THAILAND MOURNS THE DEATH OF KING BHUMIBOL ADULYADEJ
During more than 70 years on the throne, Thailand's King Bhumibol oversaw his country's largely successful transition to middle-class modernity. He leaves difficult shoes to fill.
His Majesty King Bhumibol Adulyadej took umbrage at the orientalized image painted of his grandfather in Oscar Hammerstein's Broadway adaptation of The King and I. And the novel upon which it was based was banned for years—but not only for rousing the monarch's sense of lèse-majesté; the story was part of a broader mythologization of the Thai monarchy that King Bhumibol sought to dispel. As he took pains to remind his ever-enamored public toward the end of his reign: “There is an English saying that the king is always happy, or “happy as the king"—which is not true at all." The crown at times was quite heavy.
Whatever his mood, he fought tirelessly for the people of Thailand. The very definition of an unexpected monarch, Bhumibol only took to the throne after his elder brother's sudden tragic death in 1946 at the age of 18. Passing away on October 13 at Siriraj Hospital in Bangkok, he had ruled for 70 years and 126 days, making him the longest ruling monarch in the world at the time of his passing, and one of the longest in human history. Queen Elizabeth II, whose reign only surpassed that of Queen Victoria in 2015, has now taken the torch—in power for 64 years.
Whatever his initial reticence, relish the roll he certainly did. Stern but scrupulous, Bhumibol seemed the very modicum of all that monarchy was meant to stand for: tradition, propriety, and patriarchal devotion to one's people. Particularly throughout the vagaries of an extremely violent 20th century in a most volatile region. His reign coexisted with a dozen successful military coups and several violent uprisings. Yet even for a deeply divided country, Thailand remained a bastion of stability and an outpost of relative peace in a region otherwise swept by revolution, politicide, and total war.
Though far from unaffected by the Cold War, Bhumibol's Thailand escaped the horrific violence that bathed Vietnam, Laos, Cambodia, Indonesia, and even Malaysia in much blood and fire in the decades after he took the throne. Though a Muslim insurgency still ebbs and flows in the country's far southern provinces—and a military government has reigned since overthrowing PM Yingluck Shinawatra in 2014—his voice and presence, however at times relegated to the back of national decision-making processes, was a balm without which the pangs of modernity would have burned much more.
Born in Cambridge, Massachusetts on December 5, 1927, his father, Prince Mahidol of Songkhla, a founder of modern medicine in Thailand, was then studying public health at Harvard. His mother, Princess Sangwalya Chukramol, was on scholarship at an all-girls nursing school, Simmons College. Educated from a young age in Switzerland after the untimely death of his father, King Bhumibol was raised speaking fluent English and French. Outside of studying politics and history at the University of Lausanne, he then learned to play jazz on the saxophone and clarinet, and was an avid photographer and had a learned green thumb. (Many of the portraits that adorn nearly every wall in Bangkok show the king in civilian garb—often a short-sleeve polo shirt and khaki pants—with a 35mm draped around his neck).
Whatever his younger cosmopolitanism, upon return from Europe he scarcely left the country again. A quiet and serious man, he preferred to spend his time touring the various development projects the crown had fostered under his punctilious watch. In this manner he not only helped usher in the country's rapid transformation from an agricultural to an industrial, service- and tourism-based economy, but also gained the respect and admiration of Thais from every walk of life.
Nor was he loath to give his people counsel of a more personal nature. His best-selling book in 2002, The Story of Tongdaeng, charted his friendship with a stray dog he'd taken in from the streets of Bangkok. The message? That wealthy Thais should take care of the capital's strays before splurging on pure-breeds from abroad. And while the military often kept the monarchy on something of a short-leash, Bhumibol was keen to take advantage of what leeway he was given to further the country's social and economic development.
His impact upon the country's political development is a more interesting question. A crucial American ally in the Cold War, Thailand's military and monarchy each took turns bolstering the other's legitimacy in the latter half of the 20th century. Thus the royal pardon that met each coup, from the king's earliest days in power (1947) until the more recent in 2014—and his personal intervention to prevent numerous others—will be sorely missed in years to come.
Published October 14, 2016
THAILAND MOURNS THE DEATH OF KING BHUMIBOL ADULYADEJ
TABLE OF CONTENTS
Review: Diplomacy
The Times are Changing
The West may have taken a dim view on the 2014 coup, but China has been less judgmental about Thailand's domestic policy and the two countries have grown closer over the past couple of years.The West may have taken a dim view on the 2014 coup, but China has been less judgmental about Thailand's domestic policy and the two countries have grown closer over the past couple of years.
read articleGuest Speaker
HE Maithripala Sirisena, President, Democratic Socialist Republic of Sri Lanka
TBY talks to HE Maithripala Sirisena, President of the Democratic Socialist Republic of Sri Lanka, on celebrating 60 years of relations with Thailand, boosting bilateral trade, and potential opportunities with the AEC.
read articleFocus: Special Economic Zones
Zone Home
With numerous upcoming major trade deals like the TPP and CAFTA, in addition to Thailand joining the ASEAN Economic Community, the country is developing a host of strategically located and incentivized SEZs to take advantage of the upcoming opportunities.
read articleFocus: Auto Sector
Driving Force
A combination of slower global economic growth and weaker domestic purchasing power suggests that Thailand's renowned automotive sector is heading for flat growth in 2016, thereby encouraging the government to promote cutting-edge innovation across the industry.
read articleFocus: Gems & Precious Stones
Shine Bright
As a key driver of the economy, Thailand's vast manufacturing sector comes in different shapes and sizes—and colors, for that matter. One segment to have really emerged as a sparkling export opportunity over the past two decades has been the country's gems and precious stones industry.
read articleInterview
Dr. Pichet Durongkaveroj, Minister, Science and Technology
TBY talks to Dr. Pichet Durongkaveroj, Minister of Science and Technology, on the initiatives to boost innovation in the country, facilitating greater private investment, and fostering mutually beneficial partnerships with countries.
read articleFocus: E-Commerce
Down the Wire
In 2014, when Chinese e-commerce giant Alibaba made headlines for listing the largest global IPO in history (USD25 billion), many had come to recognize that the industry, which was typically dominated by Silicon Valley heavyweights, was gravitating drastically eastward.
read articleInterview
Anantachai Kunanantakul, Chairman & CEO, Siam Eastern Industrial Park (SEP)
TBY talks to Anantachai Kunanantakul, Chairman & CEO of Siam Eastern Industrial Park (SEP), on the development of the park, the benefits on offer, and plans to further develop the country's eastern seaboard.
read articleInterview
Kan Trakulhoon, Head of Working Group , Eastern Economic Corridor (EEC)
TBY talks to Kan Trakulhoon, Head of Working Group of the Eastern Economic Corridor (EEC), on the background of the EEC project, the government's push to build up infrastructure in the country, and his projections for the coming year.
read articleFocus: Water Shortage
A Drop At a Time
In 2016, many Thai's across the Kingdom will be looking out for weather forecasts—rather than economic ones—as the key indicator for the country's economic sustainability. Water is becoming an increasingly precious global commodity as populations and temperatures increase.
read articleReview: Education
Many Brains to Gain
Thailand has long suffered from an ineffective education system, with a large number of dropouts and graduates not equipped to deal with the demands of the 21st century. However, the government has been taking actions in a bid to get serious about much-needed education reform.
read articleInterview
Weerasak Kowsura, Board Chairman, Thailand Convention & Exhibition Bureau (TCEB)
TBY talks to Weerasak Kowsura, Board Chairman of the Thailand Convention & Exhibition Bureau (TCEB) & Board Chairman of Designated Areas for Sustainable Tourism Administration (DASTA), on the country's booming MICE industry and the benefits of community-based tourism.
read articleInterview
Proudputh Liptapanlop , Executive Director, Proud Real Estate
TBY talks to Proudputh Liptapanlop and Pasu Liptapanlop, Executive Directors of Proud Real Estate, on the company's development plans for Hua Hin, the prospects of the industry, and their expectations for the future.
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