His Majesty urges Thais to perform duties for sake of nation

[webfact]

His Majesty urges Thais to perform duties for sake of nation
The Nation



HUA HIN: -- His Majesty the King Thursday urges all Thais to perform their duties by taking the benefits and unity of the nation into account.

In the birthday message delivered at the Rajapracha Samakhom Pavillion of Klai Kanwon Palace in Hua Hin, His Majesty said Thailand has been peaceful because of Thais’ unity and the love for the country.

So, all Thais should perform their duties according to their professions for the sake, stability, happiness of the whole country, His Majesty said.

His Majesty also thanked Royal Family members, government officials, military officials and parliamentarians and Thais for gathering to wish him well on the birthday anniversary.

When His Majesty's motorcade passed on Petchakasem road in front of the Klai Kangwon Palace to the Rajapracha Samakhom Pavilion from the Pium Suk Pavilion at 10.12am, people shouted "Long Live the King" repeatedly and waved flags.

His Majesty made the public appearance at the Rajapracha Samakhom Pavillion at 10:34 am. The event was broadcast live on TV Pool.

Troops on a warship and on the shore fired salutes in honour of His Majesty.

His Royal Highness Crown Prince Maha Vajiralongkorn represented Royal Family members to wish His Majesty happy birthday and good health at 10:42 am.

Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra represented the government and Thai people to wish His Majesty the King a happy birthday.

The prime minister also expressed appreciation for His Majesty's woks for Thai people.

Parliament President Somsak Kiarsuranont also wished His Majesty well on behalf of parliamentarians and Thais.

Supreme Commander General Thanasak Pratimapakorn then led military officers to take an oath to be loyal to His Majesty.

When His Majesty returned to the Pium Suk Pavilion, Thais waiting outside shouted "Long Live the King" repeatedly. Several were seen with tears in their eyes.


-- The Nation 2013-12-05

[webfact]

Thai king asks nation to work together for 'stability'

BANGKOK, December 5, 2013 (AFP) - Thailand's revered King Bhumibol Adulyadej asked the nation to work together for "stability", speaking at an event to mark his 86th birthday during a lull in political tensions after violent anti-government protests.

The monarch, who is treated as a near-deity by many Thais, said the country was peaceful because "everybody worked together" during a formal ceremony attended by embattled Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra.

"Every Thai should be aware of this and should perform their role for the benefit of the country, which is the stability and security of the country," he said in a speech broadcast on all Thai television channels.


-- (c) Copyright AFP 2013-12-05

[webfact]

Thai king calls for unity
King Bhumibol Adulyadej asks nation to work together for stability, as rivals hold a truce for their monarch's birthday.

Thailand's King Bhumibol Adulyadej has asked the nation to work together for stability, as protests give way to celebrations as people marked the monarch's birthday.

Cheering crowds lined the streets to celebrate the 86th birthday of Thailand's revered king near his seaside palace on Thursday, an event marked with a lull in tensions after violent political protests.

"To bring happiness to this country, everyone has to do the right thing," the king said in his brief address.

"We have our duty and we all know our roles.For the benefit of our country, Thai people must be aware and must pay attention to this duty, for the good of the nation and its security."

Thailand remains on edge following days of street clashes between police and protesters bent on overthrowing Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra and curbing the political influence of her brother Thaksin.

Protesters and police in Bangkok observed a temporary truce Wednesday in a dramatic move ahead of the birthday celebrations for King Bhumibol, who is treated as a near-deity by many Thais.

Full story: http://www.aljazeera.com/news/asia-pacific/2013/12/thai-king-calls-unity-201312543037348170.html

-- ALJAZEERA 2013-12-05

[webfact]

Thai king appeals for stability after violent protests
by Thanaporn PROMYAMYAI

BANGKOK, December 5, 2013 (AFP) - Thailand's revered King Bhumibol Adulyadej urged the nation to work together for "stability" in a speech Thursday on his 86th birthday, marked with a lull in tensions after violent anti-government protests.

The kingdom remains on edge following several days of street clashes during demonstrations aimed at overthrowing Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra and curbing the political influence of her brother Thaksin.

Demonstrators and police in Bangkok have been observing a temporary truce since Wednesday ahead of the birthday celebrations for King Bhumibol, who is treated as a near-deity by many Thais.

At a formal ceremony attended by Thai dignitaries including the embattled premier, her political rivals and the nation's military heads, the king said the country "has been peaceful for a long time because everybody worked together".

"Every Thai should be aware of this and should perform their role for the benefit of the country, which is the stability and security of the country," he said in the speech broadcast on all Thai television channels.

The streets near the king's seaside palace were a sea of yellow Thursday as thousands of people wearing his signature colour turned out to celebrate in the central coastal town of Hua Hin, where he has lived since leaving hospital in August.

Weeping supporters shouted "long live the King!" and waved Thai national flags as the royal convoy made a brief tour of the town's streets before returning to the palace.

Crown Prince Maha Vajiralongkorn and Yingluck both made speeches in praise of the monarch at the solemn birthday ceremony, the first to be held in Hua Hin.

Demonstrators, who cleaned up a key rally site in old Bangkok in preparation for the birthday festivities, have vowed to pause in reverence on Thursday but to resume their street action on Friday.

King Bhumibol, the world's longest-serving monarch, has suffered from a range of ailments in recent years, but left the Bangkok hospital where he had lived since 2009 to move to his Hua Hin palace with Queen Sirikit earlier this year.

Any political action or violence on his birthday would be viewed as a serious sign of disrespect.

Thailand has been periodically rocked by sometimes bloody unrest since former premier Thaksin was deposed by royalist generals in a coup seven years ago.

Police fired tear gas, rubber bullets and water cannon to repel protesters trying to occupy key ministries in the unrest at the weekend, which left five dead and over 200 injured.

The long-running political conflict broadly pits a Bangkok-based middle class and royalist elite backed by the military, against rural and working-class voters loyal to Thaksin, a billionaire businessman-turned-populist politician.

The recent protests mark the biggest clashes since dozens of people were killed in a crackdown on mass pro-Thaksin rallies in Bangkok three years ago.

The demonstrations are aimed at toppling Yingluck's government and replacing it with an unelected "people's council".

They were triggered by an amnesty bill, since abandoned by Yingluck's ruling party, which opponents feared would have allowed Thaksin to return to his home country. He fled in 2008 to avoid jail for a corruption conviction he contends is politically motivated.


-- (c) Copyright AFP 2013-12-05

[webfact]

HM the King urges Thais to keep unity for long-term happiness



PRACHUAP KHIRI KHAN, 5 December 2013 (NNT) -His Majesty the King today reminded Thai people of the country’s long-established happiness which has been the result of their unity and responsibilities to perform respective duties supportive to each other.

The statement was contained in His Majesty’s address to hundreds of thousands of well wishers who gathered around the Ratchapracha Samakhom Pavilion in Klai Kangwon Palace, Prachuap Khiri Khan province, to greet and offer best wishes to His Majesty the King on his 86th birthday anniversary.

Seated on the Phuttan Kanchanasinghat Throne in the main hall of the pavilion, His Majesty granted an audience to members of the Royal Families, the Prime Minister and her Cabinet, parliamentarians, members of the Royal Thai Armed Forces, as well as the general public. In the televised royal audience on Thursday morning, His Majesty the King asked Thais to behave and work appropriately to keep the nation safe and stable.

This was the first year that His Majesty King Bhumibol Adulyadej granted an audience to well wishers on His Birthday, December 5, outside the capital. During His Majesty’s grand public audience, HRH the Crown Prince offered his humble best wishes and congratulations to His Majesty on behalf of the Royal Family while Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra paid tributes on behalf of the Cabinet, government officials and Thai people. The Parliament President also offered felicitations on behalf of the judiciary and parliamentarians, followed by the oath taking by the Royal Guards led by the Supreme Commander of the Royal Thai Armed Forces.

-- NNT 2013-12-05

[webfact]

King urges unity in the country



HUA HIN: -- His Majesty the King Thursday told all Thai people to realize happiness and national unity that the country had enjoyed for a long time, and urged that they work for the sake of peace and stability in the country.

In the King’s brief speech to the public audience at Klai Kangwon Palace, he said unity and happiness had been with the country for a long time when Thai people regarded national interest in performing their duties.

He urged that all Thais should realize these seriously, and that they should behave and perform in accordance with their duties and positions for the sake of national stability and unity.

During the speech, His Majesty the King paused for almost a minute before he said the words “unity and happiness” to the people.

Earlier in the morning several tens of thousands of flag-waving well-wishers shouted “long live the king” as His Majesty the King’s motorcade passed slowly in front of the Klai Kangwon Palace to the Rajapracha Samakhom Pavillion at 10.20 am. Thusday.

The motorcade arrived at the pavilion at 10.20 a.m.

The King travelled from the Pium Suk Pavilion to the Rajapracha Samakhom Pavilion for a public appearance at 10.30 a.m.

His Royal Highness Crown Prince Maha Vajiralongkorn represented members of the Royal Family to wish His Majesty the King happy birthday and good health.

Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra was next to wish the King, She represented the government and Thai people to wish His Majesty th King a happy birthday at 10.42 a.m. She expressed appreciation for His Majesty the King’s work.

Parliament President Somsak Kiartsuranont later represented the lawmakers to wish His Majesty happy birthday.

Source: http://englishnews.thaipbs.or.th/king-urges-unity-country/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=king-urges-unity-country

-- Thai PBS 2013-12-05

[webfact]

Speech (no English subtitles)

[Lite Beer]

King urges Thais to perform duty for national interest
By English News

HUA HIN, Dec 5 - Thailand's King Bhumibol Adulyadej urged all Thais to do their duty for the national interest, stability and unity in his birthday address today.

In his 86th birthday speech, the King thanked all Thais for their blessings and reminded them of their duty to the country.

"Thailand has been peaceful for a long period of time because the Thai people are united and perform their duty accordingly for the national interest," the monarch said.

His Majesty emphasised that Thais should realise this principle and continue performing their assigned duty for the national interest, stability and security.

The monarch granted an audience to members of the royal family, cabinet members, the parliament speaker as well as senior civil servants and military top brass at Rajpracha Samakhom Pavilion this morning in a rare public audience and the first time outside the capital.

The royal guards of honour pledged an oath of allegiance to HM the King. The three armed forces fired a 21-gun salute in honour of the monarch.

A large number of well-wishers lined up along the route outside the Klai Kangwon Palace since last night to get a glimpse of the monarch. As the King's motorcade passed by, the well wishers chanted "Long Live the King" to show their love and respect for the monarch.

The capital city of Bangkok marred by street clashes between police and anti-government protesters near the prime minister's office returned to normal since Wednesday in preparation to celebrate their beloved monarch's birthday.

King Bhumibol, the world's longest-reigning monarch, is a guiding light and unifying figure for his subjects in time of crises in the past.

Britain's Queen Elizabeth II sent goodwill message to King Bhumibol for his 86th birthday.

"I have been very pleased to see relations between our two countries and our people grow even stronger over the past year, I send you my very best wishes for continued happiness and prosperity," the Queen said.

United States President Barack Obama yesterday also sent goodwill messages to the Thai monarch.

"President Obama offers his warmest congratulations to His Majesty on behalf of the American people on the occasion of his birthday today," said a statement posted on the website of the US embassy in Bangkok. (MCOT online news)

-- TNA 2013-12-05