rickfarang Posted December 5, 2005 Report Share Posted December 5, 2005 This is from the Monday, Dec. 5 online version of The Nation. If I am allowed an observation, as I read this, I see the message that suppressing criticism is not good. I wonder if this was addressing the actions of some non-Royal public figure? This appears to be only a small part of His Majesty's Birthday Address. If anybody comes across a translation of the full text or an article covering the entire address, please post it. --------------------start of article------------- ROYAL BIRTHDAY ADDRESS: ?KING CAN DO WRONG? Published on December 05, 2005 His Majesty cites his own example in calling for tolerance of others? opinions; urges practice of Sufficiency Economy The King is not infallible and is ready to accept criticism, King Bhumibol Adulyadej said in his address to the Thai people yesterday on the eve of his birthday. His Majesty the King, who turns 78 today, sprang a surprise by discussing royal power and prerogatives in his annual address, which was closely followed by Thai people nationwide. Accompanying His Majesty the King were HRH Crown Prince Maha Vajiralongkorn, HRH Princess Maha Chakri Sirindhorn, and HRH Princess Chulabhorn Valayalaksana. Prime Minister Thaksin Shina-watra led the Cabinet and their spouses, dignitaries and citizens to seek an audience with the King at the Sala Dusitalai, Chitralada Palace. His Majesty the King will celebrate his 60th anniversary on the throne next year. In his speech His Majesty refuted the long-accepted tradition of constitutional monarchy that the King can do no wrong. He said: ?If the King can do no wrong, it is akin to looking down upon him because the King is not being treated as a human being. But the King can do wrong.? It is a violation of the law to criticise the monarchy in Thailand where criticising the King amounts to committing lese majeste, liable to punishment by the law. In Section 8 of the Thai Constitution, it states: ?The King shall be enthroned in a position of revered worship and shall not be violated. No person shall expose the King to any sort of accusation or action.? But His Majesty the King welcomed criticism ? if it helps to keep the monarchy informed and helps to correct any mistakes. ?If you say that the King cannot be criticised, it suggests that the King is not human,? His Majesty said. ?If someone offers criticisms suggesting that the King is wrong, then I would like to be informed of their opinion. If I am not, that could be problematic... If we hold that the King cannot be criticised or violated, then the King ends up in a difficult situation.? His Majesty said everyone should practice awareness in everything they do and think. He admitted that before he became King, he experienced moments of regret, but after taking the throne, he became more careful in his actions, because if he was not careful enough, he would have been faced with death. ?If we do wrong, we will all die. Everybody is in this same situation,? His Majesty said. ?Those who hold a high rank in society, if they are not careful enough, they will die too? I am not condemning anyone, but if we are not careful, Thailand will perish. I ask you all to be careful, very careful with what you think, speak, or do. If you think it is right, go ahead and do it.? He said the King had never imprisoned people for such violations. Even King Rama VI (King Vajiravudh) did not punish anyone for rebelling against him. His Majesty added that during his reign, he has never allowed anybody accused of violating him to go to prison. ?If they get sent to prison, I pardon them. If they don?t go to prison, I won?t sue them, because those who violate the King and are punished are not the ones who are in trouble. It would be the King who was in trouble. It is strange, but the lawyers like to send people to prison (for allegedly violating the King).? His Majesty the King also called on everybody to adopt his Sufficiency Economy theory as a way forward, echoing remarks made by His Majesty in 1996, before Thailand plunged into a full-blown economic crisis the following year. The principles of the Sufficiency Economy urge Thailand to stand on its own two feet no matter what happens in the outside world. People must thus live within their means and use the country?s natural resources wisely. This theory is exemplified through the more than 3,000 projects nationwide sponsored by the palace. His Majesty the King said if that if the prime minister and his spouse and all other Cabinet members practised economic self-sufficiency, Thailand could sustain itself for another 40 years. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
chilli13 Posted December 5, 2005 Report Share Posted December 5, 2005 Wow quiet a surprising speach it must be asking for criticism against the law & even pardon if prosecuted. All the best for HRM the King & the kingdom of Thailand on this special day Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jitagawn Posted December 5, 2005 Report Share Posted December 5, 2005 H.M.IS BRILLIANT !!!! REALLY BRILLIANT AND CLEVER AS USUAL :) CLASSIC THAI APPROACH I LOVED IT. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Pharcyde Posted December 5, 2005 Report Share Posted December 5, 2005 All the best to the King. The majority of his speech can be found in the Nations online version. Huge Respect from here! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
liquidflux Posted December 5, 2005 Report Share Posted December 5, 2005 I think 2bangkok.com usually does an english translation a few days afterwards. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
New Petchburi Pete Posted December 5, 2005 Report Share Posted December 5, 2005 "He (HM) admitted that before he became King, he experienced moments of regret, but after taking the throne, he became more careful in his actions, because if he was not careful enough, he would have been faced with death." I am amazed at this comment, despite it's historical accuracy (in other Kingdoms); although, I feel he made the remark for the enlightenment of future heirs to the throne. Just an historical note: His Majesty the King was born in Cambridge, Massachustts in 1927 at Mount Auburn Hospital, where there is a commerative memorial to celebrate and remember the event. He is a genius; and, many feel he may be greatest monarch in the history of Siam. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
limbo Posted December 5, 2005 Report Share Posted December 5, 2005 Sounds to me like a great speech! Hopefully other people will be inspired by it and do the right thing! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Flashermac Posted December 5, 2005 Report Share Posted December 5, 2005 A bit more background: HM's sister was born in London and his older brother Rama VIII was born in Heidelberg. HM is the only American born monarch in history. (His royal father, Prince Mahidol, graduated from the Imperial German Naval Academy at Kiel and once was an ensign in the German Navy! He met his wife, the future Princess Mother, when they were both studying in the US. HM's mother was a commoner -- a nurse by training.) HM spent most of his early life in Switzerland and once upon a time spoke French and German better than Thai! He also reportedly considered himself an American in his youth. Not a typical background ... even for a Thai royal! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Nervous_Dog Posted December 5, 2005 Report Share Posted December 5, 2005 <<HM's mother was a commoner -- a nurse by training.) >> I see this claimedd often, but her father was a high ranking diplomat, with a family that was VERY well connected, they may not have been royal but their not common, quite a well off family and with a title I thought? DOG Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Flashermac Posted December 5, 2005 Report Share Posted December 5, 2005 Care to explain that to me? The late Princess Mother was born in Nonthaburi, the daughter of a Chinese goldsmith and his Thai wife. Both of her parents had died by the time she was 4 years old, and she was raised as an orphan in a temple in Thonburi. She was an especially bright student, so she was taken in by King Rama V's widowed queen and educated at the palace. The royal court physician, Meechai's papa, recognised the young girl's ability and arranged for her to be sent to study nursing in America. She stayed with an American missionary family in California, where she became fluent in English. Then she went east for her nursing degree, which is where she met HRH Prince Mahidol of Songkla, a son of Rama V. The prince was taken by her beauty and her polite ways. He received royal consent to marry her. Since the prince's wife was a commoner, their children had the rank of "mom chao" and would have been addressed as "serene highness", not "royal highness". But when HSH Prince Ananda Mahidol was chosen to become Rama VIII, the children were elevated to "royal highness". So show me where the "high ranking diplomat" with good connections comes into that??? p.s. Queen Sirikhit is indeed the daughter of a diplomat and met HM when her father was ambassador to Switzerland. The Queen is only a "mom rachawong" by birth -- the daughter of a "serene highness" and not even a princess. Confusing families, are you??? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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