AFP
Thailand is moving an Asian summit in October away from the island of Phuket because it coincides with a religious festival where devotees pierce their bodies with skewers, a minister said.
The meeting of leaders from the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (Asean) and regional dialogue partners will now take place in the royal beach resort of Hua Hin, Foreign Minister Kasit Piromya said.
Thailand, which holds the rotating chairmanship of the 10-member bloc, has repeatedly changed the venue and date of the summit due to the ongoing political turmoil in the kingdom.
“The foreign ministry has decided to hold the meeting in Hua Hin. It’s a more suitable place than Phuket, Pattaya, or Bangkok,” Kasit told reporters.
“It’s is about security for our guests, we can take care of them better there and the programme is unchanged for October 23-25. Coincidentally there is also the Vegetarian Festival in Phuket during that time,” he said. The Vegetarian Festival is an annual event on the southern tourist isle at which devotees pierce their cheeks with skewers and slash themselves with blades.
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