His Majesty King Bhumibol Adulyadej of Thailand has died

[Jonathan Fairfield]

US, European officials send Thailand condolences 

 

BANGKOK (AP) — Secretary of State John Kerry says the United States "stands with the people of Thailand at this difficult time" after the death of its king.

 

Kerry said in a statement Thursday, "Our thoughts and prayers are with you."

 

King Bhumibol Adulyadej was born in the U.S. Kerry said that a square named for Bhumibol at his birthplace in Cambridge, Massachusetts, "will remain an enduring memorial to the special bond he created between our peoples.

 

He will be long remembered and will be deeply missed."

 

Massachusetts is Kerry's home state.

 

Although U.S.-Thai relations ties have been strained since a 2014 military coup in Thailand, the two nations are close allies and have diplomatic relations dating back more than 180 years. Bhumibol visited the U.S. twice in the 1960s and addressed Congress.

European leaders are expressing sympathy following the death of Thailand's king on Thursday.

 

British Prime Minister Theresa May issued a statement expressing "my sincere personal condolences to the royal family and the people of Thailand on the death of His Majesty King Bhumibol Adulyadej."

 

"His Majesty guided the Kingdom of Thailand with dignity, dedication and vision throughout his life. He will be greatly missed," she said.

 

Swedish Prime Minister Stefan Lofven told Sweden's TT news agency, "My condolences to the royal family but also to the whole Thai people. King Bhumibol has meant a lot to the Thai people. That one can notice when in Thailand."

 

Finland's Foreign Minister Timo Soini tweeted: "I'm deeply saddened to receive the news about the passing of His Majesty the King; sincere condolences to the people of Thailand."

 

The Philippines says it is mourning Thailand's King Bhumibol Adulyadej.

 

The king, who died Thursday, was "the guiding hand behind the emergence of Thailand as one of the most progressive countries in the whole of Asia," said presidential spokesman Ernesto Abella.

 

 

The statement issued on behalf of Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte and the Filipino people said they extended their deepest condolences to his family and those the king left behind.

 

President Barack Obama is offering his condolences to Thailand on the death of its king.

 

Obama says King Bhumibol Adulyadej was a tireless champion of his country's development and also showed an "unflagging devotion" to improving the standard of living for the Thai people.

 

The king died Thursday at age 88 after his health declined.

 

Obama says the king was a close friend of the United States and a valued partner of many U.S. presidents. He recalled meeting the king during a 2012 visit to Thailand.

 

Obama says the king leaves behind a legacy of care for the Thai people that future generations will cherish.

 

-- © Associated Press 2016-10-13

[Jonathan Fairfield]

Likely impact of Thai king's death economy unclear 

 

BANGKOK (AP) — Thailand's stock market and currency were shaken as long-ailing King Bhumibol Adulyadej's health worsened this week.

 

Now, after his death Thursday at age 88, the outlook remains murky. Here are a few of the key factors and indicators to watch for:

 

SHARE PRICES: Thai stocks slid after the Royal Palace announced that Bhumibol's condition was unstable, the first time it had used that phrase regarding the king's health. On Wednesday the benchmark fell nearly 7 percent but ended down 4.1 percent. The market could be roiled by a sell-off of assets by palace officials or other members of the political elite.

 

THAI BAHT: Thailand's currency was trading at 35.69 baht to the U.S. dollar on Thursday. It fell 1.1 percent on Wednesday and 0.2 percent on Thursday. But such gyrations do not compare with the loss in the baht's value triggered by speculative attacks that triggered a region-wide financial crisis in 1997.

 

ECONOMY ON EDGE: Bhumibol was a constitutional monarch with no formal political role, but was regarded as a unifying figure amid Thailand's perennial political turmoil. Many analysts expect the country to remain calm, as Thais focus on mourning. Few are likely to want trouble with the military junta. But there is concern over the succession, since the king's son, Crown Prince Vajiralongkorn, has not earned the same respect as his father.

 

UNCERTAINTIES: While most analysts expect Thailand's transition to be a stable one, the country remains prone to political upheavals, with affluent urban centers and poorer rural areas. The military has overthrown civilian, democratically elected governments twice in the past decade, though the situation has been relatively calm since the last coup in 2014. Another spate of protests could hurt the tourism sector, which accounts for a tenth of the

 

GDP. In the longer term, past upheavals already have damaged the country's competitiveness as infrastructure projects stalled and investors held back, wary of uncertainty. "The lack of investment is undermining the economy's future productive capacity," Krystal Tan and Gareth Leather of Capital Economics wrote in a recent report. "The bottom line is that it is difficult to be upbeat about Thailand's medium-term outlook until the political picture becomes clearer."

 

 

-- © Associated Press 2016-10-13

[Jonathan Fairfield]

PM says Thai crown prince wants time to mourn 

 

BANGKOK (AP):-- Thailand's prime minister says the crown prince Maha Vajiralongkorn has asked for a delay in proclaiming him king so that he can take time to mourn along with the people of Thailand.

 

Prime Minister Prayuth Chan-ocha told reporters that he had an audience with the prince on Thursday, hours after the death of King Bhumibol Adulyadej.

 

"He said at present, he is the heir apparent. But he would like to take some time to mourn, together with the people of Thailand," Prayuth said.

 

Vajiralongkorn was named the heir apparent in 1972 by the king, and according to the constitution should ascend the throne as the constitutional monarch after approval by the National Assembly, which is a formality under the constitution.

 

 

-- © Associated Press 2016-10-13

[Jonathan Fairfield]

PM: King’s passing way is the biggest loss and sorrow for Thais

 

 

BANGKOK:-- His Majesty the King’s passing away on Thursday is the biggest loss and sorrow for the Thai people throughout the country since the demise of King Rama VIII or King Anand on June 9, 1946, said Prime Minister Prayut Chan-ocha on Thursday night.

 

“Today what the Thai people didn’t want to think about and wished about has arrived when the Bureau of the Royal Household formally announced the passing away of HM the King,” said the prime minister in his nationwide address.

 

“October 13 should be a day that will be remembered in our memory for a long time to come like King Chulalongkorn Day on October 23 of every year,” said, adding that, for the past 70 years since the end of the Second World

War when Thailand was struggling to recover from the war, the King was the source of inspiration for Thai people to confront all the challenges.

 

Now that the King’s 70-year reign has come to an end, the prime minister called on the Thai people to pray for the soul of the beloved King to protect the kingdom and the people and to bring about peace and prosperity for the country.

 

The best way to demonstrate loyalty and sorrow to the King is to follow in his footstep and to carry on with his wishes for independence, sovereignty and prosperity of the country, said General Prayut.

 

The prime minister went on saying the important task of the government is to proceed with provisions in the Constitution and the Palace law regarding the succession issue to ensure that Thailand will continue to be a constitutional democracy with the king as the head of state.

 

Full story: http://englishnews.thaipbs.or.th/pm-kings-passing-way-biggest-loss-sorrow-thais/

 

 

-- © Copyright Thai PBS 2016-10-13

[Jonathan Fairfield]

PM says heir to the throne named December 28, 1972

 

 

BANGKOK:-- Prime Minister Prayut Chan-ocha called a special joint meeting of his cabinet, the National Council for Peace and Order and the National Legislative Assembly at the Government House on Thursday night.

 

No details were available about the issues being discussed at the special meeting.

 

Earlier, the prime minister said in his nationwide address that there are two important tasks that the government would have to undertake – one is about the succession to the throne issue and the other is the funeral ceremony for HM the King.

 

As for the succession issue, he said there are procedures stated in the constitution and in the Palace law dated B.E. 2467 regarding succession that will have to be followed strictly as well as the Royal tradition regarding succession to ensure the continuation of constitutional democracy with the king as the head of state.

 

Full story: http://englishnews.thaipbs.or.th/pm-says-heir-throne-named-december-28-1972/

 

 

-- © Copyright Thai PBS 2016-10-13

[Jonathan Fairfield]

 

[Jonathan Fairfield]