Thais bid final goodbye to beloved King Bhumibol
Originally aired on Channel NewsAsia on October 27, 2017
Thailand bade farewell to late King Bhumibol Adulyadej Thursday in an elaborate, ritual-soaked funeral in Bangkok's historic quarter that gripped a nation mourning the loss of its chief unifying figure.
TRANSCRIPT
It is the end of a long reign as the worldly remains of Thailand’s King Bhumibol Adulyadej is cremated inside the Royal Funeral Pyre, thus releasing his spirits into celestial heaven, according to Thai Buddhist-Hindu mythology.
The Royal Funeral Procession began in the early morning, as the symbolic urn has been transported out of the Grand Palace, where his body has lain for the past year ever since his passing on Oct 13, 2016 at the age of 88.
It was then carried on the Great Victory Chariot, carved out of wood and draped in gold leaf and accompanied by procession of over 2,400, including the late King’s children, Princess Sirindhorn and current King Maha Vajoralongkorn.
Its final destination: the Royal Funeral Pyre, purpose-built over eight months as a grand tribute to His Majesty.
Thousands of Thais were witnessing the proceedings from the sidewalks, many of them having queued up for days just to get a last glimpse of their beloved monarch. And for many, it is an emotional farewell.
For those that couldn’t be near the procession, officials have set up replicas of the pyre or portraits of the late King across the country where citizens could lay sandalwood flowers, a common ritual in Thai funerals.
And here too Thais did not want to pass the opportunity to pay their last respects to their revered monarch, as they came in droves, often waiting hours in line.
VOX POP THAI 1:
“I’m very moved and feel very sad deep inside...it’s like our father isn’t here anymore!”
VOX POP THAI 2:
“I’m glad to attend the funeral, but I’m also very feel sorrowful that His Majesty has passed. I’m very sad about this.”
VOX POP THAI 3:
“I’m very touched by (the funeral ceremony) and by seeing so many people from everywhere paying their last respects to His Majesty.”
SAKSITH SAIYASOMBUT, Bangkok, Thailand:
"The cremation of King Bhumibol Adulyadej marks the end of an era of the most popular monarch in modern Thai history. In 70 years of reign, he built up a legacy in which the royal institution is highly revered, powerful and seemingly untouchable.
For Thailand, this is a watershed moment, as its people have to come to terms with the passing of the only King they know and the dawn of a new era of his son, King Maja Vajiralongkorn."
Saksith Saiyasombut, Channel NewsAsia, Bangkok
Thailand prepares for once-in-a-lifetime Royal Funeral
Originally aired on Channel NewsAsia on October 24, 2017
Today is the beginning of a five day ritual of Thailand's late King Bhumibol royal funeral. The cremation of the body will take place on Thursday, October 26th. In my report for Channel NewsAsia, we look at how Thais are preparing for the once-in-a-lifetime event and how they will remember their late monarch.
TRANSCRIPT
A funeral for a king cannot be left to chance.
That’s why since the beginning of this month, thousands of people have gone tirelessly through their paces to ensure the Royal Cremation Ceremony for Thailand’s late King Bhumibol Adulyadej goes off without a hitch.
At the final dress rehearsal on Saturday, tens of thousands of spectators were at the Grand Palace to witness the procession.
Most Thais will be witnessing a King’s funeral for the first time in their lives.
Just the rehearsal alone left many grappling with their emotions, including the normally stern Thai Prime Minister Prayuth Chan-ocha.
An army of volunteers is training for the big day to manage the quarter of a million mourners expected to enter the grounds of the Grand Palace.
The volunteers say by helping out here, it’s their way to pay back the sacrifices King Bhumibol made for his subjects during his long reign.
"I think that everyone want to come into this area but its space is quite limited. As a volunteer, I will show my respects through my work,” says one volunteer.
"I’ve been doing volunteer works since the beginning. I’m glad that I can re-pay my gratitude for father (the King Bhumibol)," expresses another one.
“I want to do a good deeds for the king. The late king Bhumibol was a great role model for tirelessly doing good deeds,” proclaims a female volunteer.
SAKSITH SAIYASOMBUT; Bangkok, Thailand:
"Tributes to the late monarch have sprung up everywhere across the country, like this elaborate display at the Pak Khlong Talad, Bangkok's biggest flower market.
The passing of King Bhumibol Adulyadej and the royal transition marks a watershed moment for the Thai people. The late king was on the throne for 70 years, long enough for people to remember only this one king and long enough to have built a legacy, which will last long into the future."
The people of Thailand revere their late king.
"I remember him all my life and I’ve seen that His Majesty has been caring about every citizen," remembers one older woman.
"His Majesty has made sacrfices all his life. All his 70 years on the throne, he pledged to look after the country," says a man.
"Deep inside, I’m sad that he is gone. But on the other hand, every Thai is willing to do (good deeds) for His Majesty and to follow his example," says a woman.
King Bhumibol Adulyadej will be cremated in a grand, purpose-built funeral pyre in front of the Grand Palace on Thursday.
His ashes will be enshrined at two nearby Buddhist temples, marking the end of a year-long mourning period.
Saksith Saiyasombut, Channel NewsAsia, Bangkok
Thailand Rehearses Royal Funeral Ceremony
Originally aired on Channel NewsAsia on October 21, 2017
Today was the final big rehearsal before the Royal Funeral of Thailand's late King Bhumibol and already tens of thousands have been waiting around the Grand Palace to see the proceedings, many of them overnight. Here's my short report for Channel NewsAsia.
Thais commemorate first anniversary of King's death
My quick Channel NewsAsia report on this morning's events at Siriraj Hospital where thousands of Thais have come to commemorate the first anniversary of King Bhumibol's passing. Talking to Thais, it is evident that emotions and memories of Oct 13, 2016 are still very vivid and raw.
Thai PM: Elections in November 2018
Originally aired on Channel NewsAsia on October 10, 2017
Thai PM Prayuth Chan-ocha has announced that November 2018 will the time when democratic elections are being held. Here are my two cents about it.
Thailand's aviation industry gets safety upgrade
Originally published on Channel NewsAsia on October 9, 2017
Good news for Thailand's aviation industry, as the UN's ICAO - International Civil Aviation Organization has lifted its red flag status for Thailand, citing improvements in safety regulations. What it means for Thai airlines and airports? I'll explain.
Thousands of mourners queue up on last day to pay respects to late King
Originally published on Channel NewsAsia on October 5, 2017
Today is the last day where mourners can go to Grand Palace to pay their last respects to the late King Bhumipol Adulyadej. But as the deadline approaches the number of people waiting in line skyrocketed in the past few days, with tens of thousands of Thais waiting up to 8 hours in extreme cases. Here's my short Channel NewsAsia report on the mood today.
TRANSCRIPT
It is the last chance for Thais to pay their last respects to the late King Bhumipol Adulyadej and they’re certainly using that chance, as tens of thousands of Thais have come here to the Grand Palce to sit in line very patiently. And patience is what you need to bring, because the lines are stretching over several kilometers, the waiting hours can be in extreme cases be up to 8 hours some people have been staying overnight or at least since the very early morning to get their last chance to come to the Grand Palace.
Originally, the last day was supposed to be September 30th, but amidst the masses of people that are still coming here to the Grand Palace the officials have extended to October 5th. Also, countless of volunteers have been working around the clock, handing out food and water and also in some cases providing medical attention. And that’s probably one of the reasons why people here are certainly in very good spirits.
“I left home at 6 in the morning and came here at 8. It’s not too warm today, because it rained last night. But today it’s moving quickly,” says a young woman.
“It’s my first time here and I planned to come on the last day and I was able to clear my schedule. The organization is pretty good and pretty quick,” a young man remarks
“It is a great honor to pay the last respects to His Majesty. We are Thai citizens and we love our ‘Father’ and to pay respect to him is a great joy,” tells an older woman, with tears in her eyes.
King Bhumipol Adulyadej passed away on October 13th, 2016 after a 70 year rule on the throne. Ever since the Grand Palace has opened its doors in late October, 11.6 million people are estimated to have come by to pay their last respects to the body of the late King. But not only ordinary Thai citizens were among them, but also many foreign dignitaries as well, such as head of states and foreign ministers.
So what happens next? We are on the final stretch of a one year mourning period and next to me, next to the lines and just outside Grand Palace, the Royal Funeral Pyre is being constructed and it’s almost finished. And just like the death of the King itself, this is a once-in-a-lifetime event for many Thais. A quarter million people are expected to come on October 26th, where the funeral will take place - and that is the very last chance for Thais to say goodbye to their beloved monarch.
Saksith Saiyasombut, Channel NewsAsia, Bangkok
Strict gun laws don't stop high death rate in Thailand
Originally published on Channel NewsAsia on October 4, 2017
We take a look at Thailand's gun laws and why despite that the country still has (supposedly) the highest rate of gun-related deaths per capita in Asia and even rivals the United States in that regard.
TRANSCRIPT
In Bangkok’s Chinatown district, there’s a whole street dedicated to firearms: from pistols to rifles, shotguns and revolvers all there on display in the storefronts.
But buying a gun in Thailand is not a straightforward affair - least in theory.
On paper, gun laws are pretty strict in Thailand: any applicant has to be at least 20 years old and has to pass background checks that screen the applicants' personal conduct, livelihood and criminal records. A firearms license can be issued for self-protection, security of property and sports and costs about $30, a firearm about $600.
According to government statistics, 6.2 million guns are officially registered in a country with a population of 68 million people. That means one of out every ten Thais legally owns a firearm.
However it is estimated that the actual number of firearms in the country is much higher than that: the online database GunPolicy.org, run by the University of Sydney's School of Public Health, believes there’s a total of 10 million guns in circulation due to a high influx of unregistered weapons on the black market, either smuggled in from abroad, or allegedly sold by corrupt Thai officials.
And these illegal guns often end up being used in many crime cases in Thailand.
"Most weapons used in crimes are unregistered or home-made firearms like pen pistols," explains Thititorn Bupparamanee, president of the Firearms Traders Association of Thailand, "That often happens in rural areas, where these kind of weapons are popular because they are easy to get and not expensive."
Registered or not, the consequences of high gun ownership in Thailand are deadly. While there are no official gun crime statistics released by Thailand’s authorities, international studies paint a grim picture: a 2013 study by the University of Washington’s Institute for Health and Metric Evaluation has counted 7.48 deaths per 100,000 people, more than twice the fatalities from shootings per capita compared to the United States.
While mass shootings are rare in Thailand, almost every day the crime sections of media outlets report on murder cases, where victims are shot dead. These crimes – by shooting – are mostly because of a personal vendetta or a local business dispute. Especially in cases involving loss of face, some Thais tend to take the law into their own hands.
"The problem is not that the law isn’t too strict. The penalty for illegal possession of firearms is 10 years in jail, and for weapons of war there’s even the death penalty," argues Thititorn, "So it’s already pretty strict. But the problem is that - especially with younger ones - there is less respect for the law."
With no public debate about gun control, let alone any prominent groups pushing for reforms, Thailand’s gun problem will remain a deadly one for the foreseeable future.
Saksith Saiyasombut, Channel NewsAsia, Bangkok
US to counter-balance ties with Thailand as PM Prayuth visits President Trump
Originally published on Channel NewsAsia on October 2, 2017
My quick Channel NewsAsia preview on the visit by Thai PM Prayuth to the White House, where US President Donald Trump is set to welcome the first Thai PM in DC since Thaksin in 2005. The visit marks a reset in the recently frosty Thai-US relations. Many thanks to Thitinan Pongsudhirak for his input.