Thailand king stable in hospital

[Flashermac]

King Sanuk?

[Flashermac]

Bangkok Post

24 Oct 2009

 

 

King appears in public

 

 

His Majesty the King has appeared in public for the first time after spending more than a month in hospital being treated for inflammation of his lungs.

 

Hundreds of well-wishers crowding Siriraj Hospital's compound to check for news updates were given a welcome surprise when they saw the King come down from his hospital ward on the 16th floor yesterday afternoon.

 

Sitting on a padded electric wheelchair, His Majesty was accompanied by doctors, nurses and security officers.

 

"Long Live the King," cheered the people as the King travelled past lines of well-wishers to pay homage to the statue of King Rama V, his grandfather.

 

Yesterday was Chulalongkorn Memorial Day. The nation commemorated the day when King Chulalongkorn (Rama V) passed away 99 years ago.

 

Well-wishers, when seeing His Majesty, knelt to pay their respects. Many were tearful while others yelled out loudly to wish the King a long life.

 

The King's unannounced public appearance helped ease the concerns among many people about his health.

 

"My worries have now disappeared after living with rumours for weeks," said Prapai Bunsawan, 79.

 

Like other people who signed a visitors' book for the King, Ms Prapai urged politicians to stop arguing. Good deeds and a peaceful society would keep the King happy, she said.

 

His Majesty, who wore a blue shirt, was looking cheerful yesterday. He talked with doctors occasionally as cardiologist Pradit Panjawinin wheeled him round.

 

Dr Pradit is a director for Her Majesty the Queen's Cardiac Centre at Siriraj Hospital.

 

The King also went to pay homage to a statue of Prince Mahidol of Songkhla, his father, and a portrait of Her Royal Highness Princess Srinagarindra Boromrajajonani, his mother.He also saw the exhibition of his late mother, held to celebrate the 109th anniversary of her birth on Oct 21, before moving on for a sightseeing tour around many areas of the hospital compound.

 

[Flashermac]

Thai king makes public appearance

 

 

Thailand's King Bhumibol Adulyadej has made his first public appearance since being admitted to hospital more than a month ago.

 

Thai TV showed the king in a wheelchair touring the hospital grounds.

 

King Bhumibol, 81, was admitted to hospital on 19 September with fever, fatigue and lack of appetite.

 

The Royal Household said on Thursday that the king was in a stable condition and it would no longer issue daily updates on his condition.

 

"His Majesty has regained more strength. He is able to partake of his meals and can sleep well," a statement from the Royal Household said.

 

The king was continuing with a course of antibiotics and nutrition programme, it said.

 

King Bhumibol's health is a highly sensitive topic in Thailand.

 

He is seen as unifying figure in a country that has had repeated coups and coup attempts and 27 different prime ministers during his 60-year reign.

 

He is the world's longest serving monarch.

 

 

BBC