TIREDNESS and having to queue for hours in the hot Bangkok sun could not diminish the people’s spirits as tens of thousands waited patiently to pay their respects to the late King at the Grand Palace.
Yesterday was the first day that the Royal Household Bureau allowed the public to enter Dusit Maha Prasat Throne Hall, and huge numbers turned up to show their loyalty and express their condolences before the Royal Urn.
Since midnight on Friday, people from all around the country waited to enter the Grand Palace. The vast walkway around Sanam Luang was a throng of queuing people as early as 5am, but still they came in their droves, arriving at the venue during the morning in the hope they would be among the first to pay homage to the beloved HM King Bhumibol Adulyadej.
As a Thai citizen, I also queued to enter the Grand Palace yesterday. Knowing that a lot of people would come on the first day, I decided to go to Sanam Luang as early as possible to get the first queue card, and arrived there at 4am. But I discovered that thousands had already come before me and a long queue was already winding around Sanam Luang.
From night to dawn and then sunrise, people around me waited patiently for their turn to get to the Throne Hall. Most were dressed in black, but some wore white shirts and other uniforms with black ribbon bows on their chests. It was just like a black line of people circled around the Royal ground.
Due to the large numbers, the Peace and Order Maintaining Command cancelled the distribution of queue cards and people were allowed to enter the Grand Palace on a quota basis.
As the sun rose high in the sky and the temperature soared, people of all ages and genders still stood firm with high hopes that it would be their turn soon.
Thongphun Pojjanakantrong, an 80-year-old woman from Roi Et, said that although she was tired of the long wait, she did not want to take a rest as she was very eager to pay her respects to the King.
“My legs hurt and I feel tired, but there is nothing to worry about. I have my daughter taking care of me and I am sure that the long wait will end with a worthy prize,” Thongphun said, smiling.
“I have travelled this far from my home. Tiredness cannot sway me from my main objective to pay homage to my beloved King.”
Many volunteers distributed food and drink, cold towels, fans and balm to the mourners, making their wait that little bit more pleasant.
After waiting almost 10 hours, it was finally my turn to go into the Grand Palace. During this procedure, there were many officers, who guided us through each stage. The people in queues were grouped and led to the Throne Hall step by step.
As well as arranging for the people to enter the palace in an orderly manner, the officers also made sure people were dressed appropriately, in accordance with an earlier announcement by the Royal Household Bureau. In case of doubt, there was a free formal clothes and shoe rental facility near the palace entrance.
The atmosphere inside the palace was more sombre than it was outside. The crowds were suddenly silent as traditional Thai funeral music was played. A little later, I found myself on the steps to the Throne Hall.
The moment inside the Throne Hall was short but momentous. The officers guided us all on how to pay respects to the Royal Urn. I caught a momentary glimpse of the golden urn before praying one time to the late King.
Beforehand, I had asked some people about how they felt after paying homage to the King. They all told me that it was an emotional moment that could hardly be expressed in words, but all of their tiredness from the hours of queuing had gone.
It was exactly the way I felt.

Nuanphan Rattanasongkhram, 61, a farmer from Roi Et
From the time I heard the news that the authorities will open the Grand Palace for people to pay their respects to the King, my family and I rushed to Bangkok, hoping to be among the first in the queue to enter the palace.
We drove all night from our home and reached Sanam Luang at 5am. Unfortunately, we arrived too late and the officers told us to come back tomorrow, I still hope we can enter the palace and pay our respects before the Royal Urn another day.

Pranom Cheabthong, 58, a tailor from Ubon Ratchathani
I am very glad to get the chance to visit the Grand Palace and pay my respects in front of the Royal Urn today. It was my effort to honour and celebrate the life of HM the King.
I slept at Sanam Luang last night to be the first to enter the Grand Palace. I am doing this because I love the Royal Family and the King very much. I am not tired; in fact it is my pleasure to have an invaluable opportunity like this.

Wassaana Thongsuk, 27, teacher from Chumpon
I graduated from Rajaprajanugroh School with royal support and received a scholarship from HRH Princess Maha Chakri Sirindhorn until I finished my bachelor’s degree. So, I’m very grateful to the King and the Royal Family for supporting my education.
I have always wanted to pay my respects to HM the King at least once in my lifetime and this is my last chance to visit His Majesty from so close. I am very glad that I could make it today.

Churee Wisarn, 73, from Samut Prakan
I am very keen to pay homage before the Royal Urn. I have frequently visited the palace to take part in the King’s funeral from the time the ceremony began. But today is different from other days, as there are a lot more people trying to enter the Grand Palace.
This will be the moment of my life, so I’ll wait to see the Royal Urn with my own eyes.

Aim Chato, 29, a business owner from Bangkok
I am very sad about his departure. I love my King so much. Therefore, I decided to express my loyalty to him and went to the Grand Palace today. It was sad but a precious moment of my life to have the opportunity to pay my respects before the Royal Urn.
I have waited to enter the Throne Hall for more than nine hours. The queue was very long and uncomfortable, but when I saw the Royal Urn, all I felt was bliss.

Arun Charoentoon, 52, a civil servant from Nakhon Ratchasima
I feel lucky to have a chance to pray in front of the Royal Urn. I feel blessed. I’ve never met the King in person, but I know that he has done a lot of good work for all Thai people. I am so sad that he has passed away and I prayed for him to live in heavenly peace.

Khing Chandahua-dong, 63, a maid from Nakhon Ratchasima
I don’t know how to express my feelings after paying respects before the Royal Urn. I cried when I heard the news about his death and today I’m crying again. I am glad that I had the opportunity to pay homage to the King inside the Throne Hall but I’m very sad that he has truly gone.

Nittaya Sukaree, 52, a Thai Muslim
I am so grateful for what he has done for the Thai people, including Thai Muslims. Though he was Buddhist, he treated as equal people of other religions. He has always been kind to us all regardless of our race or religion.

John Walker, 63, a British tourist
I’ve been to Thailand several times. This time I heard the news that the King had passed away. So I want to come and pay my respects because I think he was great. He was the unifying figure that brought the Thai people together and through difficult times. He was just great.

Detchana Saisan, 10, a fourth grader
I am from Khon Kaen. I’m here with my mum for the second day to pay homage to the King. I signed the condolence book but haven’t yet got inside to prostrate before the Royal Urn. But I will do so today.

Pannisa Polsang and Chatchanant Noppibool, 13, middle-schoolers
We personally didn’t witness the King’s work as we grew up. But we heard a lot of stories from our grandparents. And we are just forever grateful for his dedication to the country and the people. We just love him.

Pramote Ingkavanit, 63, retiree
I only have short-sleeve shirts. So, I bought a new and better and more proper one so that I can come here. It’s okay. We all should do something for the King to pay back for what has done for us. We must always be thankful to have had such a dedicated King who cared so much about us.

Tributes at the 71st session of the UN General Assembly  were led by UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon, who praised HM the King for being a visionary and humanitarian.
“Throughout seven decades, King Bhumibol served as a  stabilising force in Thailand, notably during times of political turmoil and tensions,” Ban said .
“[His] commitment to sustainable development and national  resilience helped move the country through its various development phases and towards becoming a vibrant economy,” he said.
HM the King was the first recipient of the UN Human Development  Lifetime Achievement Award in 2006, he added.
Several other foreign officials, such as UN General Assembly  president Peter Thompson and the US permanent representative to the UN Samantha Power, also joined  in hailing the late King for his leadership and his signature sufficiency economy philosophy that helped Thailand endure difficult economic situations.

A TEACHER was shot dead and her colleague injured yesterday in a drive-by shooting in trouble-plagued Pattani province.
The attack took place at about 11am as the victims were on their way to a venue to provide free dyeing services to people who wish to colour their clothes black to mourn the passing of much-loved King Bhumibol Adulvadej.
The victims are Sunisa Boonyen, a 49-year-old teacher of the Ma-Yor Non Formal and Informal Education Office, and another employee of the same office, Chadaporn Sriseng, 52.
Security cameras at the area show that two men on a motorcycle followed Sunisa’s car and opened fire when she pulled over to pick up Chadaporn. The attackers immediately fled the area.
The victims were rushed to a nearby hospital but Sunisa succumbed to her injuries. Officials believe the attack was part of ongoing unrest in the deep South.
More than 160 teachers have been killed in the area over the past decade.
The shooting took place just two days after Thai government representatives sat down with representatives of several groups for peace talks in Kuala Lumpur.
General Aksra Kerdphol, who heads the Thai delegation at the latest round of peace talks, said yesterday he urged the representatives to refrain from violence as Thai people were mourning the demise of their much-revered monarch.
The King passed away at the age of 89 on October 13, plunging the entire nation into deep grief.
Violent attacks have taken place almost on a daily basis in Thailand’s southern border provinces for more than a decade.
Internal Security Operations Command’s secretary general General Sasin Thongpakdee yesterday received 56 new bullet-proof vests. They were bought with funds raised at various events between November 11 last year and January 31 this year.
“We would like to thank the private sector for giving bullet-proof vests to us. It raises our moral support. It shows you care about officials working in the deep South,” he said.
Sasin said although bloody attacks continued in the far South, the overall situation was improving.

Single mum blinded by bomb
Patcharin Chalermpingpipat, an academic at the Prince of Songkla University, has lately turned to social media to bring attention to the |tragic fate of Manocha Pongsao, a recent bomb victim.
Manocha, 30, was among the many people injured when a blast rocked a noodle shop in Pattani province on Monday night. The attack killed one person and injured several others. Patcharin said Manocha worked at the noodle shop and was a single mother trying to support her three children.
“The blast has seriously injured her. It has blinded her right eye. Her right leg was amputated from the knee down. She has also sustained injuries to her left eye. At this point, doctors cannot guarantee whether she will be able to regain her eyesight,” Patcharin said in her Facebook post.

Hundreds of people kept an overnight vigil at Sanam Luang to make sure they would be among the first allowed inside the Grand Palace today to pay their final respects before the Royal Urn of His Majesty King Bhumibol Adulyadej.
Many people spent the night out in the open in tents while others used temporary shelters provided by the government.
The government will allow up to 10,000 mourners into the Dusit Maha Prasat Throne Hall each day to pay respects before the Royal Urn and the late King’s body. Queue cards are required to access the venue.
The distribution point for queue cards has been moved from Wat Mahathat to the section of Sanam Luang opposite the old Supreme Court building on Rajdamnoen Nai Avenue.
The relocation was confirmed last night by Maj-General Pongsawat Panchit, deputy commander of the First Army Area which is responsible for security in the area. He said the relocation was due to the possibility of long lines.
“The new point is relatively far from the Grand Palace but that will allow space for longer lines and make it easier to manage the crowd,” he said.
The new queue-card distribution point will open from today, the first day when the Throne Hall will be opened to the public to pay homage to the late King.
Huge crowds of black-clad mourners are expected to pour into Sanam Luang this morning.
The starting time for distribution of queue cards has not been confirmed but Pongsawat said it would start in the morning “when everything is ready”, based on the judgement of the authorities.
PM’s Office Minister Suwaphan Tanyuvardhana, who is secretary-general of the government’s command centre, said groups of 70 people at a time would be allowed into the Grand Palace. And if there is time left, more people will be allowed inside until 9pm.
He said the government would ensure the safety of mourners, especially those arriving by ferry from Sathon Pier to Tha Chang Pier near the Grand Palace, while the Bangkok Mass Transit Authority will increase the number of buses by 10 per cent to accommodate more commuters.
In addition, tour companies yesterday met with the Tourism and Sports Ministry to arrange traffic routes and bus-parking facilities for foreign tourists wanting to visit the Grand Palace, which will be reopened to the general public on Tuesday. Tourists will use entrances to the Grand Palace separate from mourners.
Suwaphan said the closure of major roads around the Grand Palace and Sanam Luang would be revised from time to time. The government will ensure that public transport provided by the city’s bus agency is convenient as private motorists are required to park their vehicles at major parking facilities in the suburbs, he added.
On the dress code, he said officials would not be strict with elderly people who could not wear proper shoes.
Krisda Boonraj, permanent secretary of the Interior Ministry, said the ministry had arranged trips for mourners to come to Bangkok from upcountry, with 3,000 expected to enter the Grand Palace daily. Of this number, 750 people from each province will be issued queue cards according to alphabetical order.
The first group of provincial mourners to enter the Grand Palace today are from Krabi, Kamphaeng Phet, Kalasin and Kanchanaburi, he said. “We focus on villagers who could not conveniently come to Bangkok on their own,” he said. At this stage, the ministry has set aside a budget to pay for the trips until January 20 – the first 100 days of the royal funeral rites.
The government also has advised elderly persons with chronic ailments to carry personal medicine while visiting the Grand Palace. It also urged people not to rush as the mourning period will last one year.
Meanwhile, police said private vehicles would not be allowed on major roads around the Grand Palace and Sanam Luang starting from 7am today. Mourners are advised to use free public transport from Sanam Luang to various locations of Bangkok.