Phuket mourns Thailand’s highest-ranking monk

PHUKET: Official mourning ceremonies in Phuket began yesterday for Thailand’s highest-ranking monk, His Holiness the Supreme Patriarch Somdet Phra Nyanasamvara Somdet Phra Sangharaja, who passed away on Thursday.

His Holiness the Supreme Patriarch, who turned 100 on October 3, had been in and out of hospital, most recently undergoing intestinal surgery on October 14.

Governor Maitri Inthusut opened the ceremony at 3pm at Wat Mongkol Nimit.

“Everyone is invited to pay their respects at the temple for seven days,” Gov Maitri said. “For 15 days at Provincial Hall, we will display a book where members of the public can write mourning messages.”

Flags are to be flown at half mast from October 25 to 27 to honor His Holiness, and all civil servants and government employees are to wear unadorned black mourning attire for 30 days, beginning yesterday.

“Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra has ordered government employees to wear mourning clothes for 30 days to show respect for the Supreme Patriarch,” said Gov Maitri.

— Chutharat Plerin