Peace Message Takes Wing
- Share via
PANARE, Thailand — About 50 Thai air force planes took off today to shower the largely Muslim southern portion of the country with paper birds -- a symbol of peace for the restive region where nearly 500 people have been killed since January.
Villagers stared into the sky awaiting the deluge of an estimated 100 million paper birds, one signed by Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra and carrying the promise of a scholarship or a job for the finder.
Thaksin’s bird campaign, just weeks ahead of a general election, caught the imagination of the largely Buddhist nation.
Everywhere people were folding birds after Thaksin called on all 63 million Thais to make one.
The gesture, which marks the birthday of King Bhumibol Adulyadej, has done little to mollify the Muslim leadership.
“The paper birds are not a traditional symbol for us,” said Abdulraman Abdulsamad of the Narathiwat Islamic Council. “Our people do not understand what the birds stand for.”
But southern villager Malorya Benarlawee, 30, said: “I am very impressed that the Thai people around the country would fold birds for us.”
Sign up for Essential California
The most important California stories and recommendations in your inbox every morning.
You may occasionally receive promotional content from the Los Angeles Times.
