HM King Bhumibol Named Among 60 Heroes Of Asia

Time Magazine names HM King Bhumibol among 60 Asian Heroes

Time Magazine has named HM King Bhumibol Adulyadej as one among 60 heroes of Asia who it said have shaped destiny and times of Asia throughout the six decades.

In the magazine's special edition to mark its 60 th anniversary since it published Asia Edition, it said HM the King has been inspiration for Thailand and people. He has helped the country go through many political crisis.

"Having sat on the throne for 60 years, he is the world's longest-reigning monarch. His stewardship has been so masterful that in times of crisis Thais invariably turn to one man: King Bhumibol," read the magazine's edition of November 6, 2006.

"Indeed, on two occasions—October 1973 and May 1992—with Thailand descending into chaos, the King, armed only with his moral authority, intervened to end bloodshed."

It also referred to the September coup when the military ousted prime minister Thaksin Shinawatra.

"Today, a group of generals has again seized power. They have pledged to give Thailand a fairer and lasting democratic system. Once more, Thailand's people will look to King Bhumibol, trusting him to ensure that the generals keep their promise," according to the magazine.

Read the full story here

Other Asian Heroes named by the magazine included India's Gandhi and Nehru, Philippine's Corazon Aquino, China's Deng Xiaoping and Tibet's Dalai Lama.

Source: The Nation - 7 November 2006