PHUKET: A protest over a hilltop religious monument has raised the intriguing possibility of rival hilltop monuments springing up to compete with Phuket's Big Buddha.
About 400 protesters yesterday demanded a halt to tree-felling and clearing of a Patong-Kamala hilltop.
The project, to build a giant statue of the Chinese female deity Kuan Yin, is being led by a former Patong mayor, Dr Anan Thanawat.
About 1200 people have signed a petition against the project. The signatories come from three villages where the project would have greatest impact, Kokmakarm village, Kalim village and Chaiwat Patong village.
About one third of the signatories turned out yesterday and made three demands in the protest at Prabaramee Road in Patong: halt the destruction of trees; stop endangering villages by potentially creating landslips; let the local authorities decide whether the project should go ahead.
The 45-metre Big Buddha atop Nakkerd Hill in Phuket's Chalong district has become one of Phuket's key tourist attractions but it has also attracted illegal developments along the access road beyond the 80-metre building limit on the 380-metre hill.
After meeting with protest leaders yesterday, Dr Anan agreed to hold off on the development.
Phuket is going through a sustained surge in interest in Kuan Yin.
With a full moon shining last night, Phuketwan encountered one large Kuan Yin statue, being transferred from the Jui Tui temple in Phuket Town to the temple at Saphan Hin, where a new shrine has been built especially for the image.
An even larger Kuan Yin image is planned for the mangroves in the park nearby.
The Big Buddha, meanwhile, is set for a celebration on November 27 when the image will be handed over by the foundation that created it to the Kata temple.
Phuket's 429 Illegal Hotels, Resorts Set for Amnesty or ShameAbout 400 protesters yesterday demanded a halt to tree-felling and clearing of a Patong-Kamala hilltop.
The project, to build a giant statue of the Chinese female deity Kuan Yin, is being led by a former Patong mayor, Dr Anan Thanawat.
About 1200 people have signed a petition against the project. The signatories come from three villages where the project would have greatest impact, Kokmakarm village, Kalim village and Chaiwat Patong village.
About one third of the signatories turned out yesterday and made three demands in the protest at Prabaramee Road in Patong: halt the destruction of trees; stop endangering villages by potentially creating landslips; let the local authorities decide whether the project should go ahead.
The 45-metre Big Buddha atop Nakkerd Hill in Phuket's Chalong district has become one of Phuket's key tourist attractions but it has also attracted illegal developments along the access road beyond the 80-metre building limit on the 380-metre hill.
After meeting with protest leaders yesterday, Dr Anan agreed to hold off on the development.
Phuket is going through a sustained surge in interest in Kuan Yin.
With a full moon shining last night, Phuketwan encountered one large Kuan Yin statue, being transferred from the Jui Tui temple in Phuket Town to the temple at Saphan Hin, where a new shrine has been built especially for the image.
An even larger Kuan Yin image is planned for the mangroves in the park nearby.
The Big Buddha, meanwhile, is set for a celebration on November 27 when the image will be handed over by the foundation that created it to the Kata temple.
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This is the road I mentioned several weeks ago. Was up Hasip Pee Rd. and it can easily be seen. Snaking switchback road at an impossible angle of ascent. Get out the mules!
Posted by GiantFan on October 15, 2011 11:37