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Thai-Lao Friendship Bridge opens
Report from Bangkok Post dated Wednesday 20 December 2006 :-
Thai-Lao Friendship Bridge opens
Her Royal Highness Princess Maha Chakri Sirindhorn Wednesday morning presided over the opening of the Thai-Lao Friendship Bridge in Mukdahan.
A helicopter brought the princess to the ceremony at 9.45 a.m. At 10.30 a.m., the princess pushed electronic buttons to lift a veil covering the bridge's nameplate, marking the official opening of the friendship bridge.
Prime Minister Surayud Chulanont, Lao Vice-President Boungnang Vorachit together with delegates from the two countries joined the event.
After the opening, the princess was scheduled to go over to the Lao side to visit a school and an immigration point at Savannakhet before returning to Thai soil in the afternoon.
--- KatoeyNewsNetwork
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Report from Bangkok Post dated Wednesday 20 December 2006 :-
New bridge to Laos opens today
Mukdahan - Villagers gathered on the banks of the Mekong river near the second Thai-Lao Friendship Bridge yesterday to worship the Naga, a mythical serpent believed to be the guardian of the river. They performed Buddhist and Brahman rituals to worship the Naga and ask the creature to bless the new bridge set to open today.
Local artists chanted a traditional Isan poem to please the gods which protect people living along the Mekong River.
These residents deeply respect the Naga. Therefore, before beginning any activity which affects the river, they pay their respects to, and seek permission from, the sacred creature, said Mukdahan Governor Boonsom Pirinyawong, who chaired the ceremony.
Thai and Lao people share the belief that the divine serpent inhabits the river. Many people also believe the Naga created the Mekong when the creature snaked southward from the north of Thailand and Laos several centuries ago.
The Naga worshipping ceremony was held on the eve of the opening ceremony of the bridge that links this northeastern province with Savannakhet province in Laos.
The bridge is part of efforts to open transport links in Southeast Asia under a scheme sponsored by the Asian Development Bank. The bridge connects with Road 9 in southern Laos to Vietnam.
Her Royal Highness Princess Maha Chakri Sirindhorn will preside over the opening ceremony together with Lao Vice-President Boungnang Vorachit.
The first Thai-Lao Friendship Bridge over the Mekong links Nong Khai and Vientiane, the Lao capital. Its construction was financed by Australia and the bridge was opened in 1994.
Spanning the Mekong, the new bridge, which received financing from Japan, is 12 metres wide and 1.6km long.
Attending the bridge opening ceremony today are 250 delegates from Thailand and 250 from Laos. Among the dignitaries will be Prime Minister Surayud Chulanont and his Lao counterpart Bouasone Bouphavanh.
The princess and Mr Boungnang will push electronic buttons to lift a veil covering the bridge's nameplate at 10.30am after hearing reports from Gen Surayud and Mr Bouasone. After that the princess will spend a few hours in Savannakhet before returning to Thai soil at 1.30pm.
Both Mukdahan and Savannakhet provincial authorities also plan grand celebrations for the new friendship bridge.
Mukdahan has planned a celebration over three days and three nights, beginning today, the governor said.
Savannakhet has been holding an eight-day celebration. The celebration began on Sunday and will end next Sunday. Part of the celebration is a trade expo and market on a large area 4km from the foot of the bridge on the Lao side.
However, after today's official opening, the bridge will not open for transnational traffic until next month, according to the Highways Department's acting director-general Songsak Phaecharoen.
Thailand and Laos have to sign a bilateral agreement regarding regulations for bridge operations and traffic rules before it can be used for cross-border activities.
Mr Songsak said Thai and Lao authorities had settled some regulatory details, including the entry fees for different types of vehicles.
However, the agreement must be approved by the government of each country before taking effect.
--- KatoeyNewsNetwork
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