Cambodia's King Norodom Sihamoni, right, walks along with Thailand's Crown Prince Maha Vajralongkorn as he arrives at a military airport in Bangkok, Thailand, Sunday, June 11, 2006. King Norodom Sihamoni will attend celebrations for the 60th anniversary of Thai King Bhumibol Adulyadej's coronation. (AP Photo/Vincent Thian)BANGKOK, Thailand (AP)
Members of the world's royal houses were flying in Sunday for celebrations to honor Thailand's King Bhumibol Adulyadej, the world's longest reigning monarch.
Sunny skies greeted the day's first arrival, Prince Henrik of Denmark, the consort of Queen Margrethe II. Henrik, who marked his 72nd birthday Sunday, was greeted at Bangkok International Airport by a smiling Princess Sirindhorn, Bhumibol's 51-year-old daughter.
Representatives of reigning royals from 15 countries were scheduled to arrive Sunday in Bangkok, most prominent among them Emperor Akihito and Empress Michiko of Japan.
Other royal visitors were coming from neighboring Cambodia and Malaysia to mark the 60th anniversary of the accession to the throne of King Bhumibol, who has reigned through dozens of governments, democratic and dictatorial.
Swaziland, Lesotho, Luxembourg, Norway, Bhutan, Liechtenstein, Tonga, Belgium, Oman, Brunei and Kuwait are the other countries whose representatives were arriving Sunday.
Although a constitutional monarch with limited powers, Bhumibol has used his prestige during political crises to force opposing parties to compromise, lending his country a stability which has escaped several of its neighbors.
On Friday, an estimated 700,000 of his countrymen thronged the streets around Bangkok's Royal Plaza to hear him deliver a rare public address, in which he made a call for national unity.
Many Thais are counting on him to pull the country through its current political crisis, which has left it without a working legislature and only a caretaker government after a divisive and inconclusive election.
Thai officials have made elaborate preparations to ensure that the royal celebrations proceed smoothly, including plucking unsightly stray dogs from the streets of the capital, and closing off highways and major streets for much of the next few days to facilitate the VIP visitors' transport. Bangkok residents are expecting major traffic tie-ups.
However, a small fire broke out Saturday at Bangkok's international airport, just ahead of the string of royal well-wishers began to arrive. The fire, in an immigration department office, caused minor damage and no injuries, but billowing smoke temporarily disrupted some check-in activities.
King Bhumibol will receive his royal guests at his ceremonial Throne Hall Monday afternoon before leading them to watch the ornate, ceremonial Royal Barge boats ply Bangkok's Chao Phraya river.
On Tuesday, he and Queen Sirikit will host a state dinner for their guests.
Millions of Thais wore their king's royal color Friday, turning Bangkok - and much of the nation - into a sea of yellow.
"Unity is a basis for all Thais to help preserve and bring prosperity to the country in the long run," the king said in a brief speech. "If Thais uphold these ethics, it will ensure that Thailand will stand firmly."
On Saturday the king led his family and top officials in a Buddhist religious ceremony honoring senior monks.
Thailand's monarchy is closely associated with Buddhism, the religion of about 90 percent of the country's 65 million people.
Sunny skies greeted the day's first arrival, Prince Henrik of Denmark, the consort of Queen Margrethe II. Henrik, who marked his 72nd birthday Sunday, was greeted at Bangkok International Airport by a smiling Princess Sirindhorn, Bhumibol's 51-year-old daughter.
Representatives of reigning royals from 15 countries were scheduled to arrive Sunday in Bangkok, most prominent among them Emperor Akihito and Empress Michiko of Japan.
Other royal visitors were coming from neighboring Cambodia and Malaysia to mark the 60th anniversary of the accession to the throne of King Bhumibol, who has reigned through dozens of governments, democratic and dictatorial.
Swaziland, Lesotho, Luxembourg, Norway, Bhutan, Liechtenstein, Tonga, Belgium, Oman, Brunei and Kuwait are the other countries whose representatives were arriving Sunday.
Although a constitutional monarch with limited powers, Bhumibol has used his prestige during political crises to force opposing parties to compromise, lending his country a stability which has escaped several of its neighbors.
On Friday, an estimated 700,000 of his countrymen thronged the streets around Bangkok's Royal Plaza to hear him deliver a rare public address, in which he made a call for national unity.
Many Thais are counting on him to pull the country through its current political crisis, which has left it without a working legislature and only a caretaker government after a divisive and inconclusive election.
Thai officials have made elaborate preparations to ensure that the royal celebrations proceed smoothly, including plucking unsightly stray dogs from the streets of the capital, and closing off highways and major streets for much of the next few days to facilitate the VIP visitors' transport. Bangkok residents are expecting major traffic tie-ups.
However, a small fire broke out Saturday at Bangkok's international airport, just ahead of the string of royal well-wishers began to arrive. The fire, in an immigration department office, caused minor damage and no injuries, but billowing smoke temporarily disrupted some check-in activities.
King Bhumibol will receive his royal guests at his ceremonial Throne Hall Monday afternoon before leading them to watch the ornate, ceremonial Royal Barge boats ply Bangkok's Chao Phraya river.
On Tuesday, he and Queen Sirikit will host a state dinner for their guests.
Millions of Thais wore their king's royal color Friday, turning Bangkok - and much of the nation - into a sea of yellow.
"Unity is a basis for all Thais to help preserve and bring prosperity to the country in the long run," the king said in a brief speech. "If Thais uphold these ethics, it will ensure that Thailand will stand firmly."
On Saturday the king led his family and top officials in a Buddhist religious ceremony honoring senior monks.
Thailand's monarchy is closely associated with Buddhism, the religion of about 90 percent of the country's 65 million people.
3 comments:
The Thai King is about to ask Cambodian King Norodom Sihamoni to hand back Preah Vihea back to Thailand! Cambodian people need to understand that if he can sign a treaty to let the Vietcong take over Cambodian territory and what make any Cambodian people think that he can't hand the Preah Vihea back to Thailand! The Thai had been using Preah Vihea located on Cambodian soil to make million of dollars from tourists with no regard for Cambodia sovereignty!
Every time I see Cambodian King do something and I am worried already and I know it is going to cost Cambodian people dearly
To his Majesty King Sihamony,
That is a No! NO! and NO! You must be out of your mind,if you agree to do that.
Please remember how hard your mejesty The King Father had fought so hard and I meant with tooth and nail to get our Preah Vihear back for us Khmers back in the 60's. Never and never Your Majesty!
By the way,the picture up there looks Fabulous! Beautiful idea for maintaining Peace and Bilateral relationship.
Have a wonderful time and a safe trip home Your Highness!
well. if the money is right..maybe
b/c this communist is only listen to the CPP..his boss...and we'll see..eeyore
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