THAILAND: Hundreds gather to watch Thailand's king inspect his troops to mark his 80th birthday

Hundreds gather to watch Thailand's king inspect his troops to mark his 80th birthday. The world's longest reigning monarch, Thailand's King Bhumibol Adulyadej turns 80 next week, and hundreds of his loyal subjects gathered on Sunday (December 2) in the capital Bangkok to pay tribute at the annual honour guard parade. As part of the celebrations, he inspected the royal guards from thirteen Thai army battalions at the Royal Plaza as they performed the annual oath of allegiance ceremony. The king was accompanied by her majesty the Queen and His Royal Highness Crown Prince Maha Vajiralongkorn in a motorcade to inspect the royal guards in their colourful ceremonial uniforms. In a speech to the troops the king called around 1,800 royal guards for unity as the post-coup nation has been deeply divided, threatening its security and stability. "(I ask all soldiers and all Thais) in every circle to contemplate whether the country deserves your protection," said King Bhumibol. Thailand is gearing toward a general election on Dec 23, 15 months after last year's military coup ousted Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra, who won twice landslide election victories in 2001 and 2005 and has lived in exile in London since then. However, the king acceded to the throne in 1946 at the age of 19. Thousands of Thais gathered along the street at Royal Plaza waved the national flags and shouted to the royal that "Long Live the King". King Bhumibol, a semi-divine figure whose picture adorns public buildings and almost every Thai home, was hospitalised on Oct. 13 for treatment for a blood clot in his brain and more than a million Thais signed books wishing him a speedy recovery. The king celebrates his 80th birthday on Dec. 5.

ITN Source | December 2, 2007

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