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149171
Mon, 11/08/2010 - 11:07
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http://m.oananews.org//node/149171
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Great King Anouvong’s statue inaugurated
VIENTIANE,05.NOV (KPL) - The consecration of the statue of King Anouvong at the new public park named after the king, attracted more than hundred thousands of local residents, guests and visitors, yesterday afternoon.
The ritual was marked with the gong blasting by President Choummaly Sayasone.
A long procession set off at Vat Sisaket temple, turning right and going towards the Mekong River by where the park is located.
The casting project of the statue of the Great King Anouvong started early this year and the committee responsible for casting the statue studied and researched from documents to ensure the accuracy of personal possessions and characters of the heroic king.
“The construction of King Anouvong’s public park is the most of outstanding event of the country and one of the 21 priority projects of Vientiane, which is historically significant to the nation and in implementation of the Party’s policy to show gratitude towards ancestors who had made good deeds and showed heroic acts to defend the motherland.
In his report to the rally, Standing Deputy Prime Minister Somsavat Lengsavad said that “Lao people always keep King Anouvong and his heroic acts and deeds in defence of the motherland in mind,”
“A study team was dispatched to central Savannakhet province to collect information with the sixth generation of his descendants,” said the Vice Premier.
The statue, costing about 5 billion kip to sculpt, stands 8.28 m tall and 3 m wide, weighting almost 13 tonnes of copper. The king features holding a sword in his left hand while gesturing with his right, looking towards the Mekong River. Chao Anouvong was the last king of the Vientiane dynasty of the Kingdom of Lane Xang, during his reign from 1804 to 1828. He proved to be one of the bravest kings in the Lao history, courageously fighting against the Siamese invasion unyieldingly during the 1826-1828 fight for national independence from the Kingdom of Siam.
The statue of King Anouvong is the largest of them all in the Lao PDR.
The Vice-Premier also appreciated the efforts and devotion of the casting team who managed to cast the figure by four months instead of six by the technical standard.
According to Lao history, the 18th century brought the decline of the Lane Xang monarchy. The kingdom was split into three dynasties and was invaded and controlled by Siamese feudalism.
But the Lao people maintained their unity, frequently put up rebellion against the Siamese dominance.
The most notable movement was the nationwide campaign led by Chao Anouvong in the 1826-1828 period. Though the uprising was quelled, the movement was a significant page in the Lao history for the cause of national fight for independence.
Between 1828 and 1829, Siam forced more than 100,000 people on both sides of the Mekong River, including the king’s family, to resettle as prisoners of war in Siam.
The Siamese ransacked and burned houses in the capital to the ground, stealing valuables from every temple except Vat Sisaket, including the most sacred Buddha images of Laos - the Phra Bang held as the Palladium of the kingdom, and the Emerald Buddha.
The ritual was also attended by Prime Minister Bouasone Bouphavanh, a number of senior government officials, venerable monks and members of the committee in charge of the creation of the statue.
The construction of King Anouvong Park by the Mekong River lies in the programme of the celebration of Vientiane’s 450th anniversary as the national capital, scheduled for 15-21 November 2010.
The ritual was marked with the gong blasting by President Choummaly Sayasone.
A long procession set off at Vat Sisaket temple, turning right and going towards the Mekong River by where the park is located.
The casting project of the statue of the Great King Anouvong started early this year and the committee responsible for casting the statue studied and researched from documents to ensure the accuracy of personal possessions and characters of the heroic king.
“The construction of King Anouvong’s public park is the most of outstanding event of the country and one of the 21 priority projects of Vientiane, which is historically significant to the nation and in implementation of the Party’s policy to show gratitude towards ancestors who had made good deeds and showed heroic acts to defend the motherland.
In his report to the rally, Standing Deputy Prime Minister Somsavat Lengsavad said that “Lao people always keep King Anouvong and his heroic acts and deeds in defence of the motherland in mind,”
“A study team was dispatched to central Savannakhet province to collect information with the sixth generation of his descendants,” said the Vice Premier.
The statue, costing about 5 billion kip to sculpt, stands 8.28 m tall and 3 m wide, weighting almost 13 tonnes of copper. The king features holding a sword in his left hand while gesturing with his right, looking towards the Mekong River. Chao Anouvong was the last king of the Vientiane dynasty of the Kingdom of Lane Xang, during his reign from 1804 to 1828. He proved to be one of the bravest kings in the Lao history, courageously fighting against the Siamese invasion unyieldingly during the 1826-1828 fight for national independence from the Kingdom of Siam.
The statue of King Anouvong is the largest of them all in the Lao PDR.
The Vice-Premier also appreciated the efforts and devotion of the casting team who managed to cast the figure by four months instead of six by the technical standard.
According to Lao history, the 18th century brought the decline of the Lane Xang monarchy. The kingdom was split into three dynasties and was invaded and controlled by Siamese feudalism.
But the Lao people maintained their unity, frequently put up rebellion against the Siamese dominance.
The most notable movement was the nationwide campaign led by Chao Anouvong in the 1826-1828 period. Though the uprising was quelled, the movement was a significant page in the Lao history for the cause of national fight for independence.
Between 1828 and 1829, Siam forced more than 100,000 people on both sides of the Mekong River, including the king’s family, to resettle as prisoners of war in Siam.
The Siamese ransacked and burned houses in the capital to the ground, stealing valuables from every temple except Vat Sisaket, including the most sacred Buddha images of Laos - the Phra Bang held as the Palladium of the kingdom, and the Emerald Buddha.
The ritual was also attended by Prime Minister Bouasone Bouphavanh, a number of senior government officials, venerable monks and members of the committee in charge of the creation of the statue.
The construction of King Anouvong Park by the Mekong River lies in the programme of the celebration of Vientiane’s 450th anniversary as the national capital, scheduled for 15-21 November 2010.
