Happy Birthday, King Bhumibol
December the 5th is the 78th birthday of King Bhumibol Adulyadej of Thailand and is therefore Thai Father’s Day.
To Thais, the King is the father of the Thai nation. He’s been King longer than India has been independent, and has seen the country change from a rural backwater to a major developing economy. Through fascist military coups and brutal repression, he’s been the steadfast figurehead and is genuinely loved by the entire Thai population. You expect portraits of monarch and presidents in government buildings - but in Thailand, every private home has a portrait of the King, high on the wall so that his head is higher than anyone else’s. This is my favourite picture; he’s hiked into the countryside to visit some remote village, and he’s wiping sweat off his face. Thais love this picture, too; it shows how he cares about his subjects.
Ratchadamnoen Avenue will be thronged with hundreds of thousands of Thai people, sweltering but glad to be there to wish him happy birthday.
Behind the celebrations, however, is a worry that every Thai feels but few discuss. The King is 78, and a heavy smoker and can’t last forever. An old prophesy says that the Chakri dynasty, of which this king is King Rama 9, will end when its ninth member dies. And the problem is the succession.
The King has three children in the immediate succession (one daughter, Ubol Ratana, lost her rights when she married an American). The Thai people love his daughter, Sirinthorn, who devotes her life to the King’s projects, working for the poor, who speaks and publishes poetry in French, English, Chinese and Thai, and who is (I’m told by people who have met her) a delightful, cultured person. Many Thai people have photos of her in their house and speak admiringly of her, and the King changed the law to allow a woman to acceed to the throne.
But the heir to the throne is Sirinthorn’s elder brother, Prince Vajiralongkorn. I’ve never met the Prince, but met his ex-wife several times and know people who’ve met him. In a country where speaking ill of Royalty is against the law, dark rumours abound about the Prince’s lifestyle and behaviour. I’ve heard many and, although repeating them would be purely hearsay (and probably get me banned from ever visting the Kingdom again), it’s fair to say that the Prince has nothing like the level of popular affection that Sirinthorn enjoys. You’ll understand what I mean when I say that I’ve never seen a photo of the Prince in a private house or business.
But the Prince will certainly become King. He’s an army man, and in Thailand the army is never far from the levers of power. The army has shown itself capable of going against the wishes of the Thai people before: as recently as 1992, the army caused the “disappearance” of hundreds of pro-democracy protestors, demonstrating against the installation of General Suchinda as Prime Minister.
Put it this way: I wouldn’t like to be living in Bangkok when the King goes to meet the Buddha. So, happy birthday, King Bhumibol. May you have many more.
I can definately vouch for the adoration of the king in thailand. How different is the respect and value of the monarchy compared to countries like the UK! Do you think we could ever “have another hero”?
December 7th, 2005 at 11:05 am
No one can compared to him.
I love him so much.
Without him I think Thailand never be Thailand anymore.
Love liv the King.
January 18th, 2006 at 10:38 am
God bless the King and god bless the Queen.
August 9th, 2006 at 9:48 pm
Just re-reading this some 18 months after leaving Thailand and a while after you posted this. It’s got to be said, the politicians are hated and come-and-go, but the king is revered. Who really knows what will happen when he goes? Gotta hope for the best, though.
September 20th, 2006 at 2:04 am
long live the beloved king
December 5th, 2006 at 3:36 am
All Thai people love our king. God blesses our king to have long live.
Thailand does not have our present king, we will not have our country any more.
We love, respect, praise and proud of our king so much
December 20th, 2006 at 8:40 pm
Long life to king and queen .thailand loves and needs you very much ,and the world stands in awe of such love and devotion may lord buddah protect you always.
December 23rd, 2006 at 11:47 am
the man is a dictator who let his army of people be brainwashed and salute him in there yellow shirts
he thinks he is GOD , the Thai are blind .
March 29th, 2007 at 2:47 pm
Things happen for a reason. He’s more like father of the country than a god. The respect and adoration are from what he’s done or proved since the first day he stepped onto the throne. At the time, it was millions of hesitation toward him. Now there is only love and respect for him. Ones who don’t really know him or whom have never been influenced by his helps and generosity might easily misjudge him from the situations.
No matter what they say about him, what I know is true is that he’s done so much for Thai people that there is no way we can pay it off.
The drug and poverty were greatly decreased/gone from the conflict parts of the country.
The flooding problems were solved.
The arid land became abundant.
Thousands of lives were saved, tears were washed away.
These are only a fraction of what he’s done.
Long live his majesty the king, the beloved
April 6th, 2007 at 2:03 am
Thais love their King…yeah rignt, they better do because if they don’t they go to jail !!! In the west this kind of guy is called a dictator. The best thing that could happen to Thailand at this point is the end of the Chakri dynasty
September 13th, 2007 at 11:24 pm
Some people are devoid of LOVE & RESPECT.
Happy Birthday King Bhumibol
December 4th, 2007 at 7:06 am
Love or hate does not put your body to jail, only your mind. Most people who are really THAI, and also some foreigners, who are touch by his dedication to the country and his people wil understand this love and loyalty. Thai King is personally open to critic, more than some hyprocrite politicians. Clear the brain, not use only the sight. And the yellow T-shirt is at least we can show how Thai love the King, by voluntarily, no force no dictate.
December 5th, 2007 at 11:18 am