King Rama X to head ceremony
Nation makes merit 1 year after late monarch’s passing
His Majesty King Maha Vajiralongkorn Bod indra debay ava rang kunwillp reside over the merit-making ceremonies marking one year since the passing of the late King Bhumibol Adulyadej at the Grand Palace today and tomorrow, according to the Bureau of the Royal Household.
The bureau published a document in the Royal Gazette earlier this month outlining the royal meritmaking ceremonies for the late King, which will be held at the Dusit Maha Prasat Throne Hall.
His Majesty the King will travel from the Ambara Villa of Dusit Palace to the Grand Palace, where he will attend the ceremony at 5pm today.
The King will place his personal wreath and a wreath from Her Majesty Queen Sirikit before the late King’s royal urn in the throne hall.
Thirty monks will chant prayers after which one monk will give a sermon.
The King will attend the royal merit-making ceremony again at 10.30am tomorrow.
After the monks’ prayers the King will offer them food.
Another 89 monks will be invited to pray for the late King in the throne hall.
The number matches the age of the late King, who passed away at 88. Thai culture stresses that at the time he was in his 89th year.
Meanwhile, the government has invited the public to observe 89 seconds of silence at 3.52pm today.
King Bhumibol passed away peacefully at 3.52pm on Oct 13, 2016 at Siriraj Hospital after a reign of 70 years.
With the first anniversary of his passing today, the government has invited people all over the country to make merit.
Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha as well as cabinet members and their spouses will offer alms to the 89 monks at Government House at 7am.
The same ceremony will be held at government offices throughout the country.
“The prime minister would like all Thais to join in the ceremony at a location near their homes and make merit for King Rama IX,” assistant government spokeswoman Taksada Sangkachantra said yesterday.
The joint command centre for the royal cremation ceremony yesterday held a briefing on the laying of dok mai chan flowers during the royal cremation ceremony, which will run from Oct 25-29.
Sutthipha Nacharoen, director of the general affairs division under the Bangkok Metropolitan Administration (BMA), said the BMA has designated areas for the public to place the cremation flowers at nine locations in Bangkok where the replicas of the royal cremation are situated.
The nine locations are the Royal Plaza, the old head office of the Government Lottery Office, Nagaraphirom Park, King Rama I Plaza, Dhupateme Royal Thai Air Force Sports Stadium, Bitec Bang Na, Buddha Monthon Park, Lan Khon Muang Plaza at City Hall, and King Mongkut’s Institute of Technology Ladkrabang.
More than 100 other places have also been arranged in various temples in the city for mourners to place them, Ms Sutthipha said.
She said on Oct 26 mourners will be permitted to place the flowers from 9am to 4.30pm, after which the practice will be halted as His Majesty the King will attend the royal cremation ceremony at Sanam Luang.
They can again place flowers from 6pm to 10pm, Ms Sutthipha said, adding that all will be gathered and burned in the royal pyre at Sanam Luang as well as at the replicas of the royal crematorium, except for the one in the Royal Plaza.
Nisit Chansomwong, deputy permanent secretary of the Interior Ministry, said that replicas of the royal crematorium in 56 provinces have been completed while those in the remaining 20 provinces are nearing completion. All must be finished by Sunday.
Foreign Affairs Ministry spokeswoman Busadee Santipitaks said 94 Thai embassies and consulates overseas have sent dok mai chan to the ministry. They will be brought to the royal crematorium at Sanam Luang on Oct 26, officials said.
The Royal House of Norway announced on its official website yesterday that His Royal Highness the Crown Prince Haakon will attend the royal cremation ceremony on Oct 26.
Crown Prince Haakon is the son of King Harald and Queen Sonja of Norway.
Crown Prince Haakon and Crown Princess MetteMarit have visited Thailand on various occasions as royal guests of the late King and Queen Sirikit.
One trip occurred during an event commemorating the 100th anniversary of diplomatic relations between Norway and Thailand in 2006.
Another took place during an event commemorating the 60th anniversary of the late King’s accession to the throne.
The King of Bhutan Jigme Khesar Namgyel Wangchuck and his wife Queen Jetsun Pema will also attend, as will Japan’s Prince Akishino and Princess Kiko.
As the fellows and alumni of the Asia Journalism Fellowship gathered in Singapore over the last weekend, many asked about the royal cremation ceremony of the late King Bhumibol Adulyadej that will take place in Bangkok on Oct 26.
SONAM PELDEN NEWS EDITOR, ENGLISH EDITORIAL, KUENSEL CORP, BHUTAN
As soon as we heard he had passed away, our king immediately went to Thailand. King (Bhumibol) is very well respected, largely because of all the changes he brought to the people’s lives, especially in agriculture.
No matter how politically divided the Thai people might be, the late King was a unifying factor. He brought together all sides of the country. I think that’s the role of a king in a democracy.
NGUYEN PHUONG THAO PRODUCER, AGRICULTURAL TV CHANNEL, VIETNAM
In Vietnam we often read nice stories about him, that he gave much help to farmers. When he won their trust and hearts, I think he won over the whole nation.
HUANG XUEQIN SPECIAL CORRESPONDENT FOR THE SOUTHERN METROPOLIS WEEKLY, GUANGZHOU, CHINA
In China we had kings for thousands of years. But there came a time when we didn’t want a king any more because most of time we thought they were just corrupt and had many wives, rather than doing anything constructive. But the situation in Thailand is different. The people respect their King.
I learned that the Thai people not only loved their late King, but that he loved them back. He got involved in most fields from education and medicine to industry and everything. I felt like, wow, the King of Thailand did quite a good job!
AGNES LAM FORMER REPORTER FOR THE SOUTH CHINA MORNING POST, HONG KONG
When I first visited Bangkok, I did find it quite strange, as if the King was [considered] a saint in Thailand.
But after learning that he seemed to like travelling around the country, and was keen to learn how ordinary people, especially, farmers, live in the country, I got a clue as to why the people love him so much. It’s not easy for someone from such a privileged background to realise it’s important to really get in touch with the people, in order to achieve benevolent and caring governance.
KOH CHIEW HEONG SENIOR REPORTER WITH THE SIN CHEW DAILY, MALAYSIA
My husband respects King Bhumibol so much. Even in my house, we have a family photo of the late Thai King in our living room. My husband said he was a very good man. Whatever he did, he did for poor people from the rural areas. He is very well-respected — and not only in Thailand.
NARAYAN WAGLE PRINCIPAL WRITER, SETOPATI SANCHAR, AN ONLINE NEWSPAPER IN NEPAL
We admire the late Thai King. He did everything for his people. He decided not to visit other countries, and he kept his promise. He rarely left the Thai borders. We got to see pictures of him visiting farmers and giving his personal thoughts to ordinary people.
GIRISH GIRI CORRESPONDENT FOR SETOPATI SANCHAR
I believe Thailand has a monarchy that is in tune with the times. The King, who died last year, had very good relations with the people. He was very respected.
PATITHIN PHETMEUANGPHUAN REPORTER, VIENTIANE TIMES, LAOS
He went everywhere in Thailand — rural areas, remote mountains. He tried to solve problems for the people, which is what good leaders should do.
He was a king, certainly, but in other ways he was very humble, almost not like a king. He seemed like a commoner, one of the people. He visited villagers and spoke to them.
One thing that made me feel very proud of him was when I watched a video of him planting rice. He was a very important person — yet he was still prepared to do that. He believed he was one of the people. He tried to do the best for the Thai people.
CHAITANYA MARPAKWAR SENIOR CORRESPONDENT, MUMBAI MIRROR, INDIA
He was a very benevolent king. He was willing to experiment to give democracy a chance. He was the most respected king in Thailand for a very long time.