Preparations fully set for Royal Cremation rite of Thais overseas

BANGKOK, October 19 (TNA) - The Ministry of Foreign Affairs says that Thai embassies and consulates general in foreign countries are now fully prepared for catering people who will attend the Royal Cremation rite of late His Majesty King Bhumibol Adulyadej in their respective areas next week. Foreign Ministry Spokeswoman Busadee Santipitak, who is also Director-General of the ministry's Department of Information, confirmed on Thursday that all 94 Thai embassies and consulates general abroad have already prepared places and other facilities for people who will attend the Royal Cremation rite of the late and beloved Thai monarch on October 26 in their jurisdictions. "On October 26, Thai embassies and consulates general in foreign countries where their times are close to the time in Thailand will organize the Royal Cremation rite, in which people will lay down the Thai artificial funeral flowers, at 5:30pm, the same time when people in Thailand will lay the Thai funeral wood flowers either at the Royal Crematorium built at Sanam Luang ceremonial ground near the Grand Palace in Bangkok, or at the Modeled Royal Crematoriums built in other focal areas nationwide", the spokeswoman said. "For foreign countries where their times are much different from the time in Thailand, the Royal Cremation rite will be separately organized at appropriate times for the areas, but only shortly after the Royal Cremation time in Thailand", the spokeswoman explained. The spokeswoman stated that there will be a live broadcast of the Royal Cremation rite from Sanam Luang to all areas nationwide and to foreign countries, while there will also be a live broadcast of the Royal Cremation rite overseas relayed back to Thailand. According to the spokeswoman, like the Bangkok governor and all other provincial governors, the Thai permanent secretary for foreign affairs have been assigned to receive royal torch boxes used for the Royal Cremation of the late and revered Thai King, presented by His Majesty King Maha Vajiralongkorn Bodindradebayavarangkun to Thai Prime Minister General Prayut Chan-ocha on October 18, to be sent to all the 94 Thai embassies and consulates general in foreign countries timely for the Royal Cremation next Thursday, after which all the burnt Thai cemetery flowers will be sent to the Bureau of the Royal Household in Bangkok for further royal procedures. The spokeswoman revealed that the permanent secretary for foreign affairs has already delivered 94 specially-made Thai artificial funeral flowers from all the 94 Thai embassies and consulates general in foreign countries and another 94 ones from volunteers overseas to the Bureau of the Royal Household to be laid at the Royal Crematorium built at Sanam Luang. Meanwhile, the spokeswoman initially reported that very important persons (VIPs) from at least 32 foreign countries will attend the Royal Cremation rite of the late His Majesty at Sanam Luang on October 26. (TNA)