UTTARADIT - Just three days after launching a new slogan for this northern province the governor backed down on Monday, bowing to pressure from residents displeased by the change.
Marudech Thaidith, 34, who has a Facebook account called Latte UTD Club, spearheaded a public campaign against the new slogan on social media after its official launch by provincial authorities on Aug 25.
On Monday morning he posted a message he had received from governor Phiphat Ekkaphapan saying that since most people opposed the new slogan, he would order it withdrawn.
Shortly after Mr Marudech posted the message, Mr Phiphat reportedly issued an announcement cancelling the new slogan.
Opposition to the change emerged immediately after a copy of the announcement by the provincial governor that Uttaradit had adopted a new slogan was posted on Mr Marudech’s Facebook account.
A large number of Facebook users who said they were Uttaradit residents vented their dissatisfaction with the new slogan, which the governor claimed to have been selected through an official contest.
They criticised the new slogan for being way too long compared to the old one, which had been in use for a long time. They also said province had not consulted residents through a proper public hearing before announcing the change.
The critics insisted they wanted the old slogan back.
The old slogan is: Famous "Lek Nam Phi" Iron; Sweet Langsat; Home of Phraya Phichai Daphak; World's Biggest Teak Tree
The dumped new slogan had several additions: Lap Lae durian; the Sacred Phra Thaen Si Lat At; Sirikit Dam; Ban Khok Phu Doo; and Gateway to Laos' Lan Xang.
Jittra Phadungsak, an expert in the art and culture of neighbouring Laos, added weight to the growing criticism. She said that saying Uttaradit is a "Gateway to Laos' Lan Xang" might lead to a conflict with Laos.
Although the phrase might refer to the Lan Xang culture, Lan Xang was now perceived in Laos as a regime of the past.
Even the three-headed elephant which represented the Lan Xang dynasty was banned in Laos.
Lan Xang, also spelled Lan Chang, was a Lao kingdom that flourished from the 14th century until it was split into two separate kingdoms.
Likhit Boonsaenkhan, a member of the cultural committee of Thong Saen Khan district, said he was not aware the provincial slogan was being changed until the governor announced the decision. He did not agree with it. It was no better than the old one.
Thawisak Puengwongsanurak, president of Uttaradit’s chamber of commerce, said the province's public sector did not agree with the new slogan either. Nor were they aware of the change until it made headlines.
Thirawat Wutthikhun, a deputy provincial governor, said changing the slogan was floated around the time Mr Phiphat became governor. He ordered the change implemented when he was suddenly transferred to Sukhothai earlier this month.
Mr Thirawat said he was not sure if the governor’s request for education institutions in the province to send in their proposed versions of the new slogan counted as a contest.
Sitthichai Charoenthanachinda, mayor of tambon Tha Sao municipality in Muang district, said this was a good lesson for state officials and politicians who may think they can simply change anything without need to listen to the public.
