Thailand Live Monday 5 Dec 2011

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Thailand Live Monday 5 December 2011

News, Bits and Tweets

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Keep up to date with live updates from the news, hour by hour.

For breaking news,national, regional and international news updates on a daily basis only, this thread is closed to commentary so that those who wish to follow the news can find it here...

Commentary is still open for Thailand news in the relevant thread posted in News Clippings.

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Related topic: Thailand Live Sunday 4 Dec 2011

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Happy 84th Birthday to His Majesty King Bhumibol Adulyadej

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HM to grant audience

The Nation

Grand state ceremony on the occasion of King's 84th birthday today

His Majesty the King will today grant a public audience during a grand state ceremony at Chakri Maha Prasat Throne Hall on the auspicious occasion of his 84th birthday.

The monarch will make an appearance on the main Mukkhadej balcony before senior civilian and military officials, Cabinet members led by the prime minister, the Supreme Court president and the House speaker at an event starting at 10.30am.

Members of other royal clans, the commanders of the three branches of the Armed Forces, parliamentarians and diplomats are scheduled to gather at 9.30am.

People can write goodwill messages and pay their respects to previous kings of the Chakri Dynasty at Phra Thep Bidorn Throne Hall from 1pm-5pm today and 9am-5pm tomorrow.

The Grand Palace will also be open tonight for visits by the public.

The King's birthday is also celebrated as Father's Day.

At today's ceremony, Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra will read out a message on behalf of the Thai people commemorating His Majesty's birthday and wishing him a long life.

Their Majesties the King and Queen will arrive at the venue by 11am to a 21-round salute by the Armed Forces and Royal Thai Police and a trooping of royal guard units in full military dress.

His Majesty will deliver an address in reply, which will be greeted with three hails of "Long Live the King", before Their Majesties leave the venue.

The government is staging grand festivals for seven days and seven nights until Friday to mark His Majesty's seventh 12-year birthday cycle, including a spectacular light and sound show using the wall of the Grand Palace as a 200-metre-long screen.

Once a day, a 90-minute show is performed by 150 actors on a 60-metre stage in a 4,200-seat amphitheatre in Sanam Luang. The audience includes those standing watching in outer areas.

People can sit along the route of His Majesty's motorcade, which will leave at about 10am from Siriraj Hospital, where he is receiving treatment.

The Bangkok Metropolitan Administration will sponsor morning prayers of five religions - Buddhism, Islam, Christianity, Hindu and Sikh - at Sanam Luang, in honour of His Majesty.

Trees and power poles along Ratchadamnoen Avenue have been festooned with colourful lights until Friday, along with 39 insignias and signs carrying emblems and messages praising the King and wishing him a long life.

In the deep South, an event called "Fathers Hugging Sons" was organised to mark the King's 84th birthday. Insurgents who have renounced violence or laid down their arms were reunited with their families.

In Lampang, elephants at a shelter under the supervision of the Thai Elephant Conservation Centre gave alms to Buddhist monks while an exhibition featured stories and the history of Thai kings with war elephants. Six jumbos under royal patronage are in the custody and care of the centre.

More than 1,751 hilltribe people and people born in Thailand without Thai citizenship joined a ceremony in Chiang Rai to honour His Majesty on his 84th birthday, while a mini-marathon took place in Si Sa Ket with some 3,000 local and foreign runners.

A Buddhist monk well-known for his meditative ability - Phra Phat Ariyo - is conducting a special three-day session until tomorrow, without eating or sleeping, to mark the King’s 84th birthday, while making merit for him and his long reign.

-- The Nation 2011-12-05

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Queen Elizabeth sends greetings

The Nation

Queen Elizabeth II, the Queen of England, has sent the following birthday message to His Majesty King Bhumibol Adulyadej:

"It gives me great pleasure to offer my warmest congratulations to Your Majesty as you celebrate the auspicious occasion of your 84th birthday. I have been following the reports of the floods in Thailand with concern and would like to offer my condolences to Your Majesty and to the Thai people in this time of tragedy. I wish Your Majesty good health, longevity and happiness and send you my very best wishes for continued happiness and prosperity of all.

Elizabeth R.

-- The Nation 2011-12-05

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Happy Birthday Your Majesty

Phuket Gazette

Phuket joins the nation in wishing His Majesty The King Bhumibol Adulyadej a happy, healthy 84th birthday today, December 5.

PHUKET: -- Phuket joins the nation in wishing His Majesty The King Bhumibol Adulyadej a happy, healthy 84th birthday today, December 5.

His Majesty’s health is gradually improving, Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra said after her visit to Siriraj Hospital in Bangkok last week.

Late last month His Majesty had a fever occurring at irregular intervals and pain in his lower abdomen, the Royal Household Bureau reported.

While PM Yingluck invites all Thais to join in the Seventh Cycle birthday celebrations, HM the King has humbly asked celebrations be kept simple due to the ongoing flood crisis.

Today, His Majesty is expected to grant a public audience at the Chakri Throne Hall in the Grand Palace at 10:30am.

PM Yingluck said that as part of the birthday celebrations, King of Bhutan Jigme Khesar Namgyel Wangchuck has allowed Thailand to borrow a Buddha relic from Bhutan so that Thai people can pay homage.

The longest reigning monarch in the world, HM the King so far has lived to see 27 Thai PMs take power in his 65 years on the throne.

He is deeply loved by Thais and is known for his commitment to projects that directly help common people – farmers, fishermen, laborers – through his many charities.

He is the only Thai monarch to hold a patent, one of which he achieved in 1993 for an ingenious wastewater system, “Chai Pattana”.

His Majesty was born on December 5, 1927, in Cambridge, Massachusetts, USA. He acceded to the Throne at age 18 on June 9, 1946.

He is also known as King Rama IX, the literal translation of his name means “Strength of the Land with Incomparable Power”.

An accomplished jazz musician and sportsman, HM the King had his first ski lesson in 1935 and excelled, as he also did at water sports and badminton.

And in homage to HM the King’s love of sailing, the 25th annual King’s Cup Regatta will get underway with the first day of racing today.

More than 2,000 sailors and 100 yachts are taking part this year.

The banks are joining in the celebrations, with the Bank of Thailand unveiling a commemorative 100-baht banknote.

A total of 9.9 million special 100-baht bills have been printed for distribution to the public.

The back of the banknotes feature depictions of some of His Majesty’s well-known activities in such fields as water-resource development and management, science and technology, and his remarkable musical talent.

A special feature – a first for a Thai banknote – is a horizontal bright gold bar that appears to move up and down the denomination numerals when the note is tilted.

The special bills can be bought with a hard-paper cover for 200 baht each, or with a hard-paper cover and a bag at 500 baht.

A portion of revenue will go to the Chaipattana Foundation, a sustainable development charity established by His Majesty.

Reservations for the banknotes can be made at branches of commercial banks, the Government Savings Bank, the Government Housing Bank, the Bank for Agriculture and Agricultural Cooperatives and the Islamic Bank of Thailand.

All of the notes will be distributed on December 2.

The Phuket Gazette wishes HM the King a very happy birthday.

Source: http://www.phuketgazette.net/archives/articles/2011/article11610.html

-- Phuket Gazette 2011-12-05

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A survey of public views on His Majesty

The Nation

Dusit Poll on the occasion of His Majesty the King's birthday.

What does the public most appreciate in the King’s kindness?

_ Sufficiency economy: 60.2 per cent

_ Royal donation: 21.2 per cent

_ Royal initiative projects: 18.5 per cent

What does the public want to do for the King today?

_ Be honest: 78.1 per cent

_ Pray and meditate for His Majesty's longevity: 11.4 per cent

_ Disseminate the King's work to the future generation: 10.3 per cent

What activity would the public like to participate in on the occasion of His Majesty's birthday?

_ Light candles, sing songs wishing HM well: 61.4 per cent

_ Donate blood and supplies to foundations related to him: 22.7 per cent

_ Participate in activities organised by state agencies: 15.8 per cent

What does the public believe upsets the King?

_ Lack of unity: 73.2 per cent

_ Flood management: 11 per cent

_ Destruction of environment: 9.5 per cent

_ Corruption 6.1 per cent

-- The Nation 2011-12-05

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HM pardons 26,000 inmates, including some drug convicts

The Nation

His Majesty the King has issued a royal command pardoning some 26,000 prisoners to mark his 84th birthday.

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Life back to normal in 11 more Bangkok districts

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ROYAL PROJECTS

The water has its way

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Yingluck seeks HM's pardon for mistake on Facebook page

The Nation

Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra has asked His Majesty the King for a royal pardon for a mistake on her Facebook page.

On Saturday her staff uploaded the wrong photo when she posted a Facebook message urging all Thais to join in the celebration of His Majesty's birthday.

Yesterday she assigned PM's Secretary-General Banthoon Suphakwanit to send an explanation to the Royal Household Bureau with a request for a royal pardon.

In the afternoon she travelled to Ayutthaya with Deputy Prime Minister Yongyuth Wichaidit to launch the Beautiful Thailand tourism campaign at Srisanphet Temple.

Her aides informed reporters that she would not give media interviews for two days especially on political topics because the country was marking His Majesty's birthday. She said she would focus on doing good deeds to honour the beloved monarch.

Two of nine events in the government-sponsored celebrations for His Majesty's birthday have been cut short from seven days to two and three days.

The two performances were scheduled to run from last Saturday to Friday, a source from the organiser said.

Government Spokeswoman Thitima Chaisaeng confirmed with The Nation that the order came from Yongyuth.

The "Golden Culture of Rattanakosin on the Great King's 84th Birthday" on the main stage at Sanam Luang had its last showing last night, she said.

The multimedia 3D panoramic movie on the prosperity of Bangkok, which was screened every night on a 200-metre stretch of the wall of the Grand Palace, would have its last viewing tonight.

-- The Nation 2011-12-05

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EDITORIAL

Rule of law takes a back seat in Thaksin passport drive

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2012 academic year to open on may 23, one week behind schedule

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Steve Jobs - businessman, inventor, artist

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RT @RichardBarrow: 7am All around Thailand this morning, Thai people will be making merit for HM The King by giving alms to monks.

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Chulalongkorn Hospital offers free medical service from 7.30am-2pm

8-9am Holy water procession from Wat Poh to Chakri Maha Prasart Throne Hall

10am 480 members of King's guards march from Defence Ministry to Chakri Maha Prasart Throne Hall to give oath of allegiance

10.30am HM the King grants audience to 5,000 invited guests on occasion of His birthday at Chakri Maha Prasart Throne Hall

/TANN

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US Ambassador Kristie Kenney Sends Birthday Greetings to H.M. the King

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Xlfl1bxnBhY

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On Father's Day (today), if you buy a ticket for the MRT Subway in Bangkok, your father travels for free /via @MRT_BMCL @richardbarrow

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RT @ASEAN_NEWSROOM: Google's doodle for today marking this auspicious occasion of Thailand http://twitpic.com/7okpp0 TR @mynametai

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'Long Live the King' reverberates at Siriraj Hospital

Thousands of people shouted 'Long Live the King' Monday morning as His Majesty left the Siriraj Hospital to make an appearance on the main Mukkhadej balcony at Chakri Maha Prasat Throne Hall.

Thousands of people gathered to sit along the path from the hospital to the throne hall since early Monday morning to wait for His Majesty.

They shouted 'Long Live the King' as His Majesty passed by on his way to the throne hall.

-- The Nation 2011-12-05

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His Majesty grants audience at Chakri Maha Prasat Throne Hall

His Majesty the King Monday made his appearance at the Chakri Maha Prasat Throne Hall to grant audience to his subjects.

His Royal Highness Crown Prince Maha Vajiralongkorn represented the Royal Family members and government officials to pay homage and wish His Majesty a happy birthday in a ceremony at the Chakri Maha Prasat Throne Hall.

Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra represented government officials to make a speech to wish His Majesty happy birthday. "Your Majesty is my guiding light and guiding light of all Thai people," Yingluck said in the speech.

-- The Nation 2011-12-05

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RT @tulsathit: The King's speech begins now.

RT @tulsathit: HM calls for utmost, collective efforts to ease Thai people's flood suffering.

RT @tulsathit: HM says people involved in flood relief operations must forget conflicts and must encourage one another.

RT @tulsathit: "Do as much as you can" HM tells govt and everyone involved in water management, regarding his ideas of how to manage water.

RT @tulsathit: "It was just my suggestion, not my command," HM says, regarding his water management ideas.

RT @tulsathit: Nation can be stable only when its people are safe and have good living: HM the King

HM Thai King on birthday: The most important thing for Thais is to support each other for happiness of Thais and the security of Thailand. RT @chaowaraty80

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LONG LIVE THE KING

His Majesty grants audience, calls for collective efforts to help flood victims

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Phuket marks HM The King’s Birthday

Thousands of people turned out for this morning's merit-making service to honor the 84th birthday of HM King Bhumibol Adulyadej today. Photo: Warisa Temram

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Special show at Sanam Luang is cancelled & today is the last day for the 3-D multimedia presentation /via @veen_NT

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Astonishing accident involving eight Ferraris 'world's most expensive car crash'

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HM the King urges working together to resolve flood problems

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Thai king leaves hospital for birthday speech

BANGKOK, December 5, 2011 (AFP) - Thailand's frail king, the world's longest reigning monarch, left the hospital where he has been staying for more than two years on Monday and addressed his subjects to mark his 84th birthday.

Bhumibol Adulyadej, who is widely revered across the kingdom, was greeted by thousands of chanting and flag-waving Thais as he left the hospital in a wheelchair and was taken by motorcade to Bangkok's Grand Palace.

In a speech from the palace balcony, the king -- who has reigned for 65 years -- called for national unity, especially in the face of the recent devastating flooding that has left at least 675 people dead.

"It's the duty of everyone to help solve the people's troubles at full capacity, particularly people suffering from floods at this moment," he said, calling for sustainable water management projects.

In the remarks televised live, he added that "the most important thing is that there must be no conflicts. Support each other as is needed to achieve goals for the benefit of the people and the nation's security."

The king was admitted to hospital in September 2009 for treatment of a respiratory condition and has rarely left, aside from a few public appearances.

Any discussion of the royal family is extremely sensitive in politically turbulent Thailand, where the palace has also been silent over the organisation of the king's succession.

Under Thai law, anyone convicted of insulting the king, queen, heir or regent faces up to 15 years in prison on each count.

Last month, a 61-year-old Thai man was jailed for 20 years for sending text messages deemed insulting to the monarchy -- a ruling that drew staunch criticism from rights groups and the European Union.

The monarch has no official political role but is seen as a unifying figure in a country that is frequently riven by political unrest, and his birthday is marked by country-wide celebrations, a public holiday and Thai Father's Day.

Bhumibol's 84th birthday is considered particularly auspicious as it marks the completion of his seventh 12-year-cycle.

-- (c) Copyright AFP 2011-12-05

[Lite Beer]

Of His Majesty and the Ten Regal Qualities

Pornpimol Kanchanalak

Most people in Thailand have heard the words "Thos-sa-pith-rajadharma" (Dasa Raja Dharma) or the Ten Regal Qualities.

We just do not quite know what they are, or include. We only know that they are the principles or "the way" of how people in power should behave or act in carrying out their duties for the people, community and society.

These 10 qualities are (1) Giving - not only tangible things, but intangible; (2) Upright & Virtuous; (3) Altruistic; (4) Honest, Honourable, Dependable and True; (5) Compassionate, Considerate and Thoughtful; (6) Resolutely Assiduous; (7) Forgiving & Non-vindictive; (8) Innocuous; (9) Tolerant and Persevering; (10) Fair-minded and Just.

These qualities can be summed up in one word - magnanimity.

That is the word that describes everything that His Majesty is, and has done tirelessly, passionately and selflessly for his people and the country, for all these 62 long years since May 5, 1950 - the day he ascended to the throne. He has made his work appear effortless. He never demands appreciation, and never reminds us about any of the good deeds and gifts he has done or given to the nation. He is the only monarch who says it outright - that even the king can do wrong, as man is fallible. He never points fingers at anyone - that everything is the fault of others. He never seeks revenge or purposely or deviously creates or encourages divisiveness and hatred.

He takes all of his headaches and heartaches in stride and in silence, graciously. He has forgiven even those who all their lives did everything possible, obsessively, to hurt and harm him to the maximum extent possible, simply because of where he sits. For him, all Thais are one - we sink and swim together. We are his children, and everything that comes with it.

And we are spoiled to the point where many of us completely take for granted His Majesty's lifelong hard work and contribution to the nation and her people. Many are behaving like a chicken that passes by and gives up a precious gemstone for the sake of a husk, because it cannot recognise, comprehend or appreciate the value of the treasure in front of it.

The images of the oath-taking ceremony of high-ranking officials and military men and women led by the prime minister on Friday at the Grand Palace brought home a profound sense of sadness and resignation. Many of them have taken many times before an oath to uphold the best interest of the country in their heart, and at the core of their duties and responsibilities.

Their words were nothing but an utterance that can be described anatomically as the vocal chords coming together and narrowing the opening through which air flows between them.

But for His Majesty, an oath or pledge is a serious, binding promise - it's meant to be kept. And he has kept his, unconditionally and without fail.

His Majesty's pledge of Succession to the Throne:

"I shall reign with righteousness for the benefit and happiness of the Siamese people."

In recent years, his name has been dragged through the mud by many, both intentionally and unintentionally. Some people methodically abuse his good name for their own gain. He was painted by those - as unqualified and unwarranted artists as they were - to be the symbol of all the ills of the country. Foreigners as well as locals - who can never fully comprehend the honour, dignity and unselfish virtue that he possesses - have tried to pick him apart, judging him harshly and unfairly according to the standards they pick, many of which they would apply to themselves. Many do not even care to search thoroughly before making flippant and unsubstantiated claims and criticisms.

The lese majeste law is a case in point in these messy situations and circumstances.

The real intent of the law is just to provide the monarch with some level of protection, a level playing field, against defamation. While any citizen can take his grievances to court and sue the daylights out of those who appear to be defaming him and dishonouring his good name, a monarch in practice cannot. In many ways, he has fewer rights than us as citizens.

However, the enforcement of the law has gone too far in several instances. Many times a harsh penalty has been imposed out of the genuine desire, sometimes misguided, of the law enforcement people to protect the person they most love and revere.

Sometimes they do it on purpose to perversely attract bad publicity that they know would harm and haunt the institution.

Westerners, who want to believe in equality and civil liberty, take the law as the highlight of an unjust and primitive Old World value that must be thrown out.

They take no responsibility for their criticisms, so it is easy for them to make the judgement and speak words of denigration. Facts and truth mean almost nothing nowadays, let alone well-grounded and constructive criticisms. It is more than a "me" generation, it is a "me always right" era. The word "shame" has quickly disappeared from our vocabulary.

His Majesty was hailed as the "Soul" of this nation.

The chaos and confusion in which we find ourselves these days are partly due to the fact that many have lost their soul, and hence their way. We have abandoned genuine goodness and benevolence for the fake, glittering and poisonous allure of power and wealth. Many are searching and are told to throw the baby and the bath water out the window, and not to care.

For those who do care, they do not have to look far and wide and search among thousands of people to find someone who personifies any of the Ten Regal Qualities that make a magnanimous leader. We only have to look at one person.

He was born on this day 84 years ago, lives his life by the Ten Qualities and demands nothing in return.

In unreserved gratefulness, we make our wish on this day … LONG LIVE HIS MAJESTY!

-- The Nation 2011-12-05

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RT@RichardBarrow: Heavy traffic reported on the road between Hua Hin/Cha-am & Bangkok. Expect delays on all roads as people return home.

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NACC orders Transport perm-sec Supoj to clarify allegations of graft in 30 days; looking to freeze more of his assets on new evidence/TANN