His Majesty King Bhumibol Adulyadej of Thailand has died

[Jonathan Fairfield]

His Majesty King Bhumibol Adulyadej of Thailand has died

BANGKOK:-- His Majesty King Bhumibol Adulyadej of Thailand has died, it has been announced.

 

The announcement was made shortly before 7pm by the Royal Household Bureau.

 

The 88 year old monarch was the world’s longest reigning and was deeply revered by Thai people.

 

The ninth monarch of the Chakri Dynasty, he had recently been battling a number of ailments at Siriraj hospital in Bangkok.

 

The king was pronounced dead at 15.52.

 

More details to follow

 

 

 

-- © Copyright Thai Visa News 2016-10-13

[webfact]

Thailand's king, world's longest-reigning monarch, dies 
DENIS D. GRAY
TODD PITMAN

BANGKOK (AP) — King Bhumibol Adulyadej, revered in Thailand as a demigod, a humble father figure and an anchor of stability through decades of upheaval at home and abroad, died Thursday.

 

He was 88 and had been the world's longest reigning monarch.

 

The Royal Palace said Bhumibol died "in a peaceful state" at Siriraj Hospital, where he had been treated for various health problems for most of the past decade.

 

During a reign that spanned 70 years, the U.S.-born Bhumibol became much more than Thailand's constitutional monarch. He was the nation's one constant as myriad governments rose and fell, a gentle leader who used the influence of the throne to unify the nation and rally troops through the Cold War as Thailand's neighbors fell under communist control. In his heyday, the frail-looking, soft-spoken man in spectacles wielded so much power and respect, he was able to squelch coups and rebellions with a gesture or a few well-chosen words.

 

Bhumibol was viewed by many in the majority Buddhist nation as a bodhisattva, or holy being who delays entering nirvana to aid the human race. But while junta leaders, prime ministers and courtiers approached him only on their knees, Bhumibol was remarkably down-to-earth. He rolled up his sleeves and hiked into impoverished villages and remote rice paddies to assess the state of his country and help resolve everything from water and food shortages to family squabbles. He played half a dozen musical instruments and jammed with American jazz greats including Benny Goodman.

 

Although not known for having extravagant tastes, he nevertheless lived the elite life of a modern-day king, racing yachts and appearing at official functions clothed in ornate golden robes.

 

Over the last decade, the once vigorous Bhumibol had withdrawn from public life due to a series of illnesses. His wife, Queen Sirikit, has also long been ailing and has been even more rarely seen.

 

The king was often ensconced at a Bangkok hospital, emerging from time to time to gaze across the Chao Phraya River from a special pavilion. He had been notably silent about the political upheaval and protests that have shaken the country in recent years.

 

Since army-staged coups in 2006 and 2014, political rivals had increasingly invoked the need to protect the palace as a pretext to gain or hold power, and some politicians have been sidelined by opponents who accused them of disrespecting the king, a grave crime in this Southeast Asian country. Although Bhumibol once said he is not above criticism, Thailand's lese majeste law — the world's harshest — has been routinely employed in recent years, with anyone charged with defaming the palace facing 15 years in jail.

 

With the king's passing, the world's longest reigning monarch is Queen Elizabeth II, who ascended to the British throne in 1952.

 

Bhumibol Adulyadej (poo-me-pon ah-dun-yaa-det) was born Dec. 5, 1927, in Cambridge, Massachusetts, while his father, Prince Mahidol of Songkhla, was studying medicine at Harvard University.

 

Bhumibol ascended to the throne in 1946, when his brother, 20-year-old King Ananda Mahidol, was found dead of a gunshot wound to the head.

 

After the shooting, Bhumibol returned to Switzerland, where he was studying law and political science. In 1948, he was seriously injured in a driving accident that deprived him of sight in his right eye; Sirikit Kitiyakara, the daughter of a Thai aristocrat and diplomat, helped nurse him back to health.

 

Bhumibol and Sirikit wed in 1950, a week before the king's coronation ceremony. Together they helped bridge East and West, visiting nearly 30 countries early in their reign. Bhumibol addressed the U.S. Congress when Dwight D. Eisenhower was president, dined with French leader Charles de Gaulle and met Elvis Presley on a visit with his queen to a Paramount Studios movie set in 1960.

 

Thailand has been a constitutional monarchy since 1932, with the prime minister and Parliament holding political power, and the king serving as head of state and placed in "a position of revered worship."

 

Although disillusioned in recent years with mounting societal greed, environmental destruction and the sidelining of traditions, the king said he tried to move with the times.

 

"A constitutional monarch must change with the country but at the same time he must keep the spirit of the country," he declared. People may be different, he said, "but the common character of the people must be embodied by the king."

 

For much of his reign, as Thailand hurtled from a traditional agrarian society of 18 million people to a modern, industrializing nation of 70 million, Bhumibol spearheaded thousands of projects aimed at improving life for his people, traveling to the farthest reaches of his nation to join village elders on a patch of grass to discuss the recent harvest or plot an irrigation ditch.

 

The weight of royalty and Bhumibol's work on behalf of Thailand's have-nots won him a following backed up by nightly TV programs that tracked his every move. He remained active until his final years and dispensed funds and advice on everything from deforestation to Bangkok's traffic.

 

"They say that a kingdom is like a pyramid: the king on top and the people below," he once told an Associated Press reporter. "But in this country it's upside down. That's why I sometimes have a pain around here." He pointed to his neck and shoulders.

 

The name Bhumibol means "Strength of the Land," and the bounty of Thailand's soil and waters was the king's passion. In 1952 he set out to breed a better freshwater fish, a staple of the Thai peasantry, in the ponds of his Chitralada Palace in Bangkok. It was the first of more than 4,300 palace-sponsored development projects now blanketing the country.

 

He pioneered work to help eradicate the opium grown by northern hill tribes. "It has become an instrument of destruction ... The drugs subjugate the body, the money subjugates the soul," he said, dipping into his own pocket to start a project to convince the tribes to abandon opium crops for others like tea and coffee.

 

While normally in the background of government theater, the king stepped to the forefront at crucial moments of Thai history.

 

During a pro-democracy uprising in 1973, he ordered the gates of the Grand Palace to be opened to students fleeing the gunfire of troops loyal to a dictatorial triumvirate. The message was clear, and the trio went into exile. In 1992, during another bloody confrontation between the military and pro-democracy protesters, the king called in the two key protagonists, who prostrated themselves before him on nationwide TV and promised peace. The crisis ended immediately.

 

After mass protests against Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra began in 2006, Bhumibol urged the country's top courts to resolve the political crisis. A bloodless military coup followed, and part of the army rationale for intervening was Thaksin's alleged disrespect for the king.

 

Even with Thaksin dispatched, the crisis simmered, with his opponents — the so-called "Yellow Shirts" — claiming the mantle of defending the monarchy. With the country polarized, Queen Sirikit showed her sympathies by attending the funeral of a Yellow Shirt follower killed in protest clashes, undermining the axiom that the throne was above politics.

 

By 2011, the king's health had worsened and Thaksin's sister Yingluck Shinawatra had become prime minister through elections. Mass protests helped fuel an unstable climate that triggered another army coup in 2014.

 

Through it all, Bhumibol himself remained adored and revered. His occasional public outings drew tens of thousands of people into the streets trying to catch a glimpse, with most dressed in the royal color yellow. Many have wept at the sight of his passing motorcade.

 

Much of the admiration is genuine: framed posters, paintings and photographs of the king are ubiquitous in Thai homes and shops, depicting not only an exalted figure in glimmering robes, but also an ordinary-looking man with a camera strapped around his chest. Taxicab windows proclaim "Long Live the King."

 

Bhumibol's birthday is a national holiday. Pedestrians must stop while the royal anthem is played at 8 a.m. and 6 p.m. daily in parks and the mass transit system. In cinemas, a brief film play depicting the impact of Bhumibol's life runs before every movie, and the audience must stand as it is shown.

 

 

-- © Associated Press 2016-10-13

[Jonathan Fairfield]

Thai Prime Minister Prayuth Chan-ocha declares a one-year mourning period for government officials. 

BANGKOK (AP) — Thai Prime Minister Prayuth Chan-ocha declares a one-year mourning period for government officials.

 

 

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King Bhumibol, monarch and father to millions, 88

By Teeranai Charuvastra, Staff Reporter -

King Bhumibol Adulyadej at Siriraj Hospital in a file photo.

 

BANGKOK — King Bhumibol Adulyadej, an obscure princeling born afar who became patriarch of Thailand, died Thursday in Bangkok at 88, ending his unprecedented reign of 70 years.

 

Years of poor health during which His Majesty was mostly confined to Siriraj Hospital, away from the eyes of a public which kept looking for him to be a unifying figure in his riven kingdom, ended at 3.52pm, according to a statement by the Royal Household Bureau, which did not specify the cause of his death.

 

Read more: http://www.khaosodenglish.com/politics/2016/10/13/king-bhumibol-monarch-father-millions-88/

 

-- © Copyright Khaosod English 2016-10-13

[webfact]

Thailand's King Bhumibol Adulyadej dies at 88

 

BANGKOK: -- Thailand's King Bhumibol Adulyadej, the world's longest-reigning monarch, has died after 70 years on the throne, the palace says.

 

The king, 88, was widely revered in Thailand. He was seen as a stabilising figure in a country hit by cycles of political turmoil and multiple coups.

 

He had been in poor health in recent years and made few public appearances.

 

The king's death comes as Thailand remains under military rule following a coup in 2014.

 

Read more: http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-asia-37643326

 

-- © Copyright BBC 2016-10-13

 

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Thai premier says crown prince will be monarch 

Crown Prince Maha Vajiralongkorn 

 

BANGKOK (AP) — Thai Prime Minister Prayuth Chan-ocha says Crown Prince Maha Vajiralongkorn will become the new monarch after the death of his father in accordance with the constitution.

 

He said the crown prince was designated the successor to the crown on Dec. 28, 2002.

 

"We the government must proceed with the next steps in accordance with the law," he said.

 

He said the government will notify the National Legislative Assembly, or parliament, of the king's successor, and they will act accordingly with the laws of succession in the constitution.

 

Prayuth added that the government will observe one year of mourning and flags will fly at half-staff for 30 days. No government events will be held for 30 days, he said.

 

7:10 p.m:

 

Thai Prime Minister Prayuth Chan-ocha has declared a one-year mourning period for the government following the death of King Bhumibol Adulyadej.

 

In a common broadcast carried by all Thai TV channels, Prayuth said the king's death Thursday is a tragedy for the people of Thailand.

 

"He was a king that was loved and adored by all. The reign of the king has ended and his kindness cannot be found anywhere else," Prayuth said.

 

 

-- © Associated Press 2016-10-13

[webfact]

KINGDOM GRIEVES

Nation weeps over His Majesty's departure

The Nation 

 

His Majesty the King passed away, the Royal Household Bureau announced.

The bureau announced that His Majesty passed away at 3:52 pm at the age of 89.

His Majesty has been hospitalized for years.

 

Read more:  http://www.nationmultimedia.com/breakingnews/Nation-weeps-over-His-Majestys-departure-30297635.html

 

-- © Copyright The Nation 2016-10-13

[webfact]

Government agencies fly half-mast for one month

The Nation 

 

The PM’s Office announced that government agencies nationwide were ordered to fly half-mast for 30 days following His Majesty the King’s death.

 

Read more: http://www.nationmultimedia.com/breakingnews/Government-agencies-fly-half-mast-for-one-month-30297636.html

 

-- © Copyright The Nation 2016-10-13

[webfact]

PM calls on all sectors to refrain holding entertainment for one month

The Nation 

 

Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha went on TV to urge all sectors in the society to refrain from holding entertainment activities for one month.

 

Full story: http://www.nationmultimedia.com/breakingnews/PM-calls-on-all-sectors-to-refrain-holding-enterta-30297637.html

 

-- © Copyright The Nation 2016-10-13

[webfact]

Prayut call for year of mourning for King

By Pravit Rojanaphruk

 

Prime Minister Gen. Prayuth Chan-o-cha speaks on television Thursday evening.

 

BANGKOK — Prime Minister Gen. Prayuth Chan-ocha urged the public to wear mourning clothes for a period of one year to mourn the death of His Majesty the King in a televised address Thursday evening.

 

The Prime Minister’s Office earlier announced at 7:03pm that stating that flags will be flown at half-mast for 30 days.

 

Read more: http://www.khaosodenglish.com/news/2016/10/13/prayuth-calls-year-mourning-king/

 

-- © Copyright Khaosod English 2016-10-13

[webfact]

HM the King passes away

 

 

His Majesty the King passed away peacefully at 3.52 pm on Wednesday at Siriraj hospital, the Bureau of the Royal Household announced Thursday night.

 

According to the announcement, HM the King was admitted to Siriraj hospital for medical treatment since October 3, 2014. Doctors had tried their best to treat the King, but his condition did not improve and steadily deteriorated until Thursday October 13 when the King passed away peacefully at Siriraj hospital.

 

The world’s longest-reigning monarch, HM the King ruled for 70 years. He was 88 and would have turned 89 on December 5 this year.

 

 

Source: http://englishnews.thaipbs.or.th/hm-king-passes-away/

 

-- © Copyright Thai PBS 2016-10-13

[webfact]

Flags lowered at half-mast for 30 days as nation mourns

 

 

The government has ordered all offices of the government, state enterprises and educational institutions to lower the national flags at half-mast for 30 days starting Friday October 14, according to an announcement of the Prime Minister’s Office.

 

All government officials and workers of all state enterprises were also told observe mourning for one year beginning October 14.

 

As for members of the public, the announcement said they were told to exercise their discretion to act as they think appropriate.

 

Source: http://englishnews.thaipbs.or.th/flags-lowered-half-mast-30-days-nation-mourns/

 

-- © Copyright Thai PBS 2016-10-13

 

[Jonathan Fairfield]

Medical staff and officials gathered at Siriraj hospital earlier today for a very moving version of Sansoen Phra Barami

 

 

 

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Heir to the Throne to succeed His Majesty: Prayut

The Nation 

 

Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha announced that the Heir to the Throne will succeed His Majesty the King after his death.

 

"The government will proceed with the succession. The government will inform the National Legislative Assembly that His Majesty the King appointed his heir on Dec 28, 1972," Prayut said in a statement broadcast on all television channels.

 

Read more: http://www.nationmultimedia.com/breakingnews/Heir-to-the-Throne-to-succeed-His-Majesty-Prayut-30297638.html

 

-- © Copyright The Nation 2016-10-13

[webfact]

His Majesty the King Bhumibol Adulyadej, World’s Longest-Reigning Monarch, Passes Away

 

BANGKOK – Thailand’s Royal Palace says His Majesty the King BhumibolAdulyadej, the world’s longest-reigning monarch, has passed away peacefully on Thursday October 13th, 2016  at Bangkok’s Siriraj Hospital at age 88.

 

“Even though the board of doctors has closely monitored and treated him to the best of its abilities, the king’s condition never improved but deteriorated until Thursday,” it said in a statement.

 

Full story: http://www.chiangraitimes.com/his-majesty-the-king-bhumibol-adulyadej-worlds-longest-reigning-monarch-passes-away.html

 

-- © Copyright Chiang Rai Times 2016-10-13

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Thailand’s King Bhumibol: a steady hand amid turbulent times

Chris Cummins

 

 

BANGKOK: -- Revered in Thailand as a semi-divine, stabilising influence, King Bhumibol, known as Rama IX, say his country through from the aftermath of World War II to the age of social media becoming the world’s longest serving monarch.

 

In the process he reigned through numerous military coups and 19 constitutional changes, during his long reign.

 

King Bhumibol acceded to the throne in 1946 after his brother 20-year-old King Ananda, was found shot dead in his bed in mysterious circumstances.

 

King Bhumibol worked hard to restore the Thai monarchy to its former cherished status, which had been damaged by the abdication of his uncle in 1932.

 

In his early years Rama IX had been dominated by a powerful military hierarchy, but backed by his allies he reestablished the monarchy touring Thailand’s far flung provinces and focusing his efforts on agricultural development.

 

In 2006 his work was recognised by the UN and he was presented with the first Human Development Lifetime Achievement Award.

Political turmoil has been a part of the kings reign.

 

His first major intervention happened in 1973 when democracy demonstrators were fired on by the military the king allowed them to shelter in the royal palace.

 

During the chaos of the past decade supporters of ousted Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra accused senior royal advisors of plotting against the businessman politician. The stand off led to Bhumibol being accused of endorsing military takeovers and turning a blind eye to human rights abuses.

 

The king refused to get involved directly, but his influence was a factor when Thaksin’s election victory was annulled by the courts.

The king has suffered ill health for a number of years and has spent a good deal of time in hospital.

 

In his younger days he was an active individual enjoying photography, song writing and painting.

 

His health suffered its first set back in 1948 when his car collided with a truck between Geneva and Lausanne in Switzerland and he lost the sight in one eye and seriously injured his back.

 

The future of the Thai monarchy now lies in the hands of the Maha Vajiralongkorn the Crown Prince of Thailand.

 

A man described by the Economist as “unpredictable to the point of eccentricity.”

 

-- © Copyright Euronews 2016-10-13

 

 

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October 13 will be remembered by Thais like October 23: Prayut

The Nation 

 

Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha said Thais will remember October 13 with love like how they remember October 23 of every year.

 

In his TV statement following His Majesty the King's death, Prayut said October 13 this year saw an incident that Thais did not even want to think about or want to hear.

 

Read more: http://www.nationmultimedia.com/breakingnews/October-13-will-be-remembered-by-Thais-like-Octobe-30297639.html

 

-- © Copyright The Nation 2016-10-13

 

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Prayut urges Thai to pursue His Majesty’s wish

The Nation 

 

Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha said Thais should pursue His Majesty the King’s wish to see the country become prosper with the people having peace and mercy and friendship toward each other.

 

"Although we are grieving, Thailand that we love and that is loved by His Majesty must go on. We should not let this death disrupt His Majesty's wish to see his kingdom prosper to see his subjects having peace and happiness and having mercy and friendship toward one another," Prayut said.

 

Full story: http://www.nationmultimedia.com/breakingnews/Prayut-urges-Thai-to-pursue-His-Majestys-wish-30297640.html

 

-- © Copyright The Nation 2016-10-13

[Jonathan Fairfield]

Advisory for foreigners in Thailand
Thailand

13 October 2016

 

Summary – following the official announcement of the death of His Majesty King Bhumibol Adulyadej there is now an official period of mourning of one year from 14 October 2016; you should respect the feelings and sensitivities of the Thai people at this time; access to entertainment, including restaurants, bars, and shopping areas may be restricted and you should behave respectfully when in public areas; if possible, wear sombre and respectful clothing when in public; check local media regularly and follow the advice of the local authorities

Source https://www.gov.uk/foreign-travel-advice/thailand

[Jonathan Fairfield]

 

[Jonathan Fairfield]

Thais gripped by grief after beloved king's death

 

BANGKOK (AP) — Thais wept in grief across the nation Thursday after the palace announced the death of their beloved King Bhumibol Adulyadej, the country's unifying figure and the world's longest-reigning monarch. He was 88.

 

Hundreds of people gathered at Bangkok's Siriraj Hospital, where Bhumibol had been treated for a variety of ailments for much of the past decade. Many sobbed loudly, clutching each other in anguish and shouting "Long live the king."

 

The government announced a 100-day mourning period and a 30-day moratorium on state events. His son, Crown Prince Maha Vajiralongkorn, is to succeed him on the throne.

 

"There is no word to explain my feeling right now," Gaewkarn Fuangtong, a humanitarian worker, said in Bangkok's financial district.

 

"I lost one of the most important people in my life. I feel like I haven't done enough for him. I should have done more. I will do good, do better for his sake."

 

Most Thais had seen no other king in their lifetime and thought of Bhumibol, who reigned for 70 years, as their father and the embodiment of goodness and godliness.

 

Although a constitutional monarch, he wielded enormous political power and served as a unifying figure during Thailand's numerous political crises. But in recent years, he suffered from a variety of illnesses that affected his kidneys, brain, lungs, heart and blood.

 

"Since I was young I saw him work really hard, and now it's hard to explain. I feel numb inside," said Danaiwut Wiroonpiti 26, a photographer who was crying outside the Grand Palace where the king's body will be taken in a procession Friday. "He's the center of all Thai people. It's like we lost the main pillar of our lives, the person who holds us together. I can't hold my tears."

 

Portraits of Bhumibol displayed in most Thai homes and businesses often depict him in arduous travels to remote villages, where he often went to see the situation of his subjects first hand.

 

But recently, whenever Bhumibol appeared in public, he was in wheelchair, waving feebly at his subjects. Even those rare appearances stopped as he became confined to the hospital.

 

Through his illness he was notably silent about the political upheaval that has shaken Thailand in recent years.

 

On Sunday, the palace announced his health had become "unstable," and on Wednesday, Vajiralongkorn rushed back from Germany, Prime Minister Prayuth Chan-ocha canceled a trip abroad and royal family members began gathering at Siriraj hospital.

 

He died a little before 4 p.m. on Thursday, the palace said. His death was announced three hours later in a broadcast carried simultaneously by all TV stations.

 

"Even though the board of doctors has closely monitored and treated him to the best of its abilities, the king's condition never improved," the palace said in a statement. It said he passed away peacefully.

 

"He is now in heaven and may be looking over Thai citizens from there," Prayuth said in a statement. "He was a king that was loved and adored by all. The reign of the king has ended and his kindness cannot be found anywhere else."

 

Bhumibol Adulyadej (pronounced poo-mee-pon ah-dun-yaa-det) became king in 1946. He anchored the Southeast Asian country through violent upheavals at home and communist revolutions next door with a blend of majesty and a common touch.

 

There is great concern about the succession, since Vajiralongkorn has not earned the same respect as his father.

 

A special meeting of the National Legislative Assembly, Thailand's parliament, was planned late Thursday.

 

-- © Associated Press 2016-10-13

[Jonathan Fairfield]

King Bhumibol was Thailand's lone constant amid rapid change 
 

BANGKOK (AP) — King Bhumibol Adulyadej was Thailand's lone constant as the country hurtled from a traditional agrarian society to a modern, industrializing nation, and as myriad governments rose and fell.

 

His loss is deeply felt by Thai people, who begin a period of extended mourning for the only monarch most of them have ever known.

 

He was the world's longest-reigning monarch, on the throne for 70 years. He was widely viewed among his people as a gentle leader who used the influence of the throne to unify the nation and rally troops through the Cold War as Thailand's neighbors fell under communist control. He squelched coups and rebellions with a gesture or a few well-chosen words.

 

Though junta leaders, prime ministers and courtiers approached him only on their knees, Bhumibol was remarkably down-to-earth. He rolled up his sleeves and hiked into impoverished villages and remote rice paddies to assess the state of his country.

 

Framed posters, paintings and photographs of the king are ubiquitous in Thai homes and shops, depicting not only an exalted figure in glimmering robes, but also an ordinary-looking man with a camera strapped around his chest. Taxicab windows proclaim "Long Live the King."

 

The king's heir apparent is his son, Crown Prince Vajiralongkorn, though there are other possible candidates for succession. Bhumibol had the constitutional right to appoint a successor, but it was not immediately known whether he had done so.

 

 

-- © Associated Press 2016-10-13

[Jonathan Fairfield]

Crown Prince Vajiralongkorn Proclaimed King Rama X

Crown Prince Vajiralongkorn rides a bicycle on Aug. 16, 2015, during a cycling event in Bangkok dedicated to his mother Queen Sirikit.

BANGKOK — “Dear all Thai people, His Majesty the King Bhumibol Adulyadej, the Ninth of His Dynasty, has passed away. Long live His Majesty the King of the New Reign.”

 

In the tradition of ‘Le roi est mort, vive le roi,’ junta chairman Prayuth Chan-ocha addressed the nation with those words Thursday evening on national TV following the death of King Bhumibol. I

 

n the same speech he announced the late king would be succeeded by his 64-year-old son, Crown Prince Vajiralongkorn.

 

King Bhumibol died at 88 on Thursday at Siriraj Hospital. He had ruled the nation for 70 years, longer than any monarch in Thai history.

 

Full story: http://www.khaosodenglish.com/politics/2016/10/13/crown-prince-vajiralongkorn-proclaimed-king-rama-x/

 

 

-- © Copyright Khaosod English 2016-10-13

[Jonathan Fairfield]

Japan's premier in 'deep sorrow' for Thai king 

 

BANGKOK (AP) — The Latest on the death of Thailand's King Bhumibol, the world's longest-reigning monarch, (all times local):

 

9 p.m.

 

Japan's Prime Minister Shinzo Abe said he was in "deep sorrow" at the death of Thailand's King Bhumibol Aduyadej, and remembered him as a gentle person.

 

"On behalf of the government of Japan and its people, I express my sincerest condolences," Abe said in a message released following the king's death Thursday. "I remember King Bhumibol as a highly gifted and gentle person."

 

He praised the king for his contribution in lifting Thailand's economy.

 

"As a spiritual support for the people, His Majesty has led Thailand's remarkable development and advancement of the people's living standard," Abe said.

 

Japan's Emperor Akihito visited Thailand in 1991 in his first trip abroad after ascending to the throne.

 

"The king's great contribution in deepening friendship between Japan and Thailand will be remembered by all Japanese people," he said.

___

 

9 p.m.

 

India's Prime Minister Narendra Modi tweeted a condolence message after the death Thursday of Thailand's king.

 

"People of India and I join the people of Thailand in grieving the loss of one of the tallest leaders of our times, King Bhumibol Adulyadej," he wrote.

 

Modi said his thoughts were with the king's family and others.

 

 

 

 

 

[Jonathan Fairfield]

 

[Jonathan Fairfield]

 

 

 

 

 

 

[Jonathan Fairfield]

The White House
Office of the Press Secretary
For Immediate ReleaseOctober 13, 2016
 

Statement by the President on the Passing of His Majesty King Bhumibol Adulyadej

 

On behalf of the people of the United States, I offer my heartfelt condolences to Her Majesty Queen Sirikit, her children and grandchildren, and the people of Thailand on the passing of His Majesty King Bhumibol Adulyadej.  

 

His Majesty the King was a close friend of the United States and a valued partner of many U.S. Presidents.  I had the honor of calling on His Majesty the King during my visit to Thailand in 2012, and recall his grace and warmth, as well as his deep affection and compassion for the Thai people.

 

As the revered leader and only monarch that most Thais have ever known, His Majesty was a tireless champion of his country's development and demonstrated unflagging devotion to improving the standard of living of the Thai people.  With a creative spirit and a drive for innovation, he pioneered new technologies that have rightfully received worldwide acclaim.  His Majesty leaves a legacy of care for the Thai people that will be cherished by future generations.

 

The American people and I stand with the people of Thailand as we mourn His Majesty the King's passing, and today we hold the Thai people in our thoughts and prayers. 

 

Source: https://www.whitehouse.gov/the-press-office/2016/10/13/statement-president-passing-his-majesty-king-bhumibol-adulyadej

[Jonathan Fairfield]

TIMELINE: Reign of Thai king saw great change, dozens of governments 

 

BANGKOK (AP) — The 70-year reign of Thailand's King Bhumibol Adulyadej spanned coups, insurgencies and dozens of national governments. Some key moments from his life and times:

 

Dec. 5, 1927: Born in Cambridge, Massachusetts, while his father was studying medicine at Harvard University.

 

1932: Bloodless revolution ends centuries of absolute monarchy and ushers in constitutional rule.

 

1946: The then-monarch, Bhumibol's older brother Ananda, is found dead from a gunshot under still-mysterious circumstances, and Bhumibol is named successor.

 

1950: Bhumibol marries Queen Sirikit and is coronated. A Broadway musical features his musical composition, "Blue Day."

 

1952: King initiates the first of what will become thousands of royal projects to fight poverty, disease, environmental destruction and drug trafficking. The first of the couple's four children is born.

 

1957: Field Marshal Sarit Thanarat seizes and holds power for six years as king gains political maturity and prestige.

 

1967: King and queen visit the United States and Canada, the last of his many foreign trips. He voices support for U.S. in the Vietnam War.

 

1973: King intervenes to halt bloodshed as students rise up against a military dictatorship.

 

1989: Bhumibol becomes world's longest reigning living monarch.

 

1992: King ends bloody clashes between troops and pro-democracy demonstrators.

 

1993: One of the king's many inventions, a waste water aerator, receives patent No. 3127.

 

2004: King advocates "gentle approach" as Muslim militants begin bloody insurgency in southern Thailand.

 

June 2006: Celebrations of his 60th year on the throne include visits by royals from 25 countries.

 

September 2006: Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra is overthrown in a military coup, which the king endorses afterward.

 

October 2007: King is hospitalized and treated for a blood clot.

 

February 2008: Civilian rule restored following general elections.

 

November 2008: Anti-government, pro-monarchy protesters seize Bangkok's international airport, stranding thousands of tourists.

 

April 2009: Demonstrators storm an Asian summit in Pattaya, and Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva calls in troops to stop street violence in Bangkok.

 

September 2009: Bhumibol is hospitalized, initially for a lung infection.

 

2010: Weeks of street protests against Abhisit's government end with violence and a military crackdown. At least 90 people are killed.

 

July 2011: Abhisit's political party loses elections, and Thaksin's sister, Yingluck, forms a new government.

 

November 2011: Princess says the king suffered a bleeding episode, possibly due to stress from a flooding crisis affecting his country.

 

May 2014: Army leads a coup against Yingluck's elected government, and Gen. Prayuth Chan-ocha takes charge. He still governs as prime minister.

 

May 2015: Bhumibol makes a public appearance to mark the 65th anniversary of his coronation, emerging from the hospital by wheelchair and being driven to the Grand Palace.

 

June 2016: Bhumibol mark his 70th year on the throne — from his hospital bed due to ill health.

 

August 2016: Thai voters approve a junta-backed constitution that lays the foundation for a civilian government influenced by the military and controlled by appointed, rather than elected, officials.

 

Oct. 10, 2016: Royal Palace announces the health of the king has deteriorated and his condition is unstable.

 

Oct. 13, 2016: Bhumibol dies at age 88.

 

 

-- © Associated Press 2016-10-13

[Jonathan Fairfield]

 

 

[Jonathan Fairfield]

BANGKOK (AP) — Thai prime minister says crown prince has asked for delay in proclaiming him king so he can mourn with rest of nation.