Talisman of kinship has a nice ring to it

UBON RATCHATHANI : Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva considers the gold ring given to him by the late Grandma Niam Panmanee a symbol of northeasterners' hearts and minds.

Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva is welcomed to the funeral rites of Grandma Niam Panmanee in Muang Sam Sip district of Ubon

"I feel that this [gold ring] is a great symbol of the rural people's minds. As a politician, I owe them a great deal," Mr Abhisit said during his speech yesterday at the funeral for the 84-year-old from Ubon Ratchathani's Muang Sam Sip district.

Grandma Niam, a former folk singer, died of cancer on Thursday.

Also present at the funeral were Deputy Prime Minister Suthep Thaugsuban, Human Security and Social Development Minister Withoon Nambutr and Second Army commander Lt-Gen Wiboonsak Neepal.

Security was tight as more than 400 police were deployed to provide the dignitaries protection. More than 5,000 local residents welcomed the prime minister on his arrival.

Grandma Niam rose to prominence on Dec 17 when, in a televised speech after being sworn in as prime minister, Mr Abhisit revealed a gold ring given to him as a token of fellowship between him and the Isan people.

Mr Abhisit was presented with the ring while he was campaigning in Ubon Ratchathani on Aug 8.

Police helmets lie on the ground at Wat Nonkhor where funeral rites were held for Grandma Niam.

Mr Withoon yesterday offered Lar Khiewyom, Grandma Niam's son, 12,000 baht in assistance from his ministry and 140,000 baht from the Democrat party.