The institution of monarchy in Thailand is in many ways unique, often difficult for outsiders to fully comprehend. Not only does it have a history going back more than seven hundred years, but it also continues to function with extraordinary relevance and vitality in the contemporary world. Indeed, although the Revolution of 1932 brought an end to monarchy in its absolute form, the institution today can be said to be more powerful than ever in the sense of providing a unifying element for the country, a focal point that brings together people from all backgrounds and shades of political thought and gives them an intense awareness of being Thai. This was clearly shown by the unprecedented outpouring of public pride and personal affection that greeted such occasions as His Majesty King Bhumibol AdulyadejΓÇÖs Golden Jubilee in 1996 and the celebration of his Sixth Cycle Birthday in 1999; and it is also apparent in countless other ways, large and small.
The intensity of respect felt by the Thai people for their King stems in large part from the distinctive form the modern monarch has taken under his own leadership, one that involves a remarkable degree of personal contact. At the same time, it is rooted in attitudes that can be traced to the earliest days of Thailand as a nation and in some of the past rulers who continue to serve as models of kingship.
Background to a Modern Kingship
Thai concepts of monarchy have their origins in Sukhothai, founded in the early part of the 13th century and generally regarded as the first truly independent Thai kingdom. Here, particularly under the reign of King Ramkhamhaeng the Great (1275-1317), was born the ideal of a paternalistic ruler alert to the needs of his people and aware of the fact that his duty was to guide them, a view markedly different from the divine kingship practiced by the Khmers.
This paternalistic ideal was at times lost during the long Ayutthaya period, when Khmer influence regarding kingship reappeared and the monarch became a lofty, inaccessible figure, rarely seen by most citizens. Nevertheless, the four-century era witnessed the reigns of some remarkable rulers, whose achievements were far reaching. With the founding of the Royal House of Chakri in 1782 and the establishment of Bangkok as the capital, kingship was based primarily on adherence to the Buddhist concept of virtue. The Bangkok period has produced a succession of unusually able rulers, capable of meeting a variety of challenges both to the country and to the monarchy itself.
Though it had lasted longer than most others in the world, largely due to wise rule by Chakri kings, the countryΓÇÖs absolute monarchy finally came to an end on 24 June 1932, when a small group of civil servants and military officers staged a bloodless coup and demanded a constitution. King Prajadhipok (Rama VII), who in any case was already thinking along such lines himself and had already drafted a constitution which had been debated in the Supreme Council of State, agreed and thus became the first constitutional monarch. Three years later, unhappy with some of the results, he decided to abdicate; his nephew Prince Ananda Mahidol, then a 10-year-old student in Switzerland, was chosen to follow him as the eighth in the Chakri line.
The Forging of a Modern Monarchy
King Bhumibol Adulyadej was born in 1927 in Cambridge, Massachusetts, in the United States, where his father, Prince Mahidol of Songkla, was studying medicine. After his fatherΓÇÖs death, he lived mostly in Switzerland with his mother, sister, and elder brother; except for one visit in 1938, the family remained cut off from their homeland by the Second World War. He had a relatively normal youth, displaying notable talents in both music and engineering and becoming fluent in three European languages ΓÇô English, French, and German ΓÇô as well as being at ease in different cultures. On their first postwar visit, in 1946, his brother died and he suddenly found himself the ninth Chakri king.
He returned to Switzerland to complete his education, changing from science to political science and law in recognition of his new role, during the course of which he met the beautiful young Mom Rajawongse Sirikit Kitiyakara, daughter of the Thai ambassador to France. They were married in Bangkok on 28 April 1950, and seven days later His Majesty was officially crowned in ancient ceremonies held at the Grand Palace.
In his Oath of Accession to the Throne, King Bhumibol Adulyadej pledged to ΓÇ£reign with righteousness for the benefits and happiness of the Siamese people.ΓÇ¥ But what sort of reign would it be? After fifteen years of tumultuous change during most of which the monarch had been merely a name to most Thais, was there still a place for monarchy? If so, what form would it take?
Any doubts about acceptance of the monarchy were quickly dispelled. Vast crowds in Bangkok had already shown their enthusiasm during the ceremonies that accompanied the royal wedding and the coronation, which members of the younger generation were witnessing for the first time. In 1955, the King and Queen made a pioneering trip to the impoverished northeast, then a remote region that had never seen a ruling monarch in person and that also, with some reasons, felt itself to be neglected by the central government. For 22 arduous days, the royal couple toured the region, visiting remote villages as well as cities, talking to ordinary people as well as monks and local officials. The response was overwhelming. Hundreds of thousands of people, some of whom walked for days from isolated hamlets, turned out for even a fleeting glimpse of their King. The warmth of their greeting was unmistakable; so, too, was the extent of their needs as revealed in the conversations His Majesty had with those he met.
The decision to bring the monarchy into direct contact with the provincial population was perhaps the most important of all those taken by His Majesty. Today he and other members of the Royal Family spend a large part of the year in one or another of the royal residences that have been built outside of Bangkok ΓÇô at Chiang Mai in the far north, Sakon Nakhon in the northeast, Hua Hin on the east coast of the Gulf of Thailand, and Narathiwat in the south. From these, defying discomforts and inconveniences, His Majesty has visited every province in the country, going by helicopter, jeep, train, boat, or, on occasion, on foot to ascertain for himself local conditions. In the process, he has become the most travelled monarch in Thai history, as well as the best informed about a wide range of rural problems and difficulties.
Often assisted by other members of the Royal Family ΓÇô Her Majesty the Queen, His Royal Highness Crown Prince Maha Vajiralongkorn, and Their Royal Highnesses Princess Maha Chakri Sirindhorn and Princess Chulabhorn ΓÇô the King takes copious notes on these trips and later initiates steps to provide assistance, working through the appropriate government agencies or sometimes using his own funds in the early stages. He has established the Chaipattana Foundation to provide initial or emergency financial support for subsequent development projects. A directive is never simply issued; the impetus comes from the local population, who must agree with the proposal and be able to cooperate on its implementation.
Over 2,000 ΓÇ£royally-suggestedΓÇ¥ projects have been started in this way. These are classified into various categories, among them agriculture, water resources, the environment, occupational promotion, public health, public welfare, and communications, all aimed at raising the standards of rural life and helping farmers to be self-reliant.
Some are basic, like irrigation and water-conservation schemes in the arid northeast or drainage and land reclamation in the south, which faces the problem of floods. In others, imaginative solutions have been applied. His Majesty was the guiding force behind an artificial rain-making project which started in the late 1950s and took over ten years of experiment and development; the first field operations began in 1969 at Khao Yai National Park in Nakhon Ratchasima Province. Thereafter the successful methods were repeated countless times over the years throughout the kingdom, whenever conditions were suitable. Neighbouring countries have also called on Thai teams to assist in times of drought.
Another early endeavour was His MajestyΓÇÖs Hilltribe Development Project in the north, now known as the Royal Project and encompassing lowland areas as well. Migratory tribal people living in the mountainous region that forms ThailandΓÇÖs borders with Laos and Myanmar had become an increasing problem to the government, partly due to their destructive slash-and-burn technique of clearing land, as well as to their traditional cultivation of opium poppy. Under His MajestyΓÇÖs project a wide variety of new crops have been introduced to replace opium grown by these hilltribes and educational and medical facilities have been set up at their permanent settlements. International recognition of the Royal ProjectΓÇÖs effectiveness has come in many forms, including financial grants and expert assistance by several foreign governments. In 1988, it was selected for the Ramon Magsaysay Award in the area of international understanding. In short, it may be said that through this project, His Majesty has given the tribal people a sense of belonging to Thai society and, in effect, prevented them from falling prey to communist influence, which would have cost the government vast sums of money for security expenses and might have entailed the loss of many more lives. As it was, resources could instead be channeled for the development of the countryΓÇÖs economic infrastructure.
Two other important projects may also serve as examples. On all His MajestyΓÇÖs many visits to rural areas, he has observed how much water shortages can affect rice cultivation. In 1992, he outlined a ΓÇ£New TheoryΓÇ¥ of water conservation involving more small reservoirs and diversification of crops. Tests proved the plan to be practical and effective, with the result that it is now being followed by farmers in all parts of the country. Another project concerns flood control, a problem not only in Bangkok but also in other areas. His Majesty has suggested that various methodologies be utilized according to local conditions; these include water diversion ditches, watercourse improvement, and reservoirs to store water that would otherwise run off and be wasted. One program is devised specifically for Bangkok and the low-lying Central Plains region, and has helped significantly in preventing serious flooding that was once commonplace in the capital.
Implementation of the Royal Projects takes into consideration the following major principles:
1. Tackling the immediate problems. His Majesty always emphasizes that projects aim at solving immediate problems, especially in emergencies. Examples are the development work in Buri Ram Province on the Thai-Cambodian border which was underdeveloped and under communist control. After the Royal Development Projects reached the area, the security problems decreased and were finally resolved. More recent cases of this approach include traffic congestion and flooding in the Bangkok Metropolitan Administration area.
2. Development according to steps, necessity, and economy. His Majesty emphasizes development work which aims to strengthen the community to the self-supporting level in order to equip the community with a strong foundation prior to future progress. He uses the expression ΓÇ£explosion from within,ΓÇ¥ which means the community and village must be empowered and strengthened before being exposed to the outside world.
3. Self-supporting. According to this principle, Thai people should be encouraged to be self-reliant and get along with the society. Examples include the Rice Bank Project, the Cattle Bank Project, and the Hup Krapong Land Management and Development Project at Cha-Am District in Petchaburi Province, all of which are aimed at providing farmers with land on which to live and cultivate, and encouraging them to form cooperatives in order to solve occupational and other problems.
4. Promotion of modern and appropriate knowledge and technology. His Majesty stresses the necessity of having ΓÇ£a demonstration model of successΓÇ¥ to allow farmers the opportunity to observe the model of success and apply it to their own occupation. Six Royal Development Study Centres have been established in every region of the country to conduct research and experimentation on modern knowledge and technology which farmers can understand and apply in their real life. Moreover, the methodology used in these Centres is inexpensive and suitable to the environment and occupation of the local people.
5. Conservation and development of natural resources. His Majesty is immensely interested in conservation of natural resources, because recent development activities in the country have demonstrated how economic growth can result in overuse and misuse of such resources. Thus he favours conservation and development of natural resources as the foundation of the countryΓÇÖs overall development. Examples of this concern can be seen in the Watershed Conservation Project, the Forest Loves Water Project, the Wildlife Conservation Project, and the Land Development Project.
6. Promotion and improvement of environmental conditions. Thai society has become increasingly urbanized,which promotes economic progress chiefly in major cities in various regions and in the Bangkok Metropolitan Administration area. At the same time, the countryΓÇÖs environment has deteriorated. Many Royal Development Projects are therefore aimed at solving environmental problems especially in terms of water pollution in Bangkok and major cities.
Modern Monarchy
Besides bringing obvious benefits to the country, such activities have yielded other results, less tangible but no less important. They have made the monarchy a potent moral force in Thai society and reinforced His MajestyΓÇÖs paternal image that inspires both respect and deep affection.
During a student-led uprising in 1973, both sides turned to the King for advice that eased tensions and prevented more bloodshed. He provided equally wise counsel during ThailandΓÇÖs struggle against the communist insurgency, suggesting solutions aimed at relieving rural poverty and inspiring confidence in the governmentΓÇÖs constructive efforts. In May 1992, violence once again broke out between pro-democracy and military troops; television audiences around the world viewed the scene when leaders of both factions were granted an audience by His Majesty, whose advice ended the confrontation. It can be said that, following the end of the conflict in Indochina, Thailand did not become the next ΓÇ£dominoΓÇ¥ to fall to communism, as had been expected by some quarters in the Western world. This was due, to a great extent, to His MajestyΓÇÖs leadership and wisdom.
In recent decades, His Majesty has tended to devote himself exclusively to his developmental projects and the performance of his other duties in Thailand. In earlier years, however, he paid state visits to more than 30 countries and met nearly all the leaders of the contemporary world. He also entertains visiting monarchs and heads of state when they visit Thailand and thus maintains a broad knowledge of current international affairs.
In June 1988, King Bhumibol Adulyadej became the longest-reigning monarch in Thai history, surpassing in that month the 42-year reign of his grandfather King Chulalongkorn. In 1996, His Majesty celebrated his Golden Jubilee, an even more notable landmark that makes him the longest-reigning monarch in todayΓÇÖs world. In 1999, he observed his 72nd Birthday, a milestone accompanied by an outpouring of affection from his people. For more than half a century, because of His MajestyΓÇÖs dedicated hard work, foresight, and wisdom, Thailand has achieved much in terms of economic growth, general well-being of the people, and security for the nation.
Traditional Royal Duties
King Bhumibol Adulyadej also presides over a large number of other functions, many of them deeply rooted in Thai tradition. Three times a year, at the beginning of each season, he ritually changes the robes of the sacred Emerald Buddha. Moreover, as a devout Buddhist, he participates in numerous merit-making ceremonies at temples all over the country. He is regarded, however, as the Upholder of All Religions, and as such has actively promoted better understanding between Thai Buddhists and other religious groups such as the Muslims in the southernmost provinces. All new ambassadors present their credentials to His Majesty, and he grants audiences to foreign heads of state, diplomats, and officials of international organizations. As Head of State, he convenes the National Assembly at the beginning of each new session, and every draft law is submitted to him for his signature before promulgation.
Early in his reign he began attending graduation ceremonies, personally handing out degrees to the graduates of Thai universities, as well as those of military academies.The recent growth in the number of such institutions has made it necessary to delegate this responsibility to other members of the Royal Family in some cases, but His Majesty still presides over the ceremonies at the older ones, such as Chulalongkorn and Thammasat Universities, even though they extend over several days.
To coordinate his active schedule, His Majesty relies on a royal bureaucracy staffed by a special category of civil servants classified as belonging to the Court and based at both the Grand Palace and Chitrlada Villa. Divided into the Office of His MajestyΓÇÖs Principal Private Secretary and the Bureau of the Royal Household, this bureaucracy compiles the royal appointments calendar, arranges ceremonial functions, manages royal finances, supervises royal housekeeping, and performs a wide range of administrative duties; many members of the staff travel regularly with the Royal Family on provincial tours.
The King personally appoints his Privy Council, a body composed of distinguished advisers noted for their xceptional experience and knowledge of state affairs. The Privy Council reviews all draft laws and makes germane recommendations to His Majesty. In addition, it meets twice weekly to consider unusual or complex issues, such as an appeal for royal clemency or a request without precedent, before forwarding recommendations for His MajestyΓÇÖs attention.
