BANGKOK : With monarchs taking centre stage in political crises in Thailand and Nepal, royalty in Asia still plays important albeit diverse roles in national life, analysts say.
Thailand's King Bhumibol Adulyadej, the world's longest-reigning monarch, celebrates his 60th anniversary on the throne on Friday as a hugely popular figure credited with helping steer the country out of political deadlock.
"During 60 years, the king has provided stabilizing and unifying force," said Thitinan Pongsudhirak, a professor of political science at Thailand's top university Chulalongkorn.
"In times of crisis, his role has been looked upon for stability. He has acted as the last institutional backstop against the government's abuse of power like the crisis we have now," he said.
Anti-government street protests rumbled through Bangkok in February and March, leading to elections on April 2 that proved inconclusive.
The protesters wanted the king to name a replacement prime minister to Thaksin Shinawatra over claims the billionaire's business empire had unduly profited from his political policies.
On April 25, the king dismissed the protesters' demand as "irrational" and told the nation's top judges that they should resign if they could not find a solution to the crisis.
His softly-delivered speech on national television produced speedy results, with the courts invalidating the election and new polls set for October.
"He has provided a guidance out of this crisis. Now it's up to Thai people to work it out. The door has been opened," Thitinan said.
Nepal's monarchy, however, has ended in sharply different circumstances.
Bloody demonstrations erupted in the Hindu state earlier this year against the rule of King Gyanendra, who seized absolute power in February 2005.
His brother, King Birenda, had been a revered figure, but he and eight members of his family were massacred in the palace five years ago.
Nepal's parliament, re-established in April, passed a proclamation stripping the king of his power in May.
"Under the current king, there is no democracy in Nepal and the demonstrations just showed that," said Masaya Shiraishi, a professor of Southeast Asian studies at Waseda University in Tokyo.
Nepal's king was scheduled to attend the Thai king's 60th anniversary, but later cancelled.
Among the Asian royals attending the celebrations in Thailand, Japan's Emperor Akihito and Empress Michiko are widely revered and popular, but they exert no political influence despite being part of the world's oldest monarchy.
Under the post-war, pacifist constitution, the emperor became the symbol of Japanese people.
In Brunei, Sultan Hassanal Bolkiah, one of the world's last absolute rulers, heads the oil-rich state. He was once rated the world's richest man, although in Brunei there is no clear distinction between state and royal family wealth.
From Bhutan, the largely Buddhist nation of just 600,000 people, 25-year-old Crown Prince Dasho Jigme Khesar Namgyal Wangchuck will make the trip to Thailand.
His father, King Jigme Singye Wangchuck, 50, stunned the nation last year when he announced he would abdicate in 2008, the year the kingdom is set to hold elections under its first constitution.
From Cambodia, King Norodom Sihamoni will attend the anniversary. He was sworn in as monarch in 2004 but so far has taken a largely ceremonial role, unlike his hugely popular father, former king Norodom Sihanouk, who still engages in periodic wars of words with Prime Minister Hun Sen.
Under Malaysia's constitutional monarchy, the position of king is rotated every five years in the largely ceremonial role. King Tuanku Syed Sirajuddin is to attend the Thai royal celebration. - AFP
Thailand's King Bhumibol Adulyadej, the world's longest-reigning monarch, celebrates his 60th anniversary on the throne on Friday as a hugely popular figure credited with helping steer the country out of political deadlock.
"During 60 years, the king has provided stabilizing and unifying force," said Thitinan Pongsudhirak, a professor of political science at Thailand's top university Chulalongkorn.
"In times of crisis, his role has been looked upon for stability. He has acted as the last institutional backstop against the government's abuse of power like the crisis we have now," he said.
Anti-government street protests rumbled through Bangkok in February and March, leading to elections on April 2 that proved inconclusive.
The protesters wanted the king to name a replacement prime minister to Thaksin Shinawatra over claims the billionaire's business empire had unduly profited from his political policies.
On April 25, the king dismissed the protesters' demand as "irrational" and told the nation's top judges that they should resign if they could not find a solution to the crisis.
His softly-delivered speech on national television produced speedy results, with the courts invalidating the election and new polls set for October.
"He has provided a guidance out of this crisis. Now it's up to Thai people to work it out. The door has been opened," Thitinan said.
Nepal's monarchy, however, has ended in sharply different circumstances.
Bloody demonstrations erupted in the Hindu state earlier this year against the rule of King Gyanendra, who seized absolute power in February 2005.
His brother, King Birenda, had been a revered figure, but he and eight members of his family were massacred in the palace five years ago.
Nepal's parliament, re-established in April, passed a proclamation stripping the king of his power in May.
"Under the current king, there is no democracy in Nepal and the demonstrations just showed that," said Masaya Shiraishi, a professor of Southeast Asian studies at Waseda University in Tokyo.
Nepal's king was scheduled to attend the Thai king's 60th anniversary, but later cancelled.
Among the Asian royals attending the celebrations in Thailand, Japan's Emperor Akihito and Empress Michiko are widely revered and popular, but they exert no political influence despite being part of the world's oldest monarchy.
Under the post-war, pacifist constitution, the emperor became the symbol of Japanese people.
In Brunei, Sultan Hassanal Bolkiah, one of the world's last absolute rulers, heads the oil-rich state. He was once rated the world's richest man, although in Brunei there is no clear distinction between state and royal family wealth.
From Bhutan, the largely Buddhist nation of just 600,000 people, 25-year-old Crown Prince Dasho Jigme Khesar Namgyal Wangchuck will make the trip to Thailand.
His father, King Jigme Singye Wangchuck, 50, stunned the nation last year when he announced he would abdicate in 2008, the year the kingdom is set to hold elections under its first constitution.
From Cambodia, King Norodom Sihamoni will attend the anniversary. He was sworn in as monarch in 2004 but so far has taken a largely ceremonial role, unlike his hugely popular father, former king Norodom Sihanouk, who still engages in periodic wars of words with Prime Minister Hun Sen.
Under Malaysia's constitutional monarchy, the position of king is rotated every five years in the largely ceremonial role. King Tuanku Syed Sirajuddin is to attend the Thai royal celebration. - AFP
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