ID :
34075
Fri, 12/05/2008 - 10:43
Auther :
Shortlink :
https://oananews.org//node/34075
The shortlink copeid
THAI KING SKIPS SPEECH ON EVE OF 81ST BIRTHDAY
By D. Arul Rajoo
BANGKOK, Dec 5 (Bernama) -- Thai King Bhumibol Adulyadej has skipped his
much anticipated speech on the eve of his 81st birthday on Thursday.
Instead, he assigned the task to his son and Crown Prince Maha
Vajiralongkorn at the audience granted to government leaders, officials and
ordinary citizens. Many Thais were hoping that the King would give some advice
to end the current political stalemate.
The Crown Prince told the 20,000 crowd that the revered King, the world's
longest reigning monarch of 61 years, could not attend the ceremony as he was
not well and tired.
The Kingdom of 65 million, facing one of its worst political turmoil in
recent years, was waiting for the appearance of the King, a constitutional
monarch without real power but who holds immense influence. He attended the
military parade in honour of his birthday on Tuesday.
He often stayed out from politics, but had intervened on several occasions
to end several hostilities before, including one in 1992 when he summoned coup
leader Suchinda Kraprayoonand and the leader of the pro-democracy movement,
General (Rtd) Chamlong Srimuang, to a televised audience. Chamlong is now one
of the key leaders of People's Alliance for Democracy (PAD).
For the past six months, it has been a political nightmare for Thai
politicians, especially those from the government side, and ordinary citizens as
they watched the People's Alliance for Democracy (PAD) mount marathon street
rallies that began on May 25.
Their protests escalated with the seizure of Government House, which is the
office of the prime minister, on Aug 26, and the takeover of two key airports on
Nov 24. Over 300,000 foreigners were stranded and the siege on the airports, and
the protest, ended on Wednesday.
The country is facing political vacuum after Prime Minister Somchai
Wongsawat was disqualified and his ruling People's Power Party dissolved by the
Constitution Court for election fraud. He came into power only on Sept 18,
taking over from his predecessor Samak Sundaravej who himself was booted by the
Supreme Court for appearing in a television cooking show.
During the street rallies, eight people were killed and over 700 injured
from clashes with police and pro-government supporters.
The Parliament is expected to name the new prime minister on Dec 8, but
there is already fear that PAD would resurface if another leader linked to
ousted Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra comes into power.
So far, the newly-created Puea Thai is expected to absorb former PPP
members and launch a bid to keep the post within Thaksin's inner cicle. Other
contenders are Democrat leader Abhisit Vejjajiva, Pracharaj Party's Snoh
Thienthong, Ruam Jai Thai Chart Pattana leader Chettha Thanajaro and fomer PPP's
Chalerm Yoobamrung and Mingkwan Sangsuwan.
-- BERNAMA
BANGKOK, Dec 5 (Bernama) -- Thai King Bhumibol Adulyadej has skipped his
much anticipated speech on the eve of his 81st birthday on Thursday.
Instead, he assigned the task to his son and Crown Prince Maha
Vajiralongkorn at the audience granted to government leaders, officials and
ordinary citizens. Many Thais were hoping that the King would give some advice
to end the current political stalemate.
The Crown Prince told the 20,000 crowd that the revered King, the world's
longest reigning monarch of 61 years, could not attend the ceremony as he was
not well and tired.
The Kingdom of 65 million, facing one of its worst political turmoil in
recent years, was waiting for the appearance of the King, a constitutional
monarch without real power but who holds immense influence. He attended the
military parade in honour of his birthday on Tuesday.
He often stayed out from politics, but had intervened on several occasions
to end several hostilities before, including one in 1992 when he summoned coup
leader Suchinda Kraprayoonand and the leader of the pro-democracy movement,
General (Rtd) Chamlong Srimuang, to a televised audience. Chamlong is now one
of the key leaders of People's Alliance for Democracy (PAD).
For the past six months, it has been a political nightmare for Thai
politicians, especially those from the government side, and ordinary citizens as
they watched the People's Alliance for Democracy (PAD) mount marathon street
rallies that began on May 25.
Their protests escalated with the seizure of Government House, which is the
office of the prime minister, on Aug 26, and the takeover of two key airports on
Nov 24. Over 300,000 foreigners were stranded and the siege on the airports, and
the protest, ended on Wednesday.
The country is facing political vacuum after Prime Minister Somchai
Wongsawat was disqualified and his ruling People's Power Party dissolved by the
Constitution Court for election fraud. He came into power only on Sept 18,
taking over from his predecessor Samak Sundaravej who himself was booted by the
Supreme Court for appearing in a television cooking show.
During the street rallies, eight people were killed and over 700 injured
from clashes with police and pro-government supporters.
The Parliament is expected to name the new prime minister on Dec 8, but
there is already fear that PAD would resurface if another leader linked to
ousted Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra comes into power.
So far, the newly-created Puea Thai is expected to absorb former PPP
members and launch a bid to keep the post within Thaksin's inner cicle. Other
contenders are Democrat leader Abhisit Vejjajiva, Pracharaj Party's Snoh
Thienthong, Ruam Jai Thai Chart Pattana leader Chettha Thanajaro and fomer PPP's
Chalerm Yoobamrung and Mingkwan Sangsuwan.
-- BERNAMA
