THE BANGKOK Metropolitan Administration (BMA) is making new arrangements at Sanam Luang to make way for the construction of the Phra Merumas royal crematorium for His Majesty King Bhumibol Adulyadej.
The structure will be the site of the royal cremation of the late King who passed away in his 89th year on October 13. Construction is expected to begin after the new year.
Bangkok Governor Aswin Kwanmuang said yesterday no concrete plans had been made yet, as the city would wait for Her Royal Highness Princess Maha Chakri Sirindhorn to inspect the ceremonial grounds.
Aswin said two-thirds, or 50 rai (eight hectares), of the 75-rai Sanam Luang would be dedicated to the construction of the Phra Merumas. The city would move state agencies’ tents, rest areas and mobile toilets from the south to the north side of the field. Volunteer tents and mourners will also have to vacate some areas.
Deputy Bangkok Governor Pol Lt-General Amnuay Nimmano said yesterday that tents would have to be relocated before the end of next week.
Amnuay said homeless people would not be allowed to stay overnight in Sanam Luang as the ground was a sacred venue for the country’s major royal ceremonies.
Prasarn Pitakvoraratana, director of the BMA’s Public Works Department, said construction in the southern area possibly would start in February so the grounds had to be cleaned and prepared.
Last night city workers were scheduled to pour asphalt and concrete on the north side in a project scheduled to be completed by Sunday, after which 70 tents would be set up, Prasarn added.
BMA adviser Wanlop Suwandee said meal-distribution tents were fully booked until December and people who wished to distribute food should book a reservation.
Amnuay said the BMA would today begin three shifts distributing meals for breakfast from 6am to 9am, lunch from 11am to 2pm, and dinner from 4pm to 8pm.
Since the passing of the revered monarch, more than 1.5 million people have visited Sanam Luang. Of the total, 547,381 have entered the Grand Palace to pay respects to the late King either in front of his official portrait or the Royal Urn.
Due to the long lines of mourners, many people have paid homage to the King from outside the palace walls. Several tonnes of fresh flowers have been placed outside the Grand Palace during the past few weeks as many people expressed their love and loyalty to the King.
Officials from the Japanese and Australian embassies visited Sanam Luang yesterday to observe police operations in the area, as authorities deal with the massive crowds.
There are now eight checkpoints around Sanam Luang and 18 surveillance units.
The foreign delegations also handed out banana cake, butter cake and fruitcake to police and mourners.
“We share the sadness of Thai people on the passing of HM King Bhumibol Adulyadej,” Keisuke Hosaka, from the Japanese embassy, said.
Pol Lt-General Prommatorn Park-at, an acting assistant national police commissioner, said as many as 40 volunteer interpreters were working at the Temple of the Emerald Buddha after it reopened to tourists on Tuesday.
The renowned royal monastery had been closed for more than two weeks after the King’s passing.
“Together, these volunteers can speak five foreign languages. They can assist tourists and support police operations,” Prommatorn said.
Tourists and mourners enter the Grand Palace, which hosts not just the Dusit Maha Prasat Throne Hall but also the Temple of the Emerald Buddha, through separate gates.
Metropolitan police chief Lt-General Sanit Mahathaworn urged mourners from Bangkok to come to the Grand Palace on weekdays because the lines were shorter than at the weekend.
“Please leave the weekends to people from the provinces. They travel from farther away and hence usually have to come on the weekend,” he said.
He added that all mourners who queued up on Tuesday were able to enter the Dusit Maha Prasat Throne Hall by 5pm.
During the past weekend, the lines were several kilometres long and many mourners were unable to pay obeisance to the late King in the Throne Hall of the Grand Palace.