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[QUOTE]The world's longest-reigning monarch, Thailand's King Bhumibol Adulyadej, has died. He was 88.King Bhumibol, whose name means "Strength of the Land", was seen as a father figure in the country of 68 million. Formally known as Rama IX of the Chakri Dynasty, he was the last king to yield real power in a region where old, once-powerful monarchies - in Myanmar, Laos, Vietnam and Cambodia - had long disappeared.
Thailand now moves into unknown territory but in the short term, with the royalist army firmly in power, there may be a period of stability, analysts say.
While absolute monarchy in Thailand was abolished in 1932, the institution remained a potent symbol and King Bhumibol, who was plunged into the role at age 18, rebuilt the reputation and moral authority of the monarchy to probably its peak.
His image - assiduously cultivated by the state with layers of ritual, ceremony and protocol -was that of a Dhammaraja or righteous king, impassively above the political fray. While on paper Thailand is a constitutional monarchy, in reality King Bhumibol was the kingdom's highest moral authority.
He was only 18 years old when he had to agree to become king, descending into a world of cut throat political intrigue following the sudden death of his brother King Ananda Mahidol from a gunshot in his own bed in 1946.
With 70 years on the throne, King Bhumibol is the only king the vast majority of Thais have ever known.
The wide respect and reverence for him was largely due to state-sponsored ceremony and ritual, and the harsh lese majeste law which stifles critical debate on the royal family's role - an issue increasingly underlying the political conflict of the last decade.
But the king also earned his popularity by travelling seemingly indefatigably throughout the country, especially in his younger days on the throne, speaking with people from all walks of life and starting thousands of projects to help the poor and marginalised.
In the 1970s, an active and benevolent monarchy also proved to be a bulwark against communism. Thailand became an ally of the United States in 1833 with a Treaty of Amity and Cooperation, and the fight against communism cemented the alliance when US and Thai troops fought side by side in the Korean and Vietnam wars. In the 1960s and 1970s, communist insurgents in Thailand, seeking to overthrow the monarchy, fought government troops as well. The king's pro-poor projects in the impoverished north and north-east, and his benevolent ''people's King'' image, helped blunt communist propaganda. [/QUOTE]
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I wonder what will happen to Thailand, he is essentially, the guy holding both the opposition and junta in place.
We won't know what would happen to this country until the new king (or someone else equally) is established. But I still hope for the best though.
Aren't Thai Royals regarded with a near god-like reverence? To the point that criticising them is not only illegal and doing stuff like posting other images above the King's is illegal? Can't imagine what kind of shake-up this is gonna be in Thailand.
[QUOTE=GordonZombie;51197654]Aren't Thai Royals regarded with a near god-like reverence? To the point that criticising them is not only illegal and doing stuff like posting other images above the King's is illegal? Can't imagine what kind of shake-up this is gonna be in Thailand.[/QUOTE]
Thailand is under military control right now pending a new constitution, so I don't think anything much will change.
I don't know if I'd call it godlike reverence, but every Thai restaurant I've ever been to has his portrait. He's really loved
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