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| Thailand's King Bhumibol marks 70 years on the throne | Thailand's King Bhumibol marks 70 years on the throne |
| (about 1 hour later) | |
| Thailand is marking 70 years since King Bhumibol Adulyadej, the world's longest-reigning living monarch, ascended to the throne. | Thailand is marking 70 years since King Bhumibol Adulyadej, the world's longest-reigning living monarch, ascended to the throne. |
| The celebrations began with a religious ceremony in Bangkok, led by 770 Buddhist monks, an auspicious number. | The celebrations began with a religious ceremony in Bangkok, led by 770 Buddhist monks, an auspicious number. |
| The 88-year-old king is revered by Thais, for whom he has been a figure of stability through the country's decades of political upheaval. | The 88-year-old king is revered by Thais, for whom he has been a figure of stability through the country's decades of political upheaval. |
| But he is in poor health and has not been seen in public for months. | But he is in poor health and has not been seen in public for months. |
| Profile: King Bhumibol Adulyadej | |
| On Tuesday, he had heart surgery, with what the palace said were "satisfactory results". | On Tuesday, he had heart surgery, with what the palace said were "satisfactory results". |
| The procedure, known as balloon surgery, was to widen his arteries after tests showed he had insufficient blood in the heart muscles, the statement said. | The procedure, known as balloon surgery, was to widen his arteries after tests showed he had insufficient blood in the heart muscles, the statement said. |
| The king has spent much of the past few years in hospital, and his health is closely watched by Thais. | The king has spent much of the past few years in hospital, and his health is closely watched by Thais. |
| "The relationship between Thais and the King is deep, more than one can actually begin to explain," Col Winthai Suvaree, a spokesman for the royalist junta, said to Reuters. | "The relationship between Thais and the King is deep, more than one can actually begin to explain," Col Winthai Suvaree, a spokesman for the royalist junta, said to Reuters. |
| "He is a father to the land." | "He is a father to the land." |
| Several hundred people had gathered outside the palace on Thursday morning to wish the king well. | |
| He is not expected to make a public appearance. | |
| "I want to make merit for the king to encourage him to have good health. That's how I can show loyalty to him even though he can't see it, that's fine," 68-year-old Bangkok resident Chonmanee Smativat told AFP. | |
| "I want him to know that we all love him. He has worked hard for Thais. Since I was little I have seen how hard he works." | |
| The king's popularity stems partly from his long reign and service to Thai people, but also because he is seen as an arbiter in politics. | |
| Thailand has been wracked by political strife in recent years and is currently governed by a military-led government. | Thailand has been wracked by political strife in recent years and is currently governed by a military-led government. |
| Strict lese majeste laws ban any criticism of the king or the royal family. | Strict lese majeste laws ban any criticism of the king or the royal family. |