Bangkok: A Buddha statue known as ‘Phra Chao Tong’, missing for over 36 years, has been returned to Thailand, thanks to the collaborative efforts of various parties. The statue, which holds significant cultural and historical importance, was initially reported stolen from Wat Si Ping Mueang in Phayao Province and has now been enshrined at the National Museum under the care of the Fine Arts Department.
According to Thai News Agency, Mr. Wisut Chainarun, an MP for the Pheu Thai Party and a native of Phayao, played a crucial role in the recovery of the statue. He had been actively searching for ‘Phra Chao Tong’, a Buddha statue that had disappeared from Wat Si Ping Mueang in Ban Wiang Lo, Tambon Lo, Amphoe Chun, Phayao Province. Mr. Wisut received a tip-off that the statue had been located in Switzerland, prompting the Pheu Thai Party’s foreign MP team to investigate and coordinate its return.
The statue, which is over 900 years old, was identified as the missing artifact from Wat Si Ping Mueang. With successf
ul international cooperation, ‘Phra Chao Tong’ was brought back to Thailand and is currently being housed at the National Museum. Plans are underway to eventually return the statue to its original location in Phayao Province, where it will serve as a spiritual symbol for the local community.
Mr. Wisut expressed his gratitude to everyone involved in the recovery process. “I would like to thank the people and all parties involved who worked together to provide clues until we finally got ‘Phra Chao Tong’ back to be a spiritual support for the people of Phayao Province,” he said.