Thai PM prays in Mendut

YOGYAKARTA: Thai Prime Minister Chuan Leek Pai on Wednesday visited the ancient Buddhist Mendut temple in Mungkid, Magelang, Central Java.

Chuan later joined other Buddhist for a prayer at a nearby temple. He received blessings from the priest Joti Dhammo.

After the ceremony, the priest also presented the Thai premier with a memento, a miniature of the Borobudur temple, a Dhamma Pada holy book, and a Buddhist prayer book written in Indonesian language, the Antara news agency reported.

Chuan for his part presented the priest with a donation to help the upkeep of the temple.

The prime minister flew in from Jakarta on Tuesday night after attending the APEC leaders meeting in Bogor.

Accompanied by Central Java Governor Soewardi, Chuan held a dialog with the local Buddhis community, and also had a chat with residents around Mendut.

Priest Joti Dhammo said the prime minister was particularly impressed with the relief found on the walls of Mendut and Borobudur, something which cannot be found in Thai temples.

So impressed was Chuan that he was seen taking notes into a book which he was carrying during the tour.

Prior to Chuan, American First Lady Hillary Rodham Clinton was also in Yogyakarta and visited Borobudur on Tuesday.

Chinese President Jiang Zemin, who will be making a state visit in Jakarta beginning on Thursday, was also scheduled to tour the Borobudur later yesterday. (emb)