Royals to honourJuling's cremation : Art museum planned as tribute to teacher

Royals to honourJuling's cremation : Art museum planned as tribute to teacher.

SUBIN KHEUNKAEW & THEERAWAT KHAMTHITA

Chiang Rai : Their Royal Highnesses Crown Prince Maha Vajiralongkorn and Princess Maha Chakri Sirindhorn will preside over the royally-sponsored cremation of teacher Juling Pongkunmul scheduled for Tuesday, Chiang Rai governor Amornphan Nimanant said yesterday. The cremation coincides with Teachers' Day.

Mr Amornphan said Kasem Yusuk, an officer of the Royal Household Bureau, yesterday travelled to the province to coordinate with officials concerned in arranging and decorating a crematorium at Ban Pong Noi village where the cremation is due to take place.

At Wat Pong Sanuk temple, Juling's family members and students have set up exhibition boards showing a biography of the teacher and adorned the building where the funeral rites will be held.

Saisuree Pongkunmul, a teacher at Doi Luang kindergarten, which Juling attended as a child, said a village committee has agreed that an art museum will be constructed as a tribute to Juling.

The lay-out of the two-storey building has already been conceived and designed. The upper floor will house a collection of all of Juling's works, while the ground floor will serve as a multi-purpose area for villagers.

Ms Saisuree said the school has given up a plot of land for the one-million-baht construction project, which will be financed by public donations.

She added that the committee also plans to set up a fund to provide scholarships for underprivileged children in Doi Luang district.

''All our efforts will go to honouring Juling,'' the teacher said.

Pongthep Dee-ud, head of a student committee of Doi Luang Rajamangala Phisek school, an alma mater of Juling as a secondary school student, said the committee has decided the commemoration of Juling will be made a central theme of Children's Day activities at the school today.

''Children who attend the event will have an opportunity to learn of the teacher's heroic deeds.

''Juling is a decent example to follow. She sacrificed even her life for her teaching career,'' Mr Pongthep said.

Meanwhile, a bomb threat was made against Samakkhi Witthayakhom school in downtown Chiang Rai yesterday.

An anonymous telephone call was made, warning students and teaching staff of a bomb and telling them to leave the school.

The threat later turned out to be a hoax.

Police were tracing the telephone number of the caller and where the call came from.

Bangkok Post
Saturday January 13, 2007