Thailand is generally a peaceful country; and one of the most popular for young trippers, particularly Israelis. Events of the past few days, in which Thai Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra was deposed in a bloodless Coup d’Etat, ousted the luckless P.M. while he was attending the annual U.N. General Assembly meeting in New York. News clips showed the Thai Army positioning tanks and soldiers all over the capital, Bangkok, and what appears to be joyful acceptance by the Thai population, wearing the yellow colors of the Thai opposition political party, and passing out yellow roses to the soldiers. These events have brought attention once more to an element which has been considered as one of the pillars of Thai society: that being the Thai Royal Family.
King Bhumibol Adulyadej and Queen Sirikit have been on the Royal Siamese Throne for more than 60 years, perhaps the world’s longest reining monarchs. Their Majesties recently celebrated this anniversary with a very festive nation-wide anniversary event on July 12. The Thai army, being almost like the personal palace guards of the royal family, were quick to seize the opportunity of ousting Mr. Shinawatra who had become increasingly unpopular, and had refused to reassign his position, despite Parliamentary calls for him to do so. The P.M.’s problems began in earnest a few months back when the Shin Corporation, owned by his family, was sold to the Tema Sek Holding Company for the hefty sum of $ 1.88 Billion, in a deal smacking of conflict of interest; and far worse than Israel’s so-called “Greek Island Affair” in which former Israeli Prime Minister Ariel Sharon and his son Gadi were accused of being involved in.
The Coup, in which the Thai military have temporarily assumed power, seems to have the support of the Thai population, and life appears to be going on normally there, with even the tourists not seeming to be concerned. The Royal Family, even though considered as ‘figureheads’ appear to have a say in these goings on, and maybe this is why King Bhumibol and his wife have been on the throne for so many years. Most people outside of Thailand, when hearing about the Thai royal family, think romantically about the Novel: Anna and the King of Siam, as well as that classical film, The King and I, in which American bald actor Yul Brenner won an academy award for his role as His Majesty the King. This romanticism has been part of both Siamese and Thai tradition for well over a century, and King Bhumibol’s long reign has been one of the most popular of any modern royal family.
The political turmoil in Thailand will sort itself out soon enough, as the generally friendly and docile Thai people love calm and ‘continuity’. They also love the huge income their country receives from tourism, which has carried on despite the temporary setback from the December 2004 tsunami tidal wave. Though Their Majesties will not live forever, the Siamese Throne will carry on, as their loving subjects want it so. And, as a small addendum, next time you sit down to eat a tuna or shrimp salad, as well as use some Soya or sweet chili sauce on your food, you might glance first at the label of the container to see where it came from.
Long live Thailand and its beautiful people!
(Photograph courtesy of Wikipedia)
September 22, 2006 at 3:36 pm
Any of you tourists who happen to be ‘hanging out’ in
Bangkok or Chung Mai, just remember of few of those
Thai soldiers speak English. So, walk the straight
and narrow while this martial law stuff is still in
effect!
Not doing this might be very unpleasant!