The handover of the Jar of Royal Wisdom on Alternative Development to the United Nations

March 12, 2007, the ONCB held the ceremony on the handover of the Jar of Royal Wisdom on Alternative Development to the United Nations at the ONCB Head Office, Din Daeng Road.

On the occasion that the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC) office in Colombia opened a new office building which was a forfeited asset from narcotrafficking case and the first time ever that a real estate forfeited to narcotraffickers was assigned to an international organisation leading the fight against illicit drugs and organised crime, UNODC requested the UN member countries to donate a piece of art to decorate a department of the building to show the diversity of cultures and art of UN member countries as well as the strong concensus and cooperation of the international community in supporting the UN goal or contributing a small grant (not greater than US$ 3,000) to make ad hoc ‘national’ decoration whose character was negotiable. In order to achieve such an architectural demonstration of the joint fight against illicit drugs and organised crime, a decoration of each department would be dedicated to the world-famous entities. As for Thailand, in particular, UNODC specified that the alternative livelihoods department is to be dedicated to His Majesty King Bhumibol Adulyadej of Thailand who in the early 60s inspired and led the first successful crop substitution and alternative development programmes in the northern highlands of Thailand.

As a consequence, the Office of the Narcotics Control Board in consultation with the Ministry of Foreign Affairs assigned the Bangsai Arts and Crafts Centre, the SUPPORT Foundation of Her Majesty Queen Sirikit of Thailand to produce this artifact which is an earthen, hand-painting jar with a lid with a symbolic of national culture reflecting the royal initiative on alternative development to commemorate His Majesty the King’s successful alternative development programmes in the North of the country. The jar will be displayed together with His Majesty the King’s portrait, biography and citation regarding the royal initiative on alternative development to elevate the better livelihood of the northern Thai hilltribes.

It is with the utmost pride to say that the jar is a representation of His Majesty the King’s initiative on narcotics control as well as a gift of the Royal Thai Government rendered to UNODC Office in Colombia. The jar possesses a high value in itself which could, later on, become one of the precious artifacts of the world.

From left to right:

• Mrs. Sudasamorn Suwanlapcharoen, Executive Committee Member and Budget Voice Director, Bangsai Arts and Crafts Centre, the SUPPORT Foundation of Her Majesty Queen Sirikit of Thailand

• Mrs. Helga Jaermann, Porcelain Painting Teacher, Bangsai Arts and Crafts Centre, the SUPPORT Foundation of Her Majesty Queen Sirikit of Thailand