Thai PM prays in Mendut

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)