| RENCONTRER DIEU |
COURRI@L 2005 | MEET WITH GOD |
Angkor Borei News : Click here for a poem for Sam Rainsy in Khmer and in .pdf by Dr Yim Guechse.
D.S. : We are disseminating the whole world's views about an immensely vicious personality (Ranariddh) whose mind is obviously deranged since he lost the consensus of all Khmers who did the utmost to help him and give all honors to him.
Virak Pruhm : Prince Ranariddh has shown his disgraceful behavior toward the US and its citizens, which include hundreds of thousands of Cambodian Americans, many of whom were his supporters who had put him to be in his past and current "noble" positions. Such an attitude has been within the Prince for so long, but his supporters have failed to detect it until it's too late for them. One should be very careful to allow such individual to be in his / her house or be alone with their children or spouse. There is a word in Khmer for such a person. It's called "Mnuss (or Satv) Romil Koun or Lmeurs Koun or Mnuss Sii Baiy Toatt Chhnang. Such a person will always knife his helper(s) in the back after he gets where he wants to be or what he wants. In Buddhism, such a person is a disgraceful and sinful person indeed. It's very dangerous to support him.
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Hin Sithan : Khmers did not, do not, and will not learn anything
from the TRAW Sak Pa'em Dynasty. All these usurpers from the Varman's Dynasty
were always biting for their own personal power between their blood brothers,
sisters, uncles, fathers and sons alike. They always betrayed the Khmer
people, whom they considered as their own TEASSAK: Prah Kakruna Chea M'chas
Chivit Damkol Loeu T'bong = What does it mean, my compatriots ? Please
learn that ! This stupid dynasty always sold our ancestor Lands to satisfy
their own DESIRE (the cause of Suffering in the Buddhist Dharma) : the
NOM KOM YUON, like in the "Ramayana" Prince Rama had killed Millions of
Millions Yaksa people just to retake his SETA back. For how long all the Khmers abroad are still sleeping ? All Cambodian Infrastructures are controlled by Viet invaders. Shall we wait until God come to save our Lands ? First, Vietnam was annexing Cambodia by Forces. The NEXT STEP the Viets WILL USE DOLLARS TO BUY OUR LANDS. By this process (Khmers having bare hands), who will be the owner of Cambodia ? |
| Passing on the old traditions
One man is keeping alive the centuries-old tradition for fine metalwork in the Northeast Story by CHOMPOO TRAKULLERTSATHIEN, Photos by SOMKID CHAIJITVANIT
Dawn breaks over Ban Khewa Sirin in Surin province. A dark, lean man starts
his daily routine, energetically kindling his old-fashioned furnace which
has helped keep the passion for his beloved craft burning for over two
decades. His work keeps his ancestors' skills and the dying art of silver-making
-- once traditional among people of Cambodian origin -- alive.
Puan Jiewthong, 63, is a seasoned master metalworker who creates a wide-range of gold and silver jewellery and accessories including earrings, belts, bracelets, necklaces and rings. He is also adept at making replicas of local symbols mirroring local culture, art, religion, and traditions such as carts, elephants, fishing tackle, traditional Thai betel-chewing receptacles and ancient household utensils popular among people from the city who love to use them as decorative items or special gifts. One of Puan's ancestors, Khunsikarinbumrung, was a Cambodian millionaire who moved to Ban Nang Mud, and later to Ban Khok in Surin province, some 270 years ago due to war in Cambodia. He was a respected goldsmith whose work was exquisite and sought-after by the local nobility. He made a living in his new hometown by making and selling gold jewellery and ornaments to villagers in the area. To keep his craft alive, he passed on his skills to his children. His great-grandsons also had the opportunity to learn the artistry of their ancestors while they were still young. Currently, Puan and his son are the only members of his family who still devote themselves to preserving their ancestral artistry. "This ancient Khmer art might die out soon, but my son and I are trying hard to keep it alive as it has been passed down for generations. It's our family business and I won't let it die out during my lifetime," said the craftsman. Puan's passion for the craft developed when he was just five years old. He loved to see his great-grandfather working and making gold jewellery and gold ornaments. |
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Thanks to Puan Jiewthong, the art of making silver jewellery has flourished in the northeastern region and the ancient designs have become a hot commodity among fashionable people who love to wear silver. |
After Puan established a niche in the local market and started making a
good income, many villagers jumped onto the bandwagon. And they all learned
the art from him. "I was so glad when other people
wanted to learn about this traditional skill. Our community became a gold-making
centre. Every household could earn extra income from the work. Loaded with
our valuable products, we had to band together to visit other villages
for our own safety. Otherwise we might have been robbed or even killed,"
recalled the veteran goldsmith. Yet eventually they all gave up except
Puan. "Although the villagers could earn good money from selling gold
jewellery, this kind of work is time-consuming. Besides, it requires concentration
and painstaking effort. Talent and a high level of skill are also required
to be successful," said the craftsman.
Puan had been a goldsmith for 13 years when the price of gold soared. He then had to resort to a new, cheaper material to attract customers. "At the time the price of gold went so high I felt I had reached a dead end. It was no longer worth investing in the business. So I came up with the idea of using silver instead," he said. And he hit the jackpot -- his silver jewellery, especially his earrings, rings, bracelets and necklaces, become very popular among teenagers who loved to wear silver. "I took my work to Mahboonkrong Shopping Centre and Chatuchak Weekend Market. Unbelievably, the vendors bought all of my goods. It became a brisk business. After that I no longer took my products into Bangkok; buyers came to me and selected the pieces they wanted," he said. Apart from finished silver jewellery and ornaments, Puan also fashions silver into different basic patterned pieces so his customers can make necklaces or bracelets themselves. The hottest item is pa kuem, a small round silver piece carved with various traditional patterns. Apart from these, Puan also creates novel and striking designs that combine the classic with the contemporary. The natural environment -- animals, trees and fruits -- are the main inspiration for his new creations. |
Old coins with some silver content are the main source of his raw material.
He normally has to pay about eight baht for each old coin, but the price
of coins is currently higher, since coin dealers from the city come into
the villages and pay higher prices for them, sometimes as much as 25 baht
for each one. "That has become a huge obstacle for my work. But I can't
give up now. I still love my work and would like to keep it alive. It's
rather a tough fight between the artisan and the city merchants," said
Puan. Although the name Puan may not be familiar to most people, he is
popular among devotees of silver who will search for the magnificent quality
of his silver jewellery and ornaments. His house is currently one of the
tourist destinations of the Tourism Authority of Thailand. Those who want
to buy his work directly can visit his workshop and witness the whole process
of hand-crafting silver jewellery. Over time, Puan has seen the loss of
much of his local culture, but he has a plan to incorporate the styles
of northeastern carts once used extensively in the region, into his designs. |
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© Copyright The Bangkok Post Publishing Public Co., Ltd. 2005
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