Bhumibol Adulyadej

His Majesty King Bhumibol Adulyadej the Great (ภูมิพลอดุลยเดช, actually pronounced Phumiphon Adunyadet), King Rama IX of Thailand, born December 5, 1927, has been King of Thailand since 1946. He is currently the world's longest-serving head of state, and is the ninth king of the Chakri Dynasty.

Life as King

The King and politics

While the King is nominally a constitutional monarch who serves as a figurehead, ceremonial leader, Thais nevertheless view him as an important figure within the national government. While the King normally refrains from getting involved in politics, he has on rare occasions intervened.

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During the early years of his reign Bhumibol had little power and was little more than a ceremonial front for the various authoritarian regimes which had run Thailand most of the time since the "Democratic" Revolution of 1932. However, the respect he earned from his people after years of hard work would eventually help shape Thailand's democracy.

Related Topics:
Revolution - 1932

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In 1973 King Bhumibol asserted himself by making it clear he favoured an end to Field Marshal Thanom Kittikachorn's military regime and the establishment of democracy. This ended the savage conflict between the military and the pro-democracy students.

Related Topics:
1973 - Thanom Kittikachorn

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In 1992 he again played a key role in the transition to a fully democratic system. A coup on February 231991 effectively put Thailand back under military dictatorship (ironically, the civilian Prime Minister appointed by the junta was arguably one of the finest PMs of Thailand; he is still popular these days). After a general election, held in 1992, the majority parties invited General Suchinda Kraprayoon, a leader of the coup, to be the Prime Minister. This caused much dissent among the people: it was felt this confirmed that the General, despite what was manifested at the coup, did that for his own benefit and that the government would effectively be a military regime in disguise. The conflict escalated to demonstration, then arson, and then (allegedly massive) deaths of the pro-democracy demonstrators when the military was brought in to control the crowd. The situation became increasingly critical as neither side would back down and the violence escalated.

Related Topics:
1992 - Coup - February 23 - 1991 - Suchinda Kraprayoon

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The King summoned General Kraprayoon and the leader of the pro-democracy movement, Major General Chamlong Srimuang, to a televised audience. In an extraordinary scene, both men appeared on their knees before their king. Afterwards General Kraprayoon, former leader of a coup and Prime Minister for 64 days, resigned. A general election was held shortly afterward, and democracy was thus restored.

Related Topics:
Kraprayoon - Chamlong Srimuang

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At the peak of 2003 Phnom Penh riots in Cambodia, it was King Bhumibol that talked down Thai protesters at the Cambodian embassy in Bangkok.

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The royal projects

The south and west sides of his palace, The Chitralada Villa, have several features unique to the palace of the King of Thailand including silos, processing plants and farms. These are just a small part of the so-called "royal projects", which range from research projects (mainly agriculturally-related), to alternative schools, skill training, water conservation, to land development (this list is by no means exhaustive).

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The King and the people

Popularity of the Crown was at its worst during the reign of Bhumibol's uncle, King Prajadhipok. This improved when his brother, King Ananda Mahidol, acceded to the throne, but certainly reached the level never before experienced during King Bhumibol's reign. The King commands great respect among the Thai people, who view the monarchy in a semi-religious light and admire his hands-on approach in helping Thailand's rural poor. He managed this by extensively touring the various different corners of the country and by installing various medical aid and agricultural projects. His rare political interventions, generally viewed as being in favor of democracy, also added greatly to his already enormous prestige.

Related Topics:
Prajadhipok - Ananda Mahidol - Democracy

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One of his avocations, unique to the Monarch of Thailand, is to preside over the commencements of the state's universities. Most of the graduates from the state's universities in Thailand received their diplomas from his royal hand. In recent years, however, this tedious work has been delegated to the prince and princesses.

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Having ruled for more than 50 years, few Thais can remember or imagine any other head of state. King Bhumibol's image is prominently displayed all over the country, including on every coin and banknote. Thais take any suggestion of disrespect for the King, by Thais or foreigners, very seriously. On May 5, 1987, he received, by popular national referendum, the honorary epithet the Great.

Related Topics:
May 5 - 1987

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The King's designated successor is Crown Prince Maha Vajiralongkorn.

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