Royal cremation advisory board appointed

Fine Arts Department director Kriangkrai Sampatchalit said the committee chaired by the prime minister would invite the Prince and Princess to participate in its meetings for progress updates. He said the meeting schedule would be set after the new government was in place.

The department will also install cameras to record the pyre construction from Sanam Luang's south side around the clock for the National Archives, which will also compile public archives - such as media articles - about the historic event.

Culture Minister Khunying Khaisri Sri-aroon, whose official term ended Wednesday, affirmed the ministry's major task in building the royal pyre was in the hands of experts and craftsmen. She said the repair work on the chariots should be completed in three to four months.

The pyre project has revealed a shortage of traditional craftsmen, so related agencies will formulate a human-resource management team and obtain a sufficient budget to ensure enough traditional craftsmen for the country, she added.

Khaisri said she would serve as chairperson for the committee for the Galyani Vadhana Institute of Music project, which has been given a plot of land near Rama VIII Bridge by the Industry Ministry. She said the institute, whose design was funded by the Bt22-million state budget, would be open in three years.

Khaisri said she would also teach French at Silapakorn University and work at a foundation under HRH Princess Maha Chakri Sirindhorn's patronage.

As mourners continued to pay their respects to Princess Galyani at the Grand Palace's Dusit Maha Prasart Throne Hall on Wednesday, the nearby National Museum saw officials measuring rope for the chariots to be used in the royal cremation prior to their scheduled chariots' restoration next week.

The Phra Maha Pichai Ratcharot and the Wechayan Ratcharot chariots will need 216 men to pull them, while the Ratcharot Noi will require 74 men. Officials will propose that the organising committee use ropes from the Royal Thai Navy and add more hooks to each chariot.

by Pakamard Jaichalard

The Nation