparently, some politicians consult their astrologers before making any major political decisions. Some military officers even consulted their ajarn [masters] on the right timing to stage a coup."
Speaking about the present crisis, Thanong Khanthong, a staff member of The Nation, in his blog (http://blog.nationmultimedia.com/thanong/2009/04/13/entry-1) of April 13, 2009, "Crisis Soon Over: Thank the Stars," wrote that "my amateur astrologer has told me that duang muang [the City's star] is in trouble, with the stars aligned in a complicated position. When King Yodfa [Rama I] founded Bangkok in 1782, the lakh[s]ana duang muang [the character of the City of Angels] was represented by the sun, which exemplified strength, boldness and grandeur."
Another blog-writer who uses the name "Siam Report" (http://siamreport.blogspot.com/2009/04/crisis-soon-over-thank-stars.html), in commenting on Thanong's blog, notes that Thaksin had also consulted an astrologer in anticipation of the events that have constituted Thailand's latest political crisis.
Both bloggers have pointed to the role that astrologers such as Mor Lak have played in advising Thaksin during the recent crisis.
I became fascinated with the role of magic in 2006 when the destruction of the shrine to Brahma (Thao Maha Phrom) at the Erawan Hotel was seen by astrologers advising Thaksin to be a very bad omen. In a paper I wrote about this incident (http://www.ari.nus.edu.sg/showfile.asp?pubid=638&type=2), I concluded that: "Both private and public discourses about spirits, omens and horoscopes contribute to the understandings Thai have about the personal and public political crises. The destruction of the Erawan Shrine did not lead directly to Thaksin's being overthrown by a coup, but the interpretation of this destruction being an ill omen for him did contribute to the perception that his political authority was deeply compromised."
So, too, today the turn to magic raises doubts about the legitimacy of political authority.
Magical thinking is not found only among political leaders. The mob psychology that impelled the Yellow Shirts to occupy government offices and take over the Suvarnabhumi Airport and the Red Shirts to also occupy government offices, disrupt the Asean-East Asian summit, and take to the streets of Bangkok also entails magical thinking. The donning of coloured clothing and waving of hand or foot clappers echoes the acts of mobs in northeastern Thailand in the early part of the 20th century who wore white clothes and engaged in ritual acts in their efforts to resist the imposition of the authority of the Thai state. Like the earlier mobs which followed men who were seen as phu mi bun, "men with Buddhist merit," the more recent mobs have also turned to non-elected leaders whom they acclaim as having moral authority.
One can recognise that the Thai movements are similar to movements in Christian countries in which magical actions were undertaken to hasten the establishment of a millennium of rule by Christ.
The term "millennialism" has been widely adopted for understanding any movement that seeks an imminent and magical establishment of a new political order.
Those who have joined millennial movements have often paid with their lives or limbs for their trust in the occult. In 1902, those who followed the phu mi bun in seeking to turn back the expansion of the modern Thai state were killed in the hundreds by troops using gatling guns, the pre-modern equivalent of assault rifles. In 2004, 107 young Thai-Malay men whom Professor Nidhi Eoseewong characterises as having embraced a Muslim version of millennialism were killed at the Krue Se mosque in Pattani province. Some in both the yellow shirt and red shirt mobs have also died in violent confrontations on the streets of Bangkok and many more could also die if the crisis continues.
Why have magic, mob psychology and millennialism become so significant in Thai political life today?
The answer to the question is that there is a notable lack of consensus among the populace and their leaders regarding the basic premises on which political order can rest in Thailand.
This lack of consensus can be traced to the subversion of the 1997 Constitution by the Thaksin governments and by the abrogation of the constitution following the 2006 coup. It also stems from the deep anxieties many Thai of all colours of clothing have about the future.
There was no need to consult an astrologer to read the results of the referendum in August 2007 on a new constitution drafted during the period when a military-backed government was in power. While a slight majority of those voting favoured the new constitution, fewer than 60% of the people actually voted. More significantly, more than 60% of those who voted in northeastern Thailand rejected it. The Northeast is home to most of those who have joined the red shirts.
The division that the 2007 constitutional referendum revealed underlies the rise of the yellow shirts and the red shirts.
Without an agreed on set of new rules for politics in Thailand, magic, mob psychology and millennialist movements will continue to perpetuate the political crisis.
Charles Keyes is Professor Emeritus of Anthropology and International Studies, University of Washington. He is the author of numerous books and articles about Thailand.
A recent book Lap Luang Prang (the title of which might be translated as "The Secrets that Deceive") by Bangkok Post reporter Wassana Nanuam provides a detailed and fascinating account of the use of astrologers and black magic not only by Thaksin Shinawatra, the former prime minister who was removed from office in a military coup in 2006, but also by many other high officials and especially military officers, including General Sonthi Boonyaratkalin, the army commander-in-chief who led the coup against Thaksin. Gen Sonthi is a particularly interesting case because, as Ms Wassana observes, as a Muslim, the general should not engage in superstitious practice.
Ms Wassana discusses how Thaksin, the 21st century politician, has sought to "channel," as mediums do, the spirit of Taksin, the late 18th century king who reigned at Thon Buri and was deposed by the founder of the present dynasty. Perhaps Thaksin, like King Taksin, also seeks to be a future Buddha.
Ms Wassana further examines the magical identification made between Thaksin's nemesis, Sondhi Limthongkul, and the famous King Narai of Ayutthaya. If Mr Sondhi is known to have been wearing an amulet during his miraculous escape from a barrage of bullets, one can expect copies of that amulet to be widely sought after.
One chapter of Ms Wassana's book is entitled Newin: Spirit Doctor of the Khmer. Newin Chidchob, a political boss from Buri Ram in northeastern Thailand and the scion of a Thai Khmer family whose men were often mahouts working with elephants, was once a major backer of Thaksin.
In 2005 when Thaksin visited Buri Ram, Mr Newin guided him in a ritual use of an elephant prod belonging to Mr Newin's grandfather to magically attack Thaksin's opponents. Since in 2009 Mr Newin abandoned Thaksin and led his supporters in parliament to back a Democrat-led government, one wonders whether the elephant prod was passed on to Abhisit Vejjajiva, the Democrat leader who is now prime minister.
Ms Wasssana is not the only one to have noted the significant role magic plays in Thai politics. Surasak Tumcharoen, another Bangkok Post reporter, observed in an article published on June 2, 2007, that the Democrat party as well as Thai Rak Thai party leaders gave considerable credence to the interpretation of omens and the predictions of astrologers. Mr Surasak wrote: "Horoscopes and astrology may sound unbelievable to some, but many politicians secretly rely on such superstition. Apparently, some politicians consult their astrologers before making any major political decisions. Some military officers even consulted their ajarn [masters] on the right timing to stage a coup."
Speaking about the present crisis, Thanong Khanthong, a staff member of The Nation, in his blog (http://blog.nationmultimedia.com/thanong/2009/04/13/entry-1) of April 13, 2009, "Crisis Soon Over: Thank the Stars," wrote that "my amateur astrologer has told me that duang muang [the City's star] is in trouble, with the stars aligned in a complicated position. When King Yodfa [Rama I] founded Bangkok in 1782, the lakh[s]ana duang muang [the character of the City of Angels] was represented by the sun, which exemplified strength, boldness and grandeur."
Another blog-writer who uses the name "Siam Report" (http://siamreport.blogspot.com/2009/04/crisis-soon-over-thank-stars.html), in commenting on Thanong's blog, notes that Thaksin had also consulted an astrologer in anticipation of the events that have constituted Thailand's latest political crisis.
Both bloggers have pointed to the role that astrologers such as Mor Lak have played in advising Thaksin during the recent crisis.
I became fascinated with the role of magic in 2006 when the destruction of the shrine to Brahma (Thao Maha Phrom) at the Erawan Hotel was seen by astrologers advising Thaksin to be a very bad omen. In a paper I wrote about this incident (http://www.ari.nus.edu.sg/showfile.asp?pubid=638&type=2), I concluded that: "Both private and public discourses about spirits, omens and horoscopes contribute to the understandings Thai have about the personal and public political crises. The destruction of the Erawan Shrine did not lead directly to Thaksin's being overthrown by a coup, but the interpretation of this destruction being an ill omen for him did contribute to the perception that his political authority was deeply compromised."
So, too, today the turn to magic raises doubts about the legitimacy of political authority.
Magical thinking is not found only among political leaders. The mob psychology that impelled the Yellow Shirts to occupy government offices and take over the Suvarnabhumi Airport and the Red Shirts to also occupy government offices, disrupt the Asean-East Asian summit, and take to the streets of Bangkok also entails magical thinking. The donning of coloured clothing and waving of hand or foot clappers echoes the acts of mobs in northeastern Thailand in the early part of the 20th century who wore white clothes and engaged in ritual acts in their efforts to resist the imposition of the authority of the Thai state. Like the earlier mobs which followed men who were seen as phu mi bun, "men with Buddhist merit," the more recent mobs have also turned to non-elected leaders whom they acclaim as having moral authority.
One can recognise that the Thai movements are similar to movements in Christian countries in which magical actions were undertaken to hasten the establishment of a millennium of rule by Christ.
The term "millennialism" has been widely adopted for understanding any movement that seeks an imminent and magical establishment of a new political order.
Those who have joined millennial movements have often paid with their lives or limbs for their trust in the occult. In 1902, those who followed the phu mi bun in seeking to turn back the expansion of the modern Thai state were killed in the hundreds by troops using gatling guns, the pre-modern equivalent of assault rifles. In 2004, 107 young Thai-Malay men whom Professor Nidhi Eoseewong characterises as having embraced a Muslim version of millennialism were killed at the Krue Se mosque in Pattani province. Some in both the yellow shirt and red shirt mobs have also died in violent confrontations on the streets of Bangkok and many more could also die if the crisis continues.
Why have magic, mob psychology and millennialism become so significant in Thai political life today?
The answer to the question is that there is a notable lack of consensus among the populace and their leaders regarding the basic premises on which political order can rest in Thailand.
This lack of consensus can be traced to the subversion of the 1997 Constitution by the Thaksin governments and by the abrogation of the constitution following the 2006 coup. It also stems from the deep anxieties many Thai of all colours of clothing have about the future.
There was no need to consult an astrologer to read the results of the referendum in August 2007 on a new constitution drafted during the period when a military-backed government was in power. While a slight majority of those voting favoured the new constitution, fewer than 60% of the people actually voted. More significantly, more than 60% of those who voted in northeastern Thailand rejected it. The Northeast is home to most of those who have joined the red shirts.
The division that the 2007 constitutional referendum revealed underlies the rise of the yellow shirts and the red shirts.
Without an agreed on set of new rules for politics in Thailand, magic, mob psychology and millennialist movements will continue to perpetuate the political crisis.
Charles Keyes is Professor Emeritus of Anthropology and International Studies, University of Washington. He is the author of numerous books and articles about Thailand.
Muslims converge in Prusac for pilgrimage
Thousands of Muslims converged on a central Bosnian village on Sunday in a pilgrimage that was banned for almost half a century under Yugoslav rule.
"I believe this is a holy place since God decided that water should begin to flow without help of any tools or machines," 45-year-old Naza Modric said. "I come here every year. It's kind of confirmation of my faith."
The pilgrimage saw men, women and children-including about 200 men on horseback-climb a 7km path leading to a site on Mount Ajvatovica, sacred to Bosnian Muslims for more than five centuries. Walking up the hill, the pilgrims waved green Islamic flags with dwhite crescents, before stopping in a ravine, which they believe was created by God.
According to a legend, dating back to the mid-15th century when Turks occupied Bosnian territory, the village of Prusac did not have water. However, an abundant spring was blocked in a rocky hill.
"I believe this is a holy place since God decided that water should begin to flow without help of any tools or machines," 45-year-old Naza Modric said. "I come here every year. It's kind of confirmation of my faith."
The pilgrimage saw men, women and children-including about 200 men on horseback-climb a 7km path leading to a site on Mount Ajvatovica, sacred to Bosnian Muslims for more than five centuries. Walking up the hill, the pilgrims waved green Islamic flags with dwhite crescents, before stopping in a ravine, which they believe was created by God.
According to a legend, dating back to the mid-15th century when Turks occupied Bosnian territory, the village of Prusac did not have water. However, an abundant spring was blocked in a rocky hill.
Mystery of New Zealand "UFO" is solved
A small mysteriouse metal object that crashed through the foor of a house and slammed into the floor in a northern New Zealand town last month flew off a log splitter, police said yesterday.
Police initially speculated that it fell from a small plane passing over the rural town of Whakatu on the country's North Island on April 16, but aviation officials later said it may have been shot from spinning farm machinery.
They tracked down a pilot whose aircraft they thought might be responsible and found nothing missing from the plane when checked at a nearby ariport, Civil Aviation Authority spokesman Bill Sommer said at the time.
"It may have come off some agricultural equipment spinning at pretty high speed and a piece shot off it," he added.
The object was about 11cm long, 4.5cm wide, weighed 1kg, looked like cast iron and had a shiny, curved surface on top.
Sergeant Bob Gordon said inquiries had shown the part broke off a log splitter.
"One of my constables ascertained it was a log splitter that disintegrated," he said. "An unexplained flying object-now it's explanied."
Police initially speculated that it fell from a small plane passing over the rural town of Whakatu on the country's North Island on April 16, but aviation officials later said it may have been shot from spinning farm machinery.
They tracked down a pilot whose aircraft they thought might be responsible and found nothing missing from the plane when checked at a nearby ariport, Civil Aviation Authority spokesman Bill Sommer said at the time.
"It may have come off some agricultural equipment spinning at pretty high speed and a piece shot off it," he added.
The object was about 11cm long, 4.5cm wide, weighed 1kg, looked like cast iron and had a shiny, curved surface on top.
Sergeant Bob Gordon said inquiries had shown the part broke off a log splitter.
"One of my constables ascertained it was a log splitter that disintegrated," he said. "An unexplained flying object-now it's explanied."
Vatican admits we might not be alone
The Vatican's chief astronomer says there is no conflict between believing in God and in the possibility of "extraterrestrial brothers" perhaps more evolved than humans.
"In my opinion this possibility [of life on other planets] exists," said Reverend Jose Gabriel Funes, a 45-year-old Jesuit who is head of the Vatican Observatory and a scientific adviser to Pope Benedict.
"How can we exclude that life has developed elsewhere," he told the Vatican newspaper L'Osservatore Romano in an interview in yesterday's editon, explaining that the large number of galaxies with their own planets made this possible.
Asked if he was referring to beings similar to humans or even more evolved, he said: "Certainly, in a universe this big you can't exclude this hypothesis".
In the interview headlined "The extraterrestrial is my brother", he said he saw no conflict between belief in such beings and faith in God.
"Just as there is a multiplicity of creatures on Earth, there can be other beings, even intelligent, created by God. This is not in contrast with our faith because we can't put limits on God's creative freedom," he said.
"Why can't we speak of a 'brother extraterrestrial'? It would still be part of creation," he said.
Rev Funes, who runs the observatory which is based south of Rome and in Arizona, held out the possibility that the human race might actually be the "lost sheep" of the universe.
"There could be [other beings] who remained in full friendship with their creator," he said.
"In my opinion this possibility [of life on other planets] exists," said Reverend Jose Gabriel Funes, a 45-year-old Jesuit who is head of the Vatican Observatory and a scientific adviser to Pope Benedict.
"How can we exclude that life has developed elsewhere," he told the Vatican newspaper L'Osservatore Romano in an interview in yesterday's editon, explaining that the large number of galaxies with their own planets made this possible.
Asked if he was referring to beings similar to humans or even more evolved, he said: "Certainly, in a universe this big you can't exclude this hypothesis".
In the interview headlined "The extraterrestrial is my brother", he said he saw no conflict between belief in such beings and faith in God.
"Just as there is a multiplicity of creatures on Earth, there can be other beings, even intelligent, created by God. This is not in contrast with our faith because we can't put limits on God's creative freedom," he said.
"Why can't we speak of a 'brother extraterrestrial'? It would still be part of creation," he said.
Rev Funes, who runs the observatory which is based south of Rome and in Arizona, held out the possibility that the human race might actually be the "lost sheep" of the universe.
"There could be [other beings] who remained in full friendship with their creator," he said.
UK releases files on UFO sightings
The men were air traffic controllers. Experienced, calm professionals. Nobody we drinking.
What they saw has never been explained. And they were so worried about losing their jobs that they demanded their names be kept off the official reports.
No one, they knew, would believe their claim that an unidentified flying object landed at the airfield they were overseeing in the east of England, touched down briefly, then took off again at tremendous speed.
But that's what they reported happening at 4pm on April 19, 1984. Their Report of Unusual Aerial Phenomenon is one of more than 1,000 pages of formerly secret UFO documents released yesterday by the National Archives.
The air traffic controllers, each with more than eight years on the job, describe how they were helping guide a small plane to a safe landing on runway 22 when they were distracted by a brightly lit object approaching a different runway without clearance.
"Everyone became aware that the object was unidentified," the report on the incident said. "Satco [codename for a controller with 14 years experience] reports that the object came in 'at speed', made a touch and go on runway 27, then departed at 'terrific speed' in a 'near vertical' climb."
The incident is one of the more credible in the newly public files because it was reported by air traffic controllers, said David Clarke, a UFO expert who has worked with the National Archives on the document release.
"They were absolutely astonished," he said. "It was a bright, circular object, flashing different colours, and after it touched down it disappeared at fantastic speed. The report comes from very qualified people, and it's one of the few that remained unexplained."
He said other incidents were reported by aircraft crews whose members also asked to remain anonymous.
In one case, the pilot of a commercial plane crossing the Atlantic reported an unidentified object just 1.5 nautical miles from his wing. He speculated that it might be a meteor or a missile.
Although there are some unexplained cases, there is no reported instance in which Britain's Ministry of Defence found any evidence of alien activity or alien spacecraft, said Mr Clarke.
"The Ministry of Defence doesn't have any evidence that our defences were breached by alien craft," he said. "They never found one, no bits of one, that's all we can say."
Mr Clarke said the documents released yesterday, dealing with the late 1970s and early 1980s, are the first of a series to be made public in the next few years.
The National Archives is releasing the files now because of numerous Freedom of Information requests.
Some of the reports are fairly easy to explain, and quite possibly influenced by a pint or two of beer. This was the case when a number of people leaving a Tunbridge Wells pub at 9:30pm reported seeing a strange craft "with red and green" lights.
Asked by police where it seemed to be travelling, the pub crawlers said it appeared to be heading for London's Gatwick Airport.
Case closed.
What they saw has never been explained. And they were so worried about losing their jobs that they demanded their names be kept off the official reports.
No one, they knew, would believe their claim that an unidentified flying object landed at the airfield they were overseeing in the east of England, touched down briefly, then took off again at tremendous speed.
But that's what they reported happening at 4pm on April 19, 1984. Their Report of Unusual Aerial Phenomenon is one of more than 1,000 pages of formerly secret UFO documents released yesterday by the National Archives.
The air traffic controllers, each with more than eight years on the job, describe how they were helping guide a small plane to a safe landing on runway 22 when they were distracted by a brightly lit object approaching a different runway without clearance.
"Everyone became aware that the object was unidentified," the report on the incident said. "Satco [codename for a controller with 14 years experience] reports that the object came in 'at speed', made a touch and go on runway 27, then departed at 'terrific speed' in a 'near vertical' climb."
The incident is one of the more credible in the newly public files because it was reported by air traffic controllers, said David Clarke, a UFO expert who has worked with the National Archives on the document release.
"They were absolutely astonished," he said. "It was a bright, circular object, flashing different colours, and after it touched down it disappeared at fantastic speed. The report comes from very qualified people, and it's one of the few that remained unexplained."
He said other incidents were reported by aircraft crews whose members also asked to remain anonymous.
In one case, the pilot of a commercial plane crossing the Atlantic reported an unidentified object just 1.5 nautical miles from his wing. He speculated that it might be a meteor or a missile.
Although there are some unexplained cases, there is no reported instance in which Britain's Ministry of Defence found any evidence of alien activity or alien spacecraft, said Mr Clarke.
"The Ministry of Defence doesn't have any evidence that our defences were breached by alien craft," he said. "They never found one, no bits of one, that's all we can say."
Mr Clarke said the documents released yesterday, dealing with the late 1970s and early 1980s, are the first of a series to be made public in the next few years.
The National Archives is releasing the files now because of numerous Freedom of Information requests.
Some of the reports are fairly easy to explain, and quite possibly influenced by a pint or two of beer. This was the case when a number of people leaving a Tunbridge Wells pub at 9:30pm reported seeing a strange craft "with red and green" lights.
Asked by police where it seemed to be travelling, the pub crawlers said it appeared to be heading for London's Gatwick Airport.
Case closed.
Straw dolls keep the ghosts away in Isan
Large numbers of small dolls made of straw have been appearing throughout Isan in the past three months as a rumour about death has spread across the region.
The rumour's details have slightly changed from region to region, but the basic element of the fear of death remains the same.
Generally the story refers to "a village in Isan" where the phee, or ghost, came and took the lives of three young men in one week.
But around Mukdahan, Yasothon and Roi Et, villagers cite a dream of a queen who told of the death of the three young men. After the dream, she apparently said the phee will continue to take the lives of young men unless households that have young men living under the roof place a decoy on the front gate or fence. That decoy takes the form of the straw doll.
Villages farther west around Khon Kaen and Udon Thani cite the story of "a village" where the phee came and took three young men who were born on a Wednesday or Thursday and were not married. In this region, most of the dolls, or tukkata, were put up with a written note pinned on them.
"We put a note on our tukkata to say there are no boys at our house born on a Wednesday or Thursday," said Pitsamai Rachsang. She said it took her only a few hours to make her tukkata using old clothes from her young daughter and a cap from her husband.
It appears that the village where the rumour started is Ban Don Hun in Khon Kaen province. The first boy to die was aged 18. School had just ended and he had just completed Mathayom 6 and one night he went to a party to celebrate the end of the school year. Returning from the party on a straight stretch of a lonely dirt road, he appeared to have swerved on his motorcycle for no reason, had an accident and died.
The villagers now believe the phee jumped out, scaring him so that he would have the accident.
Only a day later another young man died when his pickup rolled over for no apparent reason near the village on a straight dirt road. The rumour gathered speed as it was believed the phee had again jumped out from nowhere to cause the accident.
Then within the week the third man, aged 23, went to bed as usual but did not wake up. He was reportedly fit and healthy.
For a small village like Ban Don Hun to lose three of its young unmarried men in only one week, it left them shocked and searching for answers.
"What really scared us was that his [the man aged 23] family's house is the closest one to the entrance to the wat," said Mrs Pitsamai, adding that the phee had now become very bold and was not afraid of anything getting in its way in its quest to take more young men.
"Many of the mothers in our village painted the fingernails of our sons so that the phee would think that they are women and not men," another woman named Doy said.No more young men were "taken" and the villagers believe the danger has now passed and the phee has moved on.With the onset of the rainy season, the tukkata are quickly succumbing to the elements and disappearing into the folklore of Isan.
The rumour's details have slightly changed from region to region, but the basic element of the fear of death remains the same.
Generally the story refers to "a village in Isan" where the phee, or ghost, came and took the lives of three young men in one week.
But around Mukdahan, Yasothon and Roi Et, villagers cite a dream of a queen who told of the death of the three young men. After the dream, she apparently said the phee will continue to take the lives of young men unless households that have young men living under the roof place a decoy on the front gate or fence. That decoy takes the form of the straw doll.
Villages farther west around Khon Kaen and Udon Thani cite the story of "a village" where the phee came and took three young men who were born on a Wednesday or Thursday and were not married. In this region, most of the dolls, or tukkata, were put up with a written note pinned on them.
"We put a note on our tukkata to say there are no boys at our house born on a Wednesday or Thursday," said Pitsamai Rachsang. She said it took her only a few hours to make her tukkata using old clothes from her young daughter and a cap from her husband.
It appears that the village where the rumour started is Ban Don Hun in Khon Kaen province. The first boy to die was aged 18. School had just ended and he had just completed Mathayom 6 and one night he went to a party to celebrate the end of the school year. Returning from the party on a straight stretch of a lonely dirt road, he appeared to have swerved on his motorcycle for no reason, had an accident and died.
The villagers now believe the phee jumped out, scaring him so that he would have the accident.
Only a day later another young man died when his pickup rolled over for no apparent reason near the village on a straight dirt road. The rumour gathered speed as it was believed the phee had again jumped out from nowhere to cause the accident.
Then within the week the third man, aged 23, went to bed as usual but did not wake up. He was reportedly fit and healthy.
For a small village like Ban Don Hun to lose three of its young unmarried men in only one week, it left them shocked and searching for answers.
"What really scared us was that his [the man aged 23] family's house is the closest one to the entrance to the wat," said Mrs Pitsamai, adding that the phee had now become very bold and was not afraid of anything getting in its way in its quest to take more young men.
"Many of the mothers in our village painted the fingernails of our sons so that the phee would think that they are women and not men," another woman named Doy said.No more young men were "taken" and the villagers believe the danger has now passed and the phee has moved on.With the onset of the rainy season, the tukkata are quickly succumbing to the elements and disappearing into the folklore of Isan.
Politicians order ritual slayings to boost prestige
Body parts of youngsters are sought for black magic rituals and making talismans, writes Antoine Lawson in Libreville, Gabon
Reuters - When the body of 13-year-old Ralph Edang N' na was found drained of blood and with grpaing wounds in his genitals, chest and neck last month, moany inGabon though it was politicians who had ordered his killing.
The murder of children and young adults, whose organs are eaten or used to make magical amulets, has increased in recent years in the oil-rich central African nation. Campaigners say some Gabonese politicians use the black magic rituals to boost their chances of winning lucrative government posts.
With elections to local municipal councils due on April 27, many fear a spate of gruesome child murders.
Every week, mutilated bodies are discovered in the capital Libreville, despite police patrols, and streets quickly empty after nightfass. Anxious parents are keeping a close watch aroundschools to prevent children from being snatched.
"It's before ecections and ministerial reshuffles that the vilest crimes are committed and the captital empties of certain kinds of politicians who go to the interior to carry out wichcraft," said pastor Francois Bibang, a member of the Association to Fight Ritual Crimes (ALCR).
In ritual killings, which still take place in several African countries, people, often children, ar killed to obtain body narts and bolld in the helief they will bring social success and political power.
The ALCR says that in February alone there were 12 such killings in Gabon.
"Unfortunately, this practice seems to be speading again in Gabon," said Jean-Elvis Ebang Ondo, who founded ALCR aftr his 12-year-old son was kidnapped, Killed and mutilated in 2005.
The government set up a National Observatory for the Rights of Children in November 2006 to implement the UN charter on children's rights, ensbrining the right to health, education and protection from abuse.
Gabon, with just 1.6 million poeple, is one of sub Saharan Africa's largest oil producers but most of its population continue to live in poverty, while membrs of a rich elite drive shiny new cars along Libreville's sea front boulevard.
Omar Bongo, the world's longest-serving president has ruled the country since 1697 and used the oil funds to weave a web of patronage which has created bitter competition for lucrative political jobs.
Mr Ondo condemned "the silence of trhe state" and called on residents to "fight off these assassins who sow terror in the heart of Gaboneses society".
After a penal code approved in January omitted any mention of ritual crimes, Mr Ondo called on the government to find out how many people had been killed in this way.
But not clear figures exist for how many children and teenagers are slain in ritual killings in Gabon.
The head of anassociation against ritual crimes, Frederic Ntera Etoua, said 290 killings had occurred since 1986 in the thick jungles of the Ogooue-Ivindo province in the northeast, where Ralph Edang N'na was killed.
"There is a pyramid organisation with politiclans at its head who pursue the famous 'spare parts' then the recruiters who are middle men and then the suppliers and sellers who find the innocent victims," said Bibang.
Partliamentary speaker Guy Nzouba Ndama opened the latest session of the assembly on March 3 by denouncing ritual crimes by politicians.
So far no politicians have been convicted for involvement insuch crimes. An attempt to prosecute a legislator fromthe oil-rich region fo Gamba last year failed after he claimed parliamentary immunity.
Philippe Ndong, a psychology teacher at Libreville university traces the rise in ritual crimes to 2001.
"As legislative elections approached, mutilated bodies were discovered around the country," said Mr Ndong. "An 8-year-old girl was snatched in Ndolou department and killed in Mouila. The man allegedly responsible was a candidate to parliament who entered the government after this crime."
Mr Ndong cites other ritual murders. In 2002, a man in his 20s, Lucien Bigoundou, was killed in the Digoudou forest of central Gabon while on a hunting trip with compantions who cut off his genitals and other parts of his body.
In March 2005, the bodies of two 12-year-old boys were washed up o a Librefille beach-one was Ebang Ondo's son. A month later, six-year-old Warlys Igor Mboumba was found dead in a Libreville gutter, his body drained of blood.
In January 2006, the bodies of three children under four were discovered in the trunk of a car in a private yard.
And last April, two men suspected of sodomising a 3-year-old boy and draining his bloon in a ritual killing were lynched.
"It is up to the government to put a swift end to this impunity or risk seeing a rise in mob justice," said pastor Emile Ngoua, a member of the ALCR.
Reuters - When the body of 13-year-old Ralph Edang N' na was found drained of blood and with grpaing wounds in his genitals, chest and neck last month, moany inGabon though it was politicians who had ordered his killing.
The murder of children and young adults, whose organs are eaten or used to make magical amulets, has increased in recent years in the oil-rich central African nation. Campaigners say some Gabonese politicians use the black magic rituals to boost their chances of winning lucrative government posts.
With elections to local municipal councils due on April 27, many fear a spate of gruesome child murders.
Every week, mutilated bodies are discovered in the capital Libreville, despite police patrols, and streets quickly empty after nightfass. Anxious parents are keeping a close watch aroundschools to prevent children from being snatched.
"It's before ecections and ministerial reshuffles that the vilest crimes are committed and the captital empties of certain kinds of politicians who go to the interior to carry out wichcraft," said pastor Francois Bibang, a member of the Association to Fight Ritual Crimes (ALCR).
In ritual killings, which still take place in several African countries, people, often children, ar killed to obtain body narts and bolld in the helief they will bring social success and political power.
The ALCR says that in February alone there were 12 such killings in Gabon.
"Unfortunately, this practice seems to be speading again in Gabon," said Jean-Elvis Ebang Ondo, who founded ALCR aftr his 12-year-old son was kidnapped, Killed and mutilated in 2005.
The government set up a National Observatory for the Rights of Children in November 2006 to implement the UN charter on children's rights, ensbrining the right to health, education and protection from abuse.
Gabon, with just 1.6 million poeple, is one of sub Saharan Africa's largest oil producers but most of its population continue to live in poverty, while membrs of a rich elite drive shiny new cars along Libreville's sea front boulevard.
Omar Bongo, the world's longest-serving president has ruled the country since 1697 and used the oil funds to weave a web of patronage which has created bitter competition for lucrative political jobs.
Mr Ondo condemned "the silence of trhe state" and called on residents to "fight off these assassins who sow terror in the heart of Gaboneses society".
After a penal code approved in January omitted any mention of ritual crimes, Mr Ondo called on the government to find out how many people had been killed in this way.
But not clear figures exist for how many children and teenagers are slain in ritual killings in Gabon.
The head of anassociation against ritual crimes, Frederic Ntera Etoua, said 290 killings had occurred since 1986 in the thick jungles of the Ogooue-Ivindo province in the northeast, where Ralph Edang N'na was killed.
"There is a pyramid organisation with politiclans at its head who pursue the famous 'spare parts' then the recruiters who are middle men and then the suppliers and sellers who find the innocent victims," said Bibang.
Partliamentary speaker Guy Nzouba Ndama opened the latest session of the assembly on March 3 by denouncing ritual crimes by politicians.
So far no politicians have been convicted for involvement insuch crimes. An attempt to prosecute a legislator fromthe oil-rich region fo Gamba last year failed after he claimed parliamentary immunity.
Philippe Ndong, a psychology teacher at Libreville university traces the rise in ritual crimes to 2001.
"As legislative elections approached, mutilated bodies were discovered around the country," said Mr Ndong. "An 8-year-old girl was snatched in Ndolou department and killed in Mouila. The man allegedly responsible was a candidate to parliament who entered the government after this crime."
Mr Ndong cites other ritual murders. In 2002, a man in his 20s, Lucien Bigoundou, was killed in the Digoudou forest of central Gabon while on a hunting trip with compantions who cut off his genitals and other parts of his body.
In March 2005, the bodies of two 12-year-old boys were washed up o a Librefille beach-one was Ebang Ondo's son. A month later, six-year-old Warlys Igor Mboumba was found dead in a Libreville gutter, his body drained of blood.
In January 2006, the bodies of three children under four were discovered in the trunk of a car in a private yard.
And last April, two men suspected of sodomising a 3-year-old boy and draining his bloon in a ritual killing were lynched.
"It is up to the government to put a swift end to this impunity or risk seeing a rise in mob justice," said pastor Emile Ngoua, a member of the ALCR.
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