Bhumibol Adulyadej

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King Bhumibol Adulyadej, (Rama IX)
King of Thailand
Reign	June 9, 1946 - present
Coronation	May 5, 1950
Born	December 5, 1927
	Cambridge, Massachusetts, United States
Predecessor	King Ananda Mahidol (Rama VIII)
Heir-Apparent	HRH Crown Prince Maha Vajiralongkorn
Consort	Queen Sirikit
Issue	Princess Ubol Ratana HRH Crown Prince Maha Vajiralongkorn HRH Princess Maha Chakri Sirindhorn HRH Princess Chulabhorn Walailak
Royal House	Chakri Dynasty
Father	Mahidol Adulyadej, Prince of Songkla
Mother	Sangwal, the Princess Mother

Bhumibol Adulyadej (Thai: ภูมิพลอดุลยเดช; IPA: [pʰu:mipʰon adunjadeːt]; Royal Institute: Phumiphon Adunyadet; listen (help·info)) (born December 5, 1927), officially styled "the Great" (Thai: มหาราช, Maharaja) and also known as Rama IX, is the current King of Thailand. His name, Bhumibol Adulyadej, means "Strength of the Land, Incomparable Power".^[1] Having reigned since June 9, 1946, Bhumibol is the world's longest-serving current head of state and the longest-serving monarch in Thai history.^[2]

Although Bhumibol is a constitutional monarch, he has several times made decisive interventions in Thai politics, including the 2005-2006 Thai political crisis. Bhumibol has been widely credited with facilitating Thailand's transition to democracy in the 1990s, although in earlier periods of his reign he supported military regimes. Most recently, he did not oppose the September 2006 coup which overthrew the elected government of Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra.

Bhumibol uses his great wealth to fund numerous development projects, particularly in rural areas. He is immensely popular in Thailand, and is revered as a semi-divine figure by many Thais. Critics, mostly outside Thailand, attribute this status to the suppression of criticism of the monarchy.^[3]

Bhumibol was born in the United States and educated primarily in Switzerland. Bhumibol is also an accomplished musician, artist, and sailor. He is one of the wealthiest people in the world and has received many honours.

Contents 1 Early life 2 Succession and marriage 3 Coronation and titles 4 Role in Thai politics 4.1 Plaek Pibulsonggram era 4.2 Sarit Dhanarajata era 4.3 Thanom Kittikachorn era 4.4 Prem Tinsulanond era 4.5 Crisis of 1992 4.6 Crisis of 2005-2006 and the September 2006 coup 5 Royal powers 6 Royal projects 7 Awards 8 60th Anniversary celebrations 9 Private life 9.1 Sailing 10 Wealth 11 Lèse majesté 12 Biographies 13 Succession to the throne 14 See also 15 References 16 Literature 17 External links

[edit] Early life

Bhumibol was born in Cambridge, Massachusetts located in the United States, the youngest son of Mahidol Adulyadej, Prince of Songkhla and son of King Chulalongkorn, and Mom Sangwal (later Somdej Phra Sri Nakarindhara Boromaratchachonnani). At the time of his birth, he was known in Thailand as Phra Worawongse Ther Phra Ong Chao Bhumibol Adulyadej (พระวรวงศ์เธอ พระองค์เจ้าภูมิพลอดุลยเดช), reflecting the fact that his mother was a commoner.^[4] Had he been born just a few years earlier, before his uncle King Prajadhipok passed a law allowing children of a prince and a commoner to be called Phra Ong Chao (a prince of a lesser status than Chao Fa), he would have been called Mom Chao (the most junior class of the Thai princes), similar to his older brother and sister.^[5]

Bhumibol was brought back to Thailand in 1928, after Prince Mahidol obtaining a certificate from Public Health Program at Harvard University. After primary schooling at the Mater Dei school in Bangkok, he left with the rest of his family in 1933 for Switzerland, where he continued his secondary education at the École Nouvelle de la Suisse Romande in Chailly-sur-Lausanne, and received the baccalauréat de lettres (high-school diploma with major in French literature, Latin, and Greek) from the Gymnase classique cantonal of Lausanne. He was studying science at the University of Lausanne when his elder brother, Phra Ong Chao Ananda Mahidol, was crowned King of Thailand. King Ananda Mahidol then elevated his brother and sister to the Chao Fa status, the most senior class of the Thai princes and princesses, in 1935. They came to Thailand briefly in 1938, but returned to Switzerland for further study, where they stayed until 1945.^[6]

[edit] Succession and marriage

Bhumibol ascended to the throne following the death of his brother, Ananda Mahidol, on June 9, 1946. Ananda Mahidol's death resulted from a gunshot to the head while he was in his bedroom in the Baromphiman Palace in the Grand Palace, under circumstances that to this day remain a mystery.^[7] Bhumibol then returned to Switzerland in order to complete his education, and his uncle, Rangsit, Prince of Chainat, was appointed Prince Regent. Bhumibol switched over his field of study to law and political science in order to prepare himself more effectively for his new position as ruler.

While finishing his degree in Switzerland, Bhumibol visited Paris frequently. It was in Paris that he first met a first cousin once removed, Mom Rajawongse Sirikit Kitiyakara, daughter of the Thai ambassador to France.^[8] He was 21, and she was 15. Bhumibol became a regular visitor to the ambassador's residence.

On October 4, 1948, while Bhumibol was driving a Fiat Topolino on the Geneva-Lausanne highway, he collided into the rear of a braking truck 10 km outside of Lausanne. He hurt his back and incurred cuts on his face that cost him sight in his right eye.^[9][10][11] While he was hospitalized in Lausanne, Sirikit visited him frequently. She met Bhumibol's mother, who asked her to continue her studies nearby so that Bhumibol could get to know her better. Bhumibol selected for her a boarding school in Lausanne, Riante Rive. A quiet engagement in Lausanne followed on July 19, 1949, and the couple were married on April 28, 1950, just a week before his coronation.

Bhumibol and his wife Queen Sirikit have four children:

Thai Royal Family

HM The King HM The Queen Princess Ubolratana Rajakanya Khun Ploypailin Mahidol Khun Poom Mahidol Khun Sirikitiya Mahidol HRH The Crown Prince HRH Princess Bajrakitiyabha HRH Princess Siriwannawari Nariratana HRH Prince Dipangkorn Rasmijoti HRH Princess Maha Chakri Sirindhorn HRH Princess Chulabhorn Walailak HRH Princess Siribhachudhabhorn HRH Princess Adityadhornkitikhun HRH Princess Bejaratana HRH Princess Galyaniwatana Thanpuying Dhasanawalaya Sornsongkram HRH Princess Srirasmi HRH Princess Soamsavali

• (Formerly HRH) Princess Ubol Ratana, born April 5, 1951 in Lausanne, Switzerland;
• HRH Crown Prince Maha Vajiralongkorn, born July 28, 1952;
• HRH Princess Maha Chakri Sirindhorn, born April 2, 1955;
• HRH Princess Chulabhorn Walailak, born July 4, 1957.

One of Bhumibol's grandchildren, Bhumi Jensen (also known as Khun Poom), was killed in the 2004 Indian Ocean earthquake. He was the son of Princess Ubol Ratana.

[edit] Coronation and titles

Bhumibol was crowned King of Thailand on May 5, 1950 at the Royal Palace in Bangkok where he pronounced his Oath of Succession "I will reign with righteousness for the benefit and happiness of the Siamese people" ("เราจะครองแผ่นดินโดยธรรม เพื่อประโยชน์สุขแห่งมหาชนชาวสยาม").^[12] His ceremonial name, according to the ancient tradition, is:

พระบาทสมเด็จพระปรมินทรมหาภูมิพลอดุลยเดช มหิตลาธิเบศรามาธิบดี จักรีนฤบดินทร์ สยามินทราธิราช บรมนาถบพิตร (Phrabat Somdej Phra Paramindra Maha Bhumibol Adulyadej Mahitaladhibet Ramadhibodi Chakrinarubodindara Sayamindaradhiraj Boromanatbophit listen (help·info))

On the same day, he made his consort Queen (Somdej Phra Boromarajini). The date of his coronation is celebrated each May 5 in Thailand as Coronation Day, a public holiday. On December 5, 1996, Bhumibol celebrated his 50th anniversary as the King of Thailand, becoming the longest reigning monarch in Thai history.^[2]

Following the death of his grandmother Queen Savang Vadhana (สว่างวัฒนา, Sawang Watthana Phra Phanvasa Aiyeekajao), Bhumibol entered a 15-day monkhood (October 22–November 5, 1956) at Wat Bowonniwet, as is customary at the death of elder relatives. During this time, Sirikit was appointed his regent. She was later appointed Queen Regent (Somdej Phra Boromarajininat) in recognition of this.

Although Bhumibol is often referred to as King Rama IX in English, the name "Rama" is never used in Thai. The name is used to approximate "Ratchakal ti Kao" (รัชกาลที่ 9, literally "the Ninth Reign"). More commonly, Thais refer to him as Nai Luang or Phra Chao Yu Hua (ในหลวง or พระเจ้าอยู่หัว: both mean "the King"). Formally, he would be referred to as Phrabat Somdej Phra Chao Yu Hua (พระบาทสมเด็จพระเจ้าอยู่หัว) or, in legal documents, Phrabat Somdej Phra Paraminthara Maha Bhumibol Adulyadej (พระบาทสมเด็จพระปรมินทรมหาภูมิพลอดุลยเดช), and in English as His Majesty King Bhumibol Adulyadej. He signs his name as ภูมิพลอดุลยเดช ป.ร. (Bhumibol Adulyadej Por Ror; this is the Thai equivalent of Bhumibol Adulyadej R[ex]).

[edit] Role in Thai politics

[edit] Plaek Pibulsonggram era

In the early years of his reign, during the government of military dictator Plaek Pibulsonggram, Bhumibol had no real power and was little more than a ceremonial front for the military-dominated government. In August 1957, 6 months after parliamentary elections, General Sarit Dhanarajata accused the government of Field Marshal Pibulsonggram of lèse majesté due to its conduct of the 2,500th anniversary celebration of Buddhism.^[13][14] On September 16, 1957, Pibulsonggram went to Bhumibol to seek support for his government.^[15] Bhumibol told the Field Marshal to resign to avoid a coup; Pibulsonggram refused. That evening, Sarit Dhanarajata seized power, and two hours later Bhumibol decreed martial law, named Sarit as "defender of the capital", and allowed Sarit to countersign royal decrees.^[16]

[edit] Sarit Dhanarajata era

During Sarit's dictatorship, the monarchy was revitalised. Bhumibol attended public ceremonies, toured the provinces and patronised development projects. Under Sarit, the practice of crawling in front of royalty during audiences, banned by King Chulalongkorn, was revived and the royal-sponsored Thammayut Nikaya order was revitalised. For the first time since the absolute monarchy was overthrown, a king was conveyed up the Chao Phraya River in a Royal Barge Procession to offer robes at temples.^[17][18]

Other disused ceremonies from the classical period of the Chakri dynasty, like the royally-patronised ploughing ceremony (Thai: พิธีพืชมงคล), were also revived.^[19] Upon Sarit's death in 8 December 1963, an unprecedented 21 days of mourning was declared in the palace. A royal five-tier umbrella shaded his body while it lay in state. Long-time royal advisor Phraya Srivisarn Vacha later noted that no Prime Minister ever had such an intimate relation with Bhumibol as Sarit.^[20]

Contemporary thinkers differ in their views about the relationship between Bhumibol and Sarit. Paul Handley, writer of The King Never Smiles, views that Sarit was Bhumibol's tool, whereas political scientist Thak Chaloemtiarana views that Sarit used Bhumibol in order to build his own credibility.^[21][22]

[edit] Thanom Kittikachorn era

Field Marshal Thanom Kittikachorn was appointed premier a day after Sarit's death in 1963. He continued most of Sarit's policies for a decade. During the 1970s, Bhumibol was a key figure in the Village Scouts and Red Gaur paramilitary organizations. In October 1973 after massive protests and the deaths of a large number of pro-democracy demonstrators, Bhumibol opened the gates of the Chitralada Palace to fleeing protestors, and holding an audience with student leaders. Bhumibol subsequently appointed the Thammasat University Rector Sanya Dharmasakti as the new Prime Minister, replacing Thanom. Thanom subsequently moved to the United States and Singapore. A succession of civilian governments followed, but the return of Field Marshal Thanom and his ordination as a novice monk at Wat Bowonniwet in 1976 led to renewed conflict. Protests against the ex-dictator escalated and came to a head when two newspapers published doctored photographs depicting Thammasat students hanging the Crown Prince Vajiralongkorn in effigy.^[23] With the public convinced that lèse majesté had been committed, military and paramilitary forces attacked the University, leading to a bloody massacre on 6 October 1976.

[edit] Prem Tinsulanond era

The ensuing chaos was used as a pretext for a military coup that same evening. The junta submitted three names to the king to choose from to become the next Premier: Deputy President of the king's Privy Council Prakob Hutasingh, right-wing Bangkok Governor Thamnoon Thien-ngern, and conservative Supreme Court judge Thanin Kraivixien.^[24] Bhumibol chose Thanin. Thanin was overthrown in a military coup in October 1977 by General Kriangsak Chomanan. Kriangsak was succeeded in 1980 by Army Commander-in-Chief General Prem Tinsulanond, future Privy Council President.

Bhumibol's refusal to endorse military coups in 1981 (the April Fool's Day coup) and 1985 (the Share Rebellion) ultimately led to the victory of forces loyal to the government, despite much violence, and in 1981, the seizure of Bangkok by rebel forces. The coups led many to note that Bhumibol had misjudged Thai society and that his credibility as an impartial mediator between various political and military factions had been compromised.^[25][26][27]

[edit] Crisis of 1992

Main article: Bloody May

In 1992, Bhumibol played a key role in Thailand's transition to a democratic system. A coup on February 23, 1991 put Thailand back under military dictatorship. After a general election, held in 1992, the majority parties invited General Suchinda Kraprayoon, a leader of the coup group, to be the Prime Minister. This caused much dissent, and the conflict escalated to demonstrations and then to a large number of deaths when the military was brought in to control the protesters. The situation became increasingly critical as neither side would back down and the violence escalated.

Bhumibol summoned Suchinda and the leader of the pro-democracy movement, Major General Chamlong Srimuang, to a televised audience. At the height of the crisis, the sight of both men appearing together on their knees (in accordance with royal protocol) made a strong impression on the nation, and led to Suchinda's resignation soon afterwards. It was one of the few public occasions where Bhumibol directly intervened in a political conflict. A general election was held shortly afterward leading to a civilian government.

[edit] Crisis of 2005-2006 and the September 2006 coup

Main articles: Thailand political crisis 2005-2006, Finland Plot, and 2006 Thailand coup d'état

Weeks before the April 2006 legislative election, a coalition opposed to prime minister Thaksin Shinawatra (including the People's Alliance for Democracy) petitioned Bhumibol to appoint a replacement Prime Minister and Cabinet to resolve the political crisis. However, demands for royal intervention met with much criticism from the public. Bhumibol, in a speech on April 26, 2006, responded, "Asking for a Royally-appointed prime minister is undemocratic. It is, pardon me, a mess. It is irrational".^[28]

After publicly claiming victory in the boycotted April parliamentary elections, Thaksin Shinawatra had a private audience with Bhumibol. A few hours later, Thaksin appeared on national television to announce that he would not accept the Premiership, and would be taking leave from politics.

In May 2006, the Sondhi Limthongkul-owned Manager Daily newspaper published a series of articles describing the "Finland Plot", alleging that Thaksin and former members of the Communist Party of Thailand planned to overthrow the king and seize control of the nation. No evidence was ever produced to verify the existence of such a plot, and Thaksin and his Thai Rak Thai party vehemently denied the accusations and sued the accusers.

In a rare, televised speech to senior judges, Bhumibol requested that the judiciary take action to resolve the political crisis.^[28] On May 8, 2006, the Constitutional Court invalidated the results of the April elections and ordered new elections scheduled for 15 October 2006.^[29] The Criminal Court later jailed the Election Commissioners.^[30][31]

On 14 July 2006, Privy Council President Prem Tinsulanonda addressed graduating cadets of the Chulachomklao Royal Military Academy, telling them that the Thai military must serve the King - not the Government.^[32]

On 20 July, Bhumibol signed a royal decree endorsing new House elections for 15 October 2006. In an unprecedented act, the King wrote a note on the royal decree calling for a clean and fair election. That very day, Bhumibol underwent spinal surgery.^[33][34]

On the evening of September 19, 2006, the Thai military overthrew the government and seized control of Bangkok in a bloodless coup. The junta, led by the Commander of the Army, called itself the Council for Democratic Reform under the Constitutional Monarchy and pledged its loyalty to the King. Martial law was declared, the Constitution repealed, and the October elections were cancelled.^[35][36] On 20 September, the King endorsed the coup, and asked the civil servants to take orders from Gen. Sonthi, the leader of the military coup.^[37]

The King's role in the coup was the subject of much speculation among Thai analysts and the international media. The King had an audience with Privy Council President General Prem Tinsulanonda at the same time the first Special Forces troops were ordered mobilized.^[38] In a BBC interview, Thitinan Pongsudhirak of Chulalongkorn University noted that "This coup was nothing short of Thaksin versus the King... He is widely seen as having implicitly endorsed the coup." In the same interview, social critic Sulak Sivaraksa claimed that "Without his involvement, the coup would have been impossible." Sulak added that the King is "very skillful. He never becomes obviously involved. If this coup goes wrong, Sonthi will get the blame, but whatever happens, the King will only get praise."^[39] On Saturday 23 September 2006, the junta warned they would "urgently retaliate against foreign reporters whose coverage has been deemed insulting to the monarchy."^[40]

[edit] Royal powers

For a historical perspective on how the monarch's constitutional powers have changed over time, see the Constitutions of Thailand article

Bhumibol retains enormous powers, partly because of his immense popularity and partly because his powers - although clearly defined in the Thai Constitution - are often subject to conflicting interpretations. This was highlighted by the controversy surrounding the appointment of a new Auditor-General. The Constitution Court ruled in July 2004 that the appointment of Jaruvan Maintaka to this post by the State Audit Commission was unconstitutional. But Jaruvan refused to leave her position without an explicit order from Bhumibol. When the Senate approved of a replacement for Jaruvan, Bhumibol, in a very rare move, refused to approve the replacement.^[41] The Senate declined to vote to override his veto.^[42] Finally in February 2006 the Audit Commission reinstated Jaruvan when it became clear from a memo from the Office of the King's Principal Private Secretary that Bhumibol supported her position.

This raised the issue of whether Bhumibol was more powerful than the Constitution. Senator Kaewsan Atibhodi, a former member of the Constitution Drafting Committee, noted that under Article Seven of the 1997 Constitution said that: "whenever no provision under this Constitution is applicable to any case, it shall be decided in accordance with the constitutional practice in the democratic regime of government with the King as Head of the State”. Kaewsan interpreted this as giving Bhumibol veto powers over the Senate's appointment of Wisut Montriwat to replace Jaruvan: "Whenever [the King] considers [something as being] not beneficial to the people and being unjust, His Majesty has a veto power".^[43]

Bhumibol has very rarely vetoed legislation in previous circumstances. In 1976, when the Parliament voted 149-19 to extend democratic elections down to local levels, Bhumibol refused to sign the law.^[44] The Parliament refused to vote to overturn the King's veto. In 1954, Bhumibol vetoed parliamentary-approved land reform legislation twice before consenting to sign it.^[45] The law limited the maximum land any person could hold at 50 rai (20 acres), at a time when the Crown Property Bureau was the Kingdom's largest land-owner. The law was repealed after power was seized by General Sarit.

Bhumibol's hold over Thai public opinion was demonstrated following the 2003 Phnom Penh riots in Cambodia, when hundreds of Thai protesters, enraged by the burning of the Thai embassy in Phnom Penh, gathered outside the Cambodian embassy in Bangkok, ripped the Cambodian seal out of the front wall, and tried to break into the embassy. The situation was resolved peacefully when Police General Sant Sarutanonda told the crowd that he had received a call from royal secretary Arsa Sarasin conveying Bhumibol's call for calm.^[46]

Bhumibol has the constitutional prerogative to pardon criminals. The 2006 pardon of several convicted paedophiles, including an Australian rapist and child pornographer, has caused controversy.^[47][48][49]

[edit] Royal projects

Bhumibol has been involved in many social and economic development projects, although the nature of his involvement has varied by political regime.^[50]

The military regime of Plaek Pibulsonggram (1951-1957) suppressed the monarchy; however, during that period Bhumibol managed to initiate a few projects using his own personal funds. These projects included the Royal Film and Radio Broadcasting Projects to help recover the palace's image.

In the military regime of Sarit Dhanarajata and his successors (1958-1980), Bhumibol was reportrayed as the "Development King," and appropriated to the economic and political goals of the regime. Royally-initiated projects were implemented under the financial and political support of the government, including projects in rural areas and communities under the influence of the Communist Party of Thailand. Bhumibol's visits to these projects were heavily promoted by the Sarit government and broadcast on the state-controlled media.

During the civilian governments of General Prem Tinsulanond (1981-1987), the relationship between the Thai state and the monarch was at its closest. Prem, later to become President of Bhumibol's Privy Council, officially allocated government budgets and manpower to support royal projects. Most activities in this period involved the development of large scale irrigation projects.

During the modern period (post-1988), the structured development of the Royal Projects reached its apex. Bhumibol's Chaipattana Foundation was established, promoting the self-sufficient economy theory, an alternative to the export-oriented policies adopted by the period's elected governments.

[edit] Awards

In May 2006, UN Secretary-General, Kofi Annan, presented the United Nations' first Human Development Lifetime Achievement Award to Bhumibol.^[51]

Bhumibol is a recipient of the Royal Victorian Chain, a personal award of the British Monarch.

Bhumibol, who serves as head of The National Scout Organization of Thailand, was presented the Bronze Wolf award on June 20, 2006, World Organization of the Scout Movement's highest award, for his support and development of Scouting in Thailand by Carl XVI Gustav, King of Sweden and Honourary President of the World Scout Foundation. The presentation took place at Chitralada Palace in Thailand and was witnessed by Chairman of the World Scout Committee Herman Hui.^[52]

Bhumibol set a world record for receiving the greatest number of honorary university degrees (136) in 1997.^[53] Most of his degrees came from Thai universities: for instance, Kasetsart University awarded him ten honorary doctoral degrees at once.

[edit] 60th Anniversary celebrations

Main article: 60th anniversary of the accession of Bhumibol Adulyadej

Also called the Diamond Jubilee, the 60th Anniversary Celebrations of His Majesty the King's Accession to the Throne were a series of events marking Bhumibol's reign. Events included the royal barge procession on the Chao Phraya River, fireworks displays, art exhibitions, pardoning 25,000 prisoners,^[54] concerts and dance performances. Tied in with the anniversary, on May 26, 2006 United Nations Secretary-General Kofi Annan presented Bhumibol with the United Nations Development Programme's first Human Development Lifetime Achievement Award. National holidays were on June 9 and June 12–13, 2006. On June 9, the King and Queen appeared on the balcony of Ananta Samakhom Throne Hall before hundreds of thousands of people. The official royal barge procession on June 12 was attended by the King and Queen and royal visitors from 26 other countries. On June 13, a state banquet for the royal visitors was held in the newly constructed Rama IX Throne Hall at the Grand Palace, the first official function for the hall.

The Thai people also created the official Royal Flora Expo in Chiang Mai to honor their king. It was three months long, and featured botanical exhibits from around the world. The king was prominent in several of the exhibits.

On 16 January 2007, the junta officially declared the end of the 60th anniversary celebrations and commenced year-long celebrations of Bhumibol's 80th birthday.^[55]

[edit] Private life

Bhumibol is an accomplished jazz musician and composer. He was the first Asian composer awarded honorary membership of the Academy of Music and Dramatic Arts in Vienna at the age of 32.^[56] He used to play jazz music on air on the Or Sor radio station. In his travels, he has played with such jazz legends as Benny Goodman, Jack Teagarden, Lionel Hampton and Maynard Ferguson. His songs can often be heard at social gatherings and are performed in concerts. They can be listened to here.

Bhumibol is also a painter, photographer, author and translator. His book Phra Mahachanok is based on a traditional Jataka story of Buddhist scripture. The Story of Thong Daeng is the story of his dog Thong Daeng. He is also the only Thai monarch—and possibly the only monarch in the world, to hold a patent;^[57][58] holding one in 1993 for a waste water aerator named "Chai Pattana" and several patents on rainmaking since 1955: the "sandwich" rainmaking patent in 1999 and lately the "supersandwich" patent in 2003.^[59][60][61]

In his youth, Prince Bhumibol was greatly interested in firearms.^[62] He kept a carbine, a Sten gun, and two automatic pistols in his bedroom, and he and brother, King Ananda Mahidol, often used the gardens of the Baromphiman Palace for target practice.

Bhumibol suffers from lumbar spine stenosis, a narrowing of the canal that contains the spinal cord and nerve roots, which results in back and leg pain and numbness in the legs. He received a microsurgical decompression in July 2006.^[63][64]

[edit] Sailing

Bhumibol is an accomplished sailor and sailboat designer.^[65] He won a gold medal for sailing in the Fourth Southeast Asian Peninsular (SEAP) Games in 1967, together with HRH Princess Ubol Ratana who he tied for points.^[66] This accomplishment is all the more remarkable given Bhumibol's lack of binocular depth perception. Bhumibol has also sailed the Gulf of Thailand from Hua Hin to Toey Harbour in Sattahip, covering 60 nautical miles in a 14-hour journey on the "Vega 1", an OK Class dinghy he built.

Like his father, a former naval engineer, Bhumibol was an avid boat designer and builder. He produced several small sail-boat designs in the International Enterprise, OK, and Moth Classes. His designs in the Moth class include the “Mod”, “Super Mod”, and “Micro Mod”.

[edit] Wealth

Bhumibol is one of the wealthiest men in the world. Estimates of the post-devaluation wealth of the royal household range from 2 billion to 8 billion USD (approx. 80 - 320 billion THB).^[67] The wealth and properties of Bhumibol and his family are managed by the Crown Property Bureau (CPB) and the Privy Purse. The CPB was established by the Constitution but is independent of the Thai Government. The CPB's annual report is made available to Bhumibol alone, and he takes an active role in the Bureau's decisions.^[68] Through the CPB, Bhumibol owns massive amounts of land and equity in many companies. The CPB is the majority shareholder of Siam Cement (the largest Thai industrial conglomerate), Christiani & Nielsen (one of the largest construction firms), Deves Insurance (one of the largest insurers), Siam Commercial Bank (one of the largest banks), and Shin Corporation (a major telecommunications firm, through the CPB's holdings in Siam Commercial Bank). The CPB also rents or leases about 36,000 properties to third parties, including the sites of the Four Seasons Hotel Bangkok, the Suan Lum Night Bazaar, Siam Paragon and Central World Tower. The CPB spearheaded a plan to turn Bangkok’s historical Rajadamnoen Avenue into a shopping street known as the “Champs-Élysées of Asia” and has recently shocked longtime residents of traditional marketplace districts by giving them eviction notices.^[68] Bhumibol's substantial income from the CPB, at least five billion baht in 2004 alone, is exempt from taxes.^[69][68]

In addition, the King has numerous personal investments independent of the CPB. He is personally the majority shareholder of the Thai Insurance Company (a leading insurer) and Sammakorn (a leading property developer), as well as many other companies.^[70]

He also receives fees from public appearances and his presence in university graduation ceremonies.^[71]

[edit] Lèse majesté

Although the King is held in great respect by many Thais, he is also protected by lèse majesté laws which allow critics to be jailed for three to 15 years. The laws were toughened during the dictatorship of royalist Premier Tanin Kraivixien.^[72] Jail terms for Thai citizens committing lèse majesté are usually harsher than for foreigners. Social critic Sulak Sivaraksa has been charged several times with lèse majesté, but has always been acquitted. Politician Veera Musikapong was jailed and banned from politics for lèse majesté, despite the palace's opinion that the remarks were harmless. Frenchman Lech Tomacz Kisielwicz refused to switch off reading light on a Thai Airways flight he shared with two Thai princesses and was jailed under lèse majesté for two weeks after his flight landed in Bangkok.^[73] He was acquitted after apologizing to the King. Premier Thaksin Shinawatra and his political opponent Sondhi Limthongkul both filed charges of lèse majesté against each other during the 2005-2006 political crisis. Thaksin's alleged lèse majesté was one of the stated reasons for the Thai military's 2006 coup.^{[74][75][76][77]}

Acts deemed insulting to the King's image are also criminal offenses in Thailand. Charges may be filed by anybody, except for the King himself. In 2007, Oliver Jufer, a Swiss, was sentenced to 10 years in jail for daubing black paint on portraits of Bhumibol ^[78]. The Thai press was requested not to publish any information about the case. "This is a delicate issue and we don't want the public to know much about it," noted chief prosecutor Manoon Moongpanchon.^[79] The man originally pleaded innocent, but eventually pleaded guilty to five acts of lèse majesté. Foreign reporters were barred from the hearing.^[80] Saprang Kalayanamitr, heir-apparent to military junta head Sonthi Boonratkalin, publicly suspected that Jufer was hired to perform the vandalism and ordered a military investigation.^[81]

Bhumibol himself stated that he was not above criticism in his 2005 birthday speech. "Actually, I must also be criticised. I am not afraid if the criticism concerns what I do wrong, because then I know. Because if you say the king cannot be criticised, it means that the king is not human," he said. Despite this, few have dared to call for the repeal of the law. Any doing so have been accused of the serious charge of disloyalty.^[82] Political scientist Giles Ungpakorn noted that "the lèse majesté laws are not really designed to protect the institution of the monarchy. In the past the laws have been used to protect governments, to protect military coups. This whole [royal] image is created to bolster a conservative elite well beyond the walls of the palace."

[edit] Biographies

American journalist Paul Handley, who spent thirteen years in Thailand, wrote the biography The King Never Smiles. The Information and Communications Ministry banned the book and blocked the book's page on the Yale University Press website in January 2006. In a statement dated 19 January 2006, Thai National Police Chief General Kowit Wattana said the book has "contents which could affect national security and the good morality of the people."^[83] The book provides a detailed discussion of Bhumibol's role in Thai political history and also analyses the factors behind Bhumibol's popularity.

William Stevenson, who had access to the Royal Court and the Royal Family, wrote the biography The Revolutionary King in 2001.^[84] An article in Time says the idea for the book was suggested by Bhumibol.^[85]

Critics noted that the book displays intimate knowledge about personal aspects of Bhumibol. However, the book has been unofficially banned in Thailand and the Royal Household Bureau has warned the Thai media about even referring to it in print. (an official ban was not possible as it was written with the Royal blessing). The book has been criticised for factual inaccuracies, disrespecting Bhumibol (it refers to Bhumibol by his family nickname "Lek"), and proposing a controversial theory explaining the death of King Ananda. Stevenson said, "The King said from the beginning the book would be dangerous for him and for me."^[85]

[edit] Succession to the throne

Bhumibol's only son, Prince Vajiralongkorn, was given the title "Somdej Phra Boroma Orasadhiraj Chao Fah Maha Vajiralongkorn Sayam Makutrajakuman" (Crown Prince of Siam) on December 28, 1972 and made heir apparent to the throne in accordance with the Palace Law on Succession of 1924.

On December 5, 1977, Princess Sirindhorn was given the title, "Sayam Boromrajakumari" (Royal Princess of Siam). Her title is often translated by the English-language press as "Crown Princess", although her official English-language title is simply "Princess".^[86]

Although the constitution was later amended to allow the Privy Council to appoint a princess as successor to the throne, this would only occur in the absence of an heir apparent. This amendment is retained in Section 23 of the current 1997 "People's Constitution." This effectively signalled Princess Sirindhorn as second in line to the throne, but did not affect Prince Vajiralongkorn's status as heir apparent.

Recent constitutions of Thailand have made the amendment of the Palace Law of Succession the sole prerogative of the reigning King. According to Gothom Arya, former Election Commissioner, this allows the reigning King, if he so chooses, to appoint his son or any of his daughters to the Throne.^[87]

[edit] See also

• The Golden Jubilee, the largest faceted diamond in the world, was presented to Bhumibol Adulyadej on the 50th anniversary of his coronation.
• Constitutions of Thailand, describing the evolution of Bhumibol's constitutional rights and responsibilities.
• History of Thailand (1932-1973)
• History of Thailand since 1973
• Public Holidays in Thailand
• Thai royal and noble titles
• List of longest reigning monarchs of all time
• Thong Daeng, the beloved royal dog

[edit] References

[edit] Literature

• HM King Bhumibol Adulyadej of Thailand. The Story of Tongdaeng. Amarin Book, Bangkok. 2004. ISBN 9742729174

• HM King Bhumibol Adulyadej of Thailand. The Story of Mahajanaka. Amarin Book, Bangkok. 1997. ISBN 9748364712

• HM King Bhumibol Adulyadej of Thailand. The Story of Mahajanaka: Cartoon Edition. Amarin Book, Bangkok. 1999. ISBN 9742720746

• HM King Bhumibol Adulyadej of Thailand. His Majesty the King's Photographs in the Development of the Country. Photographic Society of Thailand & Thai E, Bangkok. 1992. ISBN 9748880508

• HM King Bhumibol Adulyadej of Thailand. Paintings by his Majesty the King: Special exhibition for the Rattanakosin Bicentennial Celebration at the National Gallery, Chao Fa Road, Bangkok, April 1-June 30, 1982. National Gallery, Bangkok. 1982. ASIN B0007CCDMO

• HM King Bhumibol Adulyadej of Thailand, Chaturong Pramkaew (Ed.). My Country Thailand...land of Everlasting Smile. Amarin Book, Bangkok. 1995. ISBN 9748363538

[edit] External links

• The Sixtieth Anniversary Celebrations of His Majesty's Accession to the Throne - official website for the Diamond Jubilee
• A Visionary Monarch - provides a lot of insights on his visions and contributions to the country.
• The Golden Jubilee Network - has many subjects on Bhumibol, including his projects, speeches, and his royal new year card.
• Office of the Royal Development Projects Board
• Supreme Artist - see works of art created by Bhumibol.
• The King's Birthplace
• Thai monarchy
• Thailand’s Guiding Light
• Thailand: How a 700-Year-Old System of Government Functions - article by David Lamb (LA Times staff writer) on Bhumibol
• Constitution of the Kingdom of Thailand (1997) - Chapter 2 details the King's prerogatives and obligations, as well as matters relating to succession
• "'The King Never Smiles': L'etat, c'est moi", Sreeram Chaulia, worldpress.org, October 4, 2006
• Far Eastern Economic Review, “The King’s Conglomerate”, June 1988. Contains an interview with Chirayu Isarangkun Na Ayuthaya, Crown Property Bureau

Chakri Dynasty Born: 5 December 1927
Preceded by Ananda Mahidol	King of Thailand 1946–present	Incumbent Designated heir: Crown Prince Maha Vajiralongkorn

Persondata
NAME	Adulyadej, Bhumibol
ALTERNATIVE NAMES	Rama IX, the Ninth Rama, King Bhumipol
SHORT DESCRIPTION	King of Thailand
DATE OF BIRTH	December 05, 1927
PLACE OF BIRTH	Cambridge, Massachusetts, United States of America
DATE OF DEATH
PLACE OF DEATH