Villagers battle evil spirits after girl's death

Disturbed by the death of an apparently healthy pre-teen and brainwashed by a soothsayer, the Baan Toom villagers believe the spirits are preparing to take the lives of 10 of their girls, especially those born on Tuesdays and Thursdays.

The belief rapidly spread after the 11-year-old girl died mysteriously on Saturday.

Around 800 families in the village quickly made the effigies, decorating them with nice clothes. Some were given spectacles and hats to make them more life-like.

Signs placed near the effigies say "This house does not have anyone born on Tuesdays or Thursdays".

The mother of the dead girl, Noorak Thongduang, said her daughter Sirirat was healthy and had been a school volleyball player. She had never fallen severely ill before.

At about 2am on Saturday, Sirirat started shaking and convulsing. Her mother rushed her to a hospital in the district where the girl later died.

"Sirirat told me she had a headache but felt better after taking medicine. I thought she was just tired from school activities," Noorak said.

A doctor who attended Sirirat said she died of a heart attack. But he could not explain how one so young who had never been admitted to hospital before could have been struck down like that.

"I do not know whether she had a congenital disease as the hospital does not have her health records.

"She was unconscious when she arrived here. She suffered lung oedema and her heart rate was abnormal. She could have had a heart disease but did not realise it," the doctor said.

A villager, Ngern Baothong, 54, said nervous villagers went to a fortune-teller after they learnt of the tragedy.

The fortune-teller told them evil spirits had taken her life.

But if the villagers placed effigies in front of their houses, the spirits would not harm them, the fortune-teller said.

Wannapa Phetdee

Phongphat Triphiphat

The Nation

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