On 19th September 2006 tanks of the Royal Thai Army rolled into Bangkok encircling key media installations and critical government facilities. A bewildered world, especially the Thai Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra who was in New York at the time, watched as the Thai military and police took over reins at the Thai capital. The coup was a bloodless one and a pre-planned address by Mr. Shinawatra at the UN was first postponed and then canceled.The next morning things became clear as the leader of the usurpers, Gen. Sonthi Boonyaratglin, appeared on Thai television at 9:20 in the morning to announce the military takeover and the dissolution of the Shinawatra government. The world responded in due course. The US was ‘disappointed’ and found no justification in the actions of Gen Boonyaratglin and his allies.
However the focus quickly shifted from the main characters in the crisis to one in the background. Most of the world media, and all Thais for sure, turned to the one person who had been the national source of succour and guidance for sixty years. At first there was some ambiguity. No word was forthcoming. Thais waited anxiously and media circles were rife with speculation. Finally sometime on the night of the 20th of September it was announced that the King of Thailand, Bhumibol Adhulyadej, had indeed endorsed the coup. The Thai people had received the signal to celebrate their ‘liberation’.
God on earth
For the non-Thai it is difficult to appreciate the role played by King Adhulyadej in Thai life. For six decades the King has been revered by the people of his country, many Thais consider him semi-divine. At critical moments in Thailand’s tumultuous political history King Adhulyadej has been seen as representative of the nation’s conscience. His support has often been the difference between the victor and the vanquished in Thailand’s frequent power struggles. And just last week this was evident again. Tanks and soldiers patrolled the streets decked with strips of yellow, that being the royal colour of the King.
King Bhumibol is the latest in the Chakri Dynasty that has ruled Thailand for the last two hundred and twenty-four years. He succeeded his brother Ananda Mahidol to the throne in 1946 after the latter died in controversial circumstance. Mahidol was found with a hole through his head from a bullet. Bhumibol who was studying science at the University of Lausanne in Switzerland at the time of his brother’s death placed his uncle as Prince Regent and head of State while he continued his studies. Perhaps in a sign of things to come the young prince decided to switch his area of studies from science to law and political science to better equip him for kingship.
In April 1950 Bhumibol married his first cousin once removed after a courtship of two years. The two met each other in Paris but is believed to have grown intimate while Bhumibol lay convalescing from an auto accident in 1948 that damaged his right eye. A week after the marriage he was crowned King Bhumibol Adhulyadej. Or to be more precise ‘Phrabat Somdej Phra Paramindra Maha Bhumibol Adulyadej Mahitaladhibet Ramadhibodi Chakrinarubodindara Sayamindaradhiraj Boromanatbophit’.
Growing Influence
The first two decades of King Adhulyadej’s reign was comparatively quiet. The period saw the revival of several abandoned royal rituals and customs including the practice of crawling in front of the King during an audience. This, however, was not of the King’s doing but was part of a general revitalization of the monarchy that occurred during the government of General Sarit Dhanarajata. Sarit came to power in a struggle that ended with the previous martial ruler being deposed in a coup. Of course the coup occurred hours after the King had asked the incumbent to resign peacefully to avoid a seizure of power.
This was just the first of numerous intrigues and machinations that the King would play a decisive role in. But if this projects an impression of a scheming and unscrupulous monarch one must be forgiven. The turmoil is more an indication of the turbulent nature of Thai politics than any megalomania on the part of the Royal family. On the contrary King Adhulyadej has achievements to his name that make him a most unique modern-day monarch and head of state.
Wealthy in mind and bank
The Thai Royal Family is worth anywhere between two and eight billion dollars. King Adhulyadej has been instrumental in using much of this wealth towards welfare activities. In 2006 he was presented with the inaugural UN Human Development Lifetime Achievement Award by Kofi Annan. But that is merely the charitable side of this remarkably talented man.
King Bhumibol is, take a deep breath here, a painter, photographer, author, translator, sailor, sailboat designer, athlete, artist and a jazz musician of some talent. The King has often played on Thai Radio and has performed with the likes of Leonard Hampton and Maynard Ferguson. Last week army controlled television used the King’s music while normal broadcast was pulled off air.
Not only does he hold the record for the longest serving monarch but King Adhulyadej is also possibly the only monarch who has a patent to his name. The Thai king has one for waste water aeration and several for rainmaking. (The latest was in 2003.)
Clearly this is one uncommon king. But what has made him an endearing figure in the Thai psyche has been not his jazz music or his unquestionable intellect. Instead it is his uncanny ability to become the forceful face of the common Thai’s conscience.
Open Gates
In 1973 the King threw open his gates to pro-democracy student demonstrators fleeing from military thugs. Many saw this as the first instance of the King’s interest in listening to the masses when it came to political issues. Not only did the King provide the students with safe haven he also listened to their demands and reinstated civilian government.
After the 1992 general elections there was turmoil again when the majority parties invited the military leader of a previous coup in 1991 to become Prime Minister. There was widespread dissent and protests leading to several deaths when the military was summoned to control irate crowds. This time the King was more decisive than ever before. In an audience that was televised to the nation the King summoned the leaders of the military and the pro-democracy movements for an audience. Fresh elections followed and a civilian government took power.
As late as 2006 the King was approached to intervene on behalf of the anti-Takshin coalition leading to the Assembly Elections in April. His response to the nation appears ambiguous in the light of subsequent events: “Asking for a Royalty-appointed prime minister is undemocratic. It is, pardon me, a mess. It is irrational”
The King continues to enjoy tremendous powers over the workings of the Thai government. While involvement in day-to-day affairs is rare his statements and opinions are never refuted. Critics say that the King has often been seen to be supreme to even the Constitution. Books critical of the King are banned.
However this has done nothing to dampen his popularity. The celebrations to commemorate 60 years of Adhulyadej’s rule were broadcast live on all Thai channels. A small matter of the transmission of the FIFA football world cup had to wait for the royal broadcast to finish.
Decision Awaited?
Close to a week after the coup in Thailand the military power still struggles to find a suitable replacement premier. While things are calm in Thailand there are indications that a frantic search is on. But the junta shows no signs of loosening the grip on their swiftly own power. Things might curiouser and curiouser yet.
What role the highly revered King will play remains to be seen. There is however little doubt that monarch is keeping a keen eye on developments. That should be of some relief to the average Thai.
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