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There was all kind of speculation as to who would, and could commit such a crime.

Khao Sod daily quoted unnamed police officers who suspected the thieves may have been hired by an underground collector of famous artefacts. The paper also quoted villagers saying they believe the flute may have magical powers and that whoever possesses it can conjure up magic spells.

Thai Rath, Thailand's highest circulating newspaper, quoted a local police superintendent as saying the theft may have been the work of restless youths who had nothing better to do - rebels without a cause, if you like.

A senior municipality officer in Rayong, Ngek Rattanawijit, said he would file a petition with the Fine Arts Department to ask them to build a new flute for Pra Apaimanee before Sunthorn Pu Day on June 26,honouring the famous writer who created Pra Apaimanee.

Admirers of Sunthorn Pu flock to the garden where the statue of Pra Apaimanee is situated on that day to commemorate the writer.

Unable to hold back his frustration, Interior Minister Chalerm Yoobamrung joined the chorus of condemnation, calling the thieves "heartless". And we thought he was only passionate about politics and his lovely boys.

Kom Chad Luek went into extra detail, noting that part of Pra Apaimanee's shoulder wrap and the left thumb and pointing finger were missing, along with the flute.

All publications quoted local residents cursing whoever stole the flute, saying they hoped the culprits will be damned for eternity.

Separately, in a similar vein, an unidentified group in Buri Ram, tried to remove from its original position the 1,000-year-old phallus in a Hindu temple dedicated to Shiva, the God of Creation.

Local police officers said they believed that the culprits were members of a local cult who are obsessed with the gigantic phallus.