ABOUT 4,000 government officials pledged allegiance to the Chakri dynasty at an event held at Government House yesterday.
“I shall be faithfully loyal to all Chakri Kings until my death,” pledged Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha, who presided over the event.
“I shall also participate in national reforms and support governments that rule the country lawfully and with good governance under a constitutional monarchy for the benefit of the Thai people,” the prime minister continued.
Taking the oath in front of a portrait of His Majesty King Bhumibol Adulyadej, participants also promised to follow the law and manage national resources wisely for sustainable development in line with His Majesty’s sufficiency economy philosophy.
The event, called “Ruam Palang Haeng Kwarm Pakdee”, or “United Power of Reverence”, was held simultaneously at government offices across the nation as well as at Thai missions overseas.
Prayut, along with other members of the Cabinet, high-ranking officials and bureaucrats from the PM’s Office, attended the Government House event.
The occasion was held to demonstrate reverence toward the dynasty that has ruled the country for more than 230 years as well as in remembrance of the late monarch.
“We felt like His Majesty was right there in front of us and we sincerely meant it when we sang the Royal Anthem. The words were exactly what we wanted to say to His Majesty,” the prime minister’s deputy secretary-general Nicha Hiranburana Thuvatham said. “Tears were falling down my cheeks throughout the event. We shall be loyal to the Chakri dynasty to our deaths.”
Similar oath-taking rituals took place in other parts of the country. At the Royal Thai Army headquarters, Army chief General Chalermchai Sittisart led soldiers, their spouses and other people in paying respects in front of a portrait of His Majesty and pledging allegiance.
He later told the press: “His Majesty will remain in our hearts forever. During his reign, the King worked hard for his people, initiating 4,600 projects for their well-being.”
Chalermchai said yesterday’s event gave him and other people an opportunity to promise to be good citizens and followers of His Majesty’s philosophy.
“We shall follow his guidance,” he said, adding that he had already instructed military personnel to support plans for royally initiated study centres.
In Sanam Luang, Maj-General Pongsawat Punnachit, deputy director of the Joint Administration of Security and Order Maintaining for the Grand Palace Vicinity and the First Army Area; Pol Maj-General Wichanwat Borirakkul, Metropolitan Police Division 1; and Prinya Thaewanarumitkul, Thammasat University’s vice rector and director of the Volunteers for Dad group, led officials, volunteers and mourners in taking the pledge.
Sanam Luang continued to be crowded with black-clad mourners yesterday as people flocked to the area to pay their respects to the King.
At the Central Government Complex, Supreme Court president Teerapol Tuhnsuwan led about 3,000 judges, public prosecutors and judicial officials in taking a similar pledge.
In Phichit province, Sraluang Pittayakhom School had more than 1,500 students and teachers clean roads around the school in tribute to His Majesty.
In Narathiwat province, more than 5,000 officials, members of the public and students gathered at the provincial stadium to show their loyalty to the King. At the event, they formed a message in tribute to the late monarch, sang songs in his honour and pledged their loyalty. They also observed 89 seconds of silence in memory of the late King.
His Majesty passed away peacefully in his 89th year on October 13, plunging the nation into grief.
Overseas, ambassadors and consuls-general led events honouring His Majesty and pledged loyalty to the Chakri dynasty. Similar events had already been held in London, Berlin, Chennai, New Delhi, Cairo, Abu Dhabi, Kuwait, Warsaw, Bahrain and Moscow.
Even though temperatures dropped to negative 2 degrees Celsius in Moscow, officials participated in the oath-taking ritual.

After receiving autopsy reports compiled by Bangkok’s Thung Song Hong Police Station and the Justice Ministry on November 15, the court scheduled four sessions of witness testimony hearings on February 20, February 27, March 6 and March 20, the source said.
Another source reported that Tawatchai had died from internal bleeding, a ruptured liver caused by blunt force trauma, and asphyxiation.
On October 28, Thung Song Hong police submitted to the prosecutor four files that make up the autopsy report, X-rays and the investigators’ opinion that “Tawatchai’s death had been caused by another person”.
Tawatchai had been under investigation after complaints were filed regarding the issuing of deeds for more than 1,000 plots of state land in Phuket, which were allegedly illegally registered. As the probe was ongoing, Tawatchai was transferred to the Phang Nga Provincial Land Department, after which his successor in Phuket was abducted and found shot dead.
DSI officers had arrested Tawatchai in Nonthaburi in late August, but he was found dead in a detention cell a day later. DSI officials initially said he had hanged himself.

Hua Hin and Pran Buri Harbour Office head Arporn Heukhan said the office would allow private ferry boats to use the pier on the condition that they follow the rules of the Fish Marketing Organisation, which include informing the office 24 hours in advance of boat arrivals and departures as well as paying fees.
Arporn said the pier had been improved by being widened, refloored, and equipped with better docking pillars and lighting to cater to tourism in line with the government policy to upgrade piers to support fishing and tourism. The office had not yet received written notification from ferry firms, she added.
A source reported that businesspeople had already asked to rent spaces on the pier to set up commercial booths in anticipation of the ferry service.
Hua Hin-Cha Am Tourism Association president Lisa Onghang welcomed the move, saying it would boost tourism and provide alternative and convenient transport for visitors.
On Monday, Marine Department chief Sornsak Saensombat said a Gulf of Thailand ferry service licence had been granted to Royal Passenger Liner Co, which would apply for a ferry permit and set fares accordingly.
According to the firm’s business plan, the first phase will see two trips per day by two catamaran ferries, which can separately carry 150 and 262 passengers. One ferry will depart from Hua Hin at about 9am, and leave Pattaya on the return journey at about 4pm.
The number of ferries would increase later, he said. The second phase would cater to both passengers and vehicles, but the firm was still looking for a suitable pier for the department to consider, he added.

The move is intended to boost tourist arrivals, which is a key economic engine for the country.
“The fees will be cut to Bt1,000,” the Tourism Ministry announced yesterday.
This change was announced less than two months after visa fees were increased to Bt2,000 on September 27.
Thailand currently offers visas on arrival for citizens of 19 countries – Andorra, Bulgaria, Bhutan, China, Cyprus, Ethiopia, India, Kazakhstan, Latvia, Lithuania, the Maldives, Malta, Mauritius, Romania, San Marino, Saudi Arabia, Taiwan, Ukraine and Uzbekistan.

“I shall be faithfully loyal to all Chakri Kings until my death,” pledged Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha, who presided over the event.
“I shall also participate in national reforms and support governments that rule the country lawfully and with good governance under a constitutional monarchy for the benefit of the Thai people,” the PM continued.
Taking the oath in front of a portrait of His Majesty King Bhumibol Adulyadej, the participants also promised to follow the law and manage national resources wisely for sustainable development in line with His Majesty’s Sufficiency Economy Philosophy.
The event, called “United Power of Reverence”, was held simultaneously at government offices across the nation as well as at Thai missions overseas.
Prayut along with other members of the Cabinet, high-ranking officials as well as bureaucrats under the PM’s Office attended the Government House event.
The occasion was held to demonstrate reverence toward the dynasty that has been ruling the country for over 230 years as well as in remembrance of the late monarch.