THAILAND BIRD FLU AND THE TRADITION OF PACU JALUR IN RIAU

The news will complete our today's Asean window segment come from Indonesia and Thailand. Thailand has conducted a monitoring of the avian flu. Sakaew province's public health authority has ordered stingent monitoring against avian influenza, dispatching medical teams and volunteers to spread necessary knowledge and warning residents not to physically contact fowls that died of unkonown causes.

Public health authority of Sakaew Dr. Peera Areera revealed that there have yet been any reports of bid flu in the province but noted that the area did experience a minor outbreak in 2004. Dr. Peera also remarked that the province borders Cambodia is a major route for travel beetwen the two nations making it particulary difficult to safeguard and also raising concerns of cross national infection.

The authority assured however that regular rehearsals for responce to outbreak have ben conducted. The authority has instructed all medical personnel in the province to closely watch the situation and has begun cooperation with the livestock authority to follow cases of poultry death.

Rapid responce teams have been prepared to immediately deal with any suspicious deaths. Volunteers have also been established to disseminate information and knowledge about protection, including teaching about proper poultry disposal.

Now we will back to Riau. Pacu Jalur or sampan a small boat in The District of Kuansing has a stong cultural value. Pacu Jalur is not a regular boat race because of its characteristics has its own palace in our tradition. the Jalur or the boats are not only decorated with traditional ornaments but also the act of making the boats has a cultural meaning.

Cutting the trees needed for the boats an pulling the boats to the village take three days to complete. After the boats are complete a traditional ritual called Melayur is conducted . This ritual involves heating the boats so that it will be able to float. The ritual is conducted from three in the morning and is usually completed in twelve hours.

The tradition of Pacu Jalur and Melayur will be made as a tourist attraction by the regional Government of Riau.