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2 great article on the King and his devotion to his people...
Enduring love of the King and Thais
By Andrew Drummond
World’s longest-reigning monarch is still revered as he celebrates 60 years on the throne
MONARCHIES around the world may be struggling to retain the love and allegiance of their people, but not in Thailand. Kings, queens and princes of many nationalities will fly to Bangkok this week to join King Bhumibol Adulyadej in celebrating 60 years on the throne.
For the Thai people, the world’s longest-reigning monarch remains the most revered figure in their lives, save for Lord Buddha himself.
Thailand’s strict laws forbidding criticism of the King are hardly necessary. An accomplished jazz musician, yachtsman, artist and author, the 79-year-old monarch also devotes great energy to helping his country’s poor and has repeatedly used his immense moral authority to save his country from turmoil.
King Bhumibol, the great-grandson of King Mongkut, of The King and I fame, was born in Massachusetts in 1927. He was thrust upon the throne in 1946 after his brother, Ananda, was murdered in the palace in Bangkok with his own pearl-handled revolver.
(...)
Over the next week the celebrations will continue with candlelight ceremonies and fireworks displays around Bangkok’s golden-spired temples. Millions of Thais will don armbands with the message “Long live the King”. The climax will be a well-wishing ceremony in the Ananta Sarnakorn throne hall and a massive and colourful barge procession along the Chao Phraya river.
The finale will be a royal banquet for the world’s royalty and final well-wishing ceremony. This will be attended by the heads or representatives of the royal families of Denmark, Sweden, Spain, Lichtenstein, Luxembourg, Norway, the Netherlands, Belgium, Mon- aco, Brunei, Bhutan, Kuwait, Oman, Qatar, Bahrain, Japan, Jordan, Malaysia, Nepal, Cambodia, United Arab Emirates, Saudi Arabia, Samoa, Tonga, Swaziland, Lesotho, and Morocco. Britain will be represented by the Duke of York.
When the celebrations are over, King Bhumibol will continue to offer sage advice to his most loyal subjects, even if it is dispensed through books describing the model conduct of his dog, Tongdeang. The monarch uses the dog’s loyal and pragmatic behaviour in parables to inspire the Thai people.
http://www.timesonline.co.uk/article/0,,25689-2211003,00.html
Crown jewel
A monarch who for 60 years has been Thailand’s stabilising influence
Thailand will set aside its various troubles this week. The country has had no parliament since April when the opposition boycotted snap elections. The courts, commanded by the palace to sort out the “political mess”, annulled the elections but have yet to chart a way forward. In the prevailing uncertainty Thais have, yet again, reason to be grateful for the stabilising influence of King Bhumibol Adulyadej, who, for 60 years, has been their constant point of reference.
Thais like to compare this self-effacing man, a punctiliously constitutional monarch whose word has unquestioned authority, to “the comforting shade of a big tree”. They will gather under it reverently to observe the festivities, the stately barge processions and the gold-caparisoned royal white elephants, which begin this Thursday in celebration of the diamond jubilee of his accession.
The devotion he inspires would be extraordinary in a traditional society, let alone the rapidly modernising country that Thailand has become. The King’s picture is everywhere, not only in the Buddhist heartlands of Thailand but also in the restive largely Muslim south: not just on public buildings but also in people’s homes, worn on ploughs and taxis and around necks, tucked into wallets as a talisman.
http://www.timesonline.co.uk/article/0,,542-2211015,00.html
Bangkok, THAILAND: Thai girls dress in traditional costumes rehearse prior to the 60th anniversary celebrations of the Thai King accession to the throne in Bangkok, 07 June 2006.
King Bhumibol will celebrate the 60th anniversary of coming to the throne, with 25 monarchs from around the world expected to attend celebrations in Bangkok.
(PORNCHAI KITTIWONGSAKUL/AFP/Getty Images)
Thais line up to write in royal well-wishing books their messages to their beloved and much revered King in a busy commercial shopping centre in Bangkok, Thailand, Wednesday 07 June 2006.
Thai King Bhumibol Adulyadej, the world's longest reigning monarch, celebrates his 60th anniversary of his accession to the throne Friday bringing kings and queens from 25 countries to Thailand and an outpouring of national support for the 78-year-old monarch.
(ANP-EPA/BARBARA WALTON)
Enduring love of the King and Thais
By Andrew Drummond
World’s longest-reigning monarch is still revered as he celebrates 60 years on the throne
MONARCHIES around the world may be struggling to retain the love and allegiance of their people, but not in Thailand. Kings, queens and princes of many nationalities will fly to Bangkok this week to join King Bhumibol Adulyadej in celebrating 60 years on the throne.
For the Thai people, the world’s longest-reigning monarch remains the most revered figure in their lives, save for Lord Buddha himself.
Thailand’s strict laws forbidding criticism of the King are hardly necessary. An accomplished jazz musician, yachtsman, artist and author, the 79-year-old monarch also devotes great energy to helping his country’s poor and has repeatedly used his immense moral authority to save his country from turmoil.
King Bhumibol, the great-grandson of King Mongkut, of The King and I fame, was born in Massachusetts in 1927. He was thrust upon the throne in 1946 after his brother, Ananda, was murdered in the palace in Bangkok with his own pearl-handled revolver.
(...)
Over the next week the celebrations will continue with candlelight ceremonies and fireworks displays around Bangkok’s golden-spired temples. Millions of Thais will don armbands with the message “Long live the King”. The climax will be a well-wishing ceremony in the Ananta Sarnakorn throne hall and a massive and colourful barge procession along the Chao Phraya river.
The finale will be a royal banquet for the world’s royalty and final well-wishing ceremony. This will be attended by the heads or representatives of the royal families of Denmark, Sweden, Spain, Lichtenstein, Luxembourg, Norway, the Netherlands, Belgium, Mon- aco, Brunei, Bhutan, Kuwait, Oman, Qatar, Bahrain, Japan, Jordan, Malaysia, Nepal, Cambodia, United Arab Emirates, Saudi Arabia, Samoa, Tonga, Swaziland, Lesotho, and Morocco. Britain will be represented by the Duke of York.
When the celebrations are over, King Bhumibol will continue to offer sage advice to his most loyal subjects, even if it is dispensed through books describing the model conduct of his dog, Tongdeang. The monarch uses the dog’s loyal and pragmatic behaviour in parables to inspire the Thai people.
http://www.timesonline.co.uk/article/0,,25689-2211003,00.html
Crown jewel
A monarch who for 60 years has been Thailand’s stabilising influence
Thailand will set aside its various troubles this week. The country has had no parliament since April when the opposition boycotted snap elections. The courts, commanded by the palace to sort out the “political mess”, annulled the elections but have yet to chart a way forward. In the prevailing uncertainty Thais have, yet again, reason to be grateful for the stabilising influence of King Bhumibol Adulyadej, who, for 60 years, has been their constant point of reference.
Thais like to compare this self-effacing man, a punctiliously constitutional monarch whose word has unquestioned authority, to “the comforting shade of a big tree”. They will gather under it reverently to observe the festivities, the stately barge processions and the gold-caparisoned royal white elephants, which begin this Thursday in celebration of the diamond jubilee of his accession.
The devotion he inspires would be extraordinary in a traditional society, let alone the rapidly modernising country that Thailand has become. The King’s picture is everywhere, not only in the Buddhist heartlands of Thailand but also in the restive largely Muslim south: not just on public buildings but also in people’s homes, worn on ploughs and taxis and around necks, tucked into wallets as a talisman.
http://www.timesonline.co.uk/article/0,,542-2211015,00.html
Bangkok, THAILAND: Thai girls dress in traditional costumes rehearse prior to the 60th anniversary celebrations of the Thai King accession to the throne in Bangkok, 07 June 2006.
King Bhumibol will celebrate the 60th anniversary of coming to the throne, with 25 monarchs from around the world expected to attend celebrations in Bangkok.
(PORNCHAI KITTIWONGSAKUL/AFP/Getty Images)
Thais line up to write in royal well-wishing books their messages to their beloved and much revered King in a busy commercial shopping centre in Bangkok, Thailand, Wednesday 07 June 2006.
Thai King Bhumibol Adulyadej, the world's longest reigning monarch, celebrates his 60th anniversary of his accession to the throne Friday bringing kings and queens from 25 countries to Thailand and an outpouring of national support for the 78-year-old monarch.
(ANP-EPA/BARBARA WALTON)