Thai-Mon funeral ceremony for President Dr. Sued Gajaseni

Tue 03 Jun 2008
IMNA

The Thai-Mon community in Thailand held the funeral ceremony of President of the Thai Raman Association (TRA), Dr Sued Gajaseni in Bangkok in the Mon tradition. Her Highness the Thai Princess Maha Chakri Sirindhorn was present.

Dr Sued Gajaseni was the 7th generation descendant of the great Mon commander Banya Cin and he died on April 20, 2008 at the age of 82. The Thai-Mon community held the funeral ceremony in Phra Pradaeng County, Song Tham temple.

The Mon community organised a funeral dance, with Mons crying and donating food. The Mon community in Weangka, Sangklaburi also joined the funeral with their dance performance.

"The princess observed the Mon traditional crying in remembrance of the dead and the funeral dance from Sangklaburi yesterday evening," said Nai Sunthorn, Central Executive Committee of (TRA) which organised the ceremony.

Many Thai Army and naval officers attended the funeral. Dr. Sued Gajaseni who worked in Siriraj Hospital and his brother was former Thai Army's General and worked as Supreme Command. His younger sister was an ambassador for many years.

"Dr. Sued Gajaseni loved Mon people and he was the only one who worked with the Mon association while his younger brother and sister avoided being part of it," Sunthorn who worked closely said.

"He was a good leader of the Thai-Raman community and he was honest," Sunthorn added.

Not only the Mon community in Thailand but the community in Burma also paid their respects to him. He was the great King Banya Dala's descendant and they fought Burmese Kings for restoring the Mon Kingdom.