Lae Tong Ku Community Requests Return of Sacred Ancient Elephant Tusk

The Lae Tong Ku community is requesting the return of a sacred ancient elephant tusk to its original village location. On February 20, 2569, Cho Ku Rotsirichi, the village head of Lae Tong Ku in Umphang District, Tak Province, and Karen community leaders submitted a letter to the provincial governor Chusak Ruying requesting the tusk's restoration. Surapong Kongchantuk, an ethnic group expert, revealed that the large elephant tusk is intricately carved with Buddhist statues, originally belonging to 'Nong Kow Piew', daughter of Phra Suwan Khiri, the ruler of Sangkhla Buri. The tusk was originally gifted to the head monk of the Tala Khong group at Lae Tong Ku village. The tusk was traditionally displayed and worshipped in the monk's hall. In 2560, a former village head secretly took the tusk to perform a ceremony in Myanmar. Thai authorities later coordinated with the Buddhist Karen Democratic Force to recover the artifact, which is currently stored at the Umphang District Office. Surapong suggested that since the tusk clearly belongs to the Lae Tong Ku community, authorities should return it, potentially helping to create a secure display location. He also recommended registering the tusk as a national archaeological artifact, with the community as its caretaker.