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| ‘The Greatest Loss and Despair’: Thais Mourn Their King | ‘The Greatest Loss and Despair’: Thais Mourn Their King |
| (about 2 hours later) | |
| BANGKOK — The death on Thursday of King Bhumibol Adulyadej, whose leadership helped bring stability to Thailand over the past seven decades, introduced a new era of uncertainty in a sharply divided nation. | BANGKOK — The death on Thursday of King Bhumibol Adulyadej, whose leadership helped bring stability to Thailand over the past seven decades, introduced a new era of uncertainty in a sharply divided nation. |
| He was the only monarch most Thais had ever known, and his death set off widespread grief throughout the country. | He was the only monarch most Thais had ever known, and his death set off widespread grief throughout the country. |
| “His Majesty was a beloved and revered king,” said Prime Minister Prayuth Chan-ocha, head of the military junta that seized power in 2014. “He unified the hearts of all Thais. It is the greatest loss and despair in the lives of all Thais nationwide.” | “His Majesty was a beloved and revered king,” said Prime Minister Prayuth Chan-ocha, head of the military junta that seized power in 2014. “He unified the hearts of all Thais. It is the greatest loss and despair in the lives of all Thais nationwide.” |
| King Bhumibol, 88, who ascended to the throne in 1946 and became one of the world’s longest-reigning monarchs, had helped balance rival political factions, at times giving his blessing to juntas that seized power from democratically elected governments, including the current leadership. | |
| His son, Crown Prince Vajiralongkorn, who for years has spent most of his time in Germany and has a reputation as a jet-setting playboy, is expected to ascend the throne. It was unclear whether he would have the same moral authority to insert himself into the nation’s contentious politics. | His son, Crown Prince Vajiralongkorn, who for years has spent most of his time in Germany and has a reputation as a jet-setting playboy, is expected to ascend the throne. It was unclear whether he would have the same moral authority to insert himself into the nation’s contentious politics. |
| On Thursday evening, the crown prince unexpectedly said he was not ready to become king and requested more time to grieve the loss of his father, General Prayuth told reporters. The 64-year-old prince, who has been the royal heir since 1972, wanted to wait until an appropriate time to take on the mantle of monarch, the prime minister said. | On Thursday evening, the crown prince unexpectedly said he was not ready to become king and requested more time to grieve the loss of his father, General Prayuth told reporters. The 64-year-old prince, who has been the royal heir since 1972, wanted to wait until an appropriate time to take on the mantle of monarch, the prime minister said. |
| Thailand’s National Assembly, which had been expected to crown a new king, convened in the evening. Members stood in silence for nine minutes to mourn the king’s death, but adjourned abruptly soon afterward without taking further action. | Thailand’s National Assembly, which had been expected to crown a new king, convened in the evening. Members stood in silence for nine minutes to mourn the king’s death, but adjourned abruptly soon afterward without taking further action. |
| Thai news media reported that Col. Sansern Kaewkamnerd, the government’s chief spokesman, asked all TV channels to show only the government channel’s programming during a 30-day mourning period. | Thai news media reported that Col. Sansern Kaewkamnerd, the government’s chief spokesman, asked all TV channels to show only the government channel’s programming during a 30-day mourning period. |
| The broadcasters, which began using government programming when the king’s death was announced, had not reverted to their own shows by late Thursday. | The broadcasters, which began using government programming when the king’s death was announced, had not reverted to their own shows by late Thursday. |
| Throngs of people had gathered at Siriraj Hospital in the afternoon as rumors of his death spread. Many wore pink, the color thought to bolster his health, and knelt on the ground to pray for his recovery. At one point, the crowd chanted, “Long live the king.” By then, he had already passed away. | Throngs of people had gathered at Siriraj Hospital in the afternoon as rumors of his death spread. Many wore pink, the color thought to bolster his health, and knelt on the ground to pray for his recovery. At one point, the crowd chanted, “Long live the king.” By then, he had already passed away. |
| President Obama said in a statement that King Bhumibol was a “close friend” of the United States. | President Obama said in a statement that King Bhumibol was a “close friend” of the United States. |
| “His Majesty was a tireless champion of his country’s development and demonstrated unflagging devotion to improving the standard of living of the Thai people,” Mr. Obama said. “With a creative spirit and a drive for innovation, he pioneered new technologies that have rightfully received worldwide acclaim.” | “His Majesty was a tireless champion of his country’s development and demonstrated unflagging devotion to improving the standard of living of the Thai people,” Mr. Obama said. “With a creative spirit and a drive for innovation, he pioneered new technologies that have rightfully received worldwide acclaim.” |
| General Prayuth said flags would fly at half-staff for 30 days and asked the public to refrain from holding celebrations during that period. Government officials will be in a state of mourning for one year, he said. | General Prayuth said flags would fly at half-staff for 30 days and asked the public to refrain from holding celebrations during that period. Government officials will be in a state of mourning for one year, he said. |
| “Even though we are in sorrow and tears are in our faces, our beloved Thailand and the monarchy must continue,” the prime minister said during an appearance broadcast on all television channels. “Do not let the death derail his majesty’s determination to see his kingdom prosper, the people live in blessedness and be kind to each other.” | “Even though we are in sorrow and tears are in our faces, our beloved Thailand and the monarchy must continue,” the prime minister said during an appearance broadcast on all television channels. “Do not let the death derail his majesty’s determination to see his kingdom prosper, the people live in blessedness and be kind to each other.” |
| Thitinan Pongsudhirak, a political-science professor at Chulalongkorn University in Bangkok, said King Bhumibol’s accomplishments included helping to develop the nation’s economy and preventing the communist movement from making inroads in Thailand as it swept through neighboring countries. | Thitinan Pongsudhirak, a political-science professor at Chulalongkorn University in Bangkok, said King Bhumibol’s accomplishments included helping to develop the nation’s economy and preventing the communist movement from making inroads in Thailand as it swept through neighboring countries. |
| While the last 10 years in Thailand have been volatile, he said, the king’s leadership had been especially critical during the height of the Cold War, from the 1950s through the 1970s. | While the last 10 years in Thailand have been volatile, he said, the king’s leadership had been especially critical during the height of the Cold War, from the 1950s through the 1970s. |
| “He has left behind a great nation, a grieving and grateful nation,” Mr. Thitinan said. “There are detractors and critics who might argue that the monarchy has impeded democratic development over the past decade, but in the broader, overarching perspective, Thailand would not be where it is today without this monarchy and this monarch.” | “He has left behind a great nation, a grieving and grateful nation,” Mr. Thitinan said. “There are detractors and critics who might argue that the monarchy has impeded democratic development over the past decade, but in the broader, overarching perspective, Thailand would not be where it is today without this monarchy and this monarch.” |
| Thailand has been divided for years between poor farmers mainly in the rural north and more prosperous urban residents centered in Bangkok. At the same time, Muslims have been fighting a low-level insurgency in the far southern provinces for more than a decade, seeking independence from the central government. | Thailand has been divided for years between poor farmers mainly in the rural north and more prosperous urban residents centered in Bangkok. At the same time, Muslims have been fighting a low-level insurgency in the far southern provinces for more than a decade, seeking independence from the central government. |
| The military has staged two coups over the past 10 years to oust populist governments that favored the rural poor, first the government led by a billionaire businessman, Thaksin Shinawatra, and later the government of his sister, Yingluck. | The military has staged two coups over the past 10 years to oust populist governments that favored the rural poor, first the government led by a billionaire businessman, Thaksin Shinawatra, and later the government of his sister, Yingluck. |
| Part of the rationale for the current government remaining in power was to ensure a smooth transition after the expected death of King Bhumibol. | Part of the rationale for the current government remaining in power was to ensure a smooth transition after the expected death of King Bhumibol. |
| The announcement of the king’s passing came about three hours after the official time of death, 3:52 p.m. He died at Siriraj Hospital in Bangkok, where he had been confined most of the past few years. He suffered from multiple afflictions, including kidney failure, and was on a ventilator to aid his breathing in his final days. | The announcement of the king’s passing came about three hours after the official time of death, 3:52 p.m. He died at Siriraj Hospital in Bangkok, where he had been confined most of the past few years. He suffered from multiple afflictions, including kidney failure, and was on a ventilator to aid his breathing in his final days. |
| Rumors of his death Wednesday had prompted the Thai stock market to plunge nearly 7 percent before recovering to a loss of 2.5 percent later the same day. | Rumors of his death Wednesday had prompted the Thai stock market to plunge nearly 7 percent before recovering to a loss of 2.5 percent later the same day. |
| “Even though the team of doctors tried their best, his illness hasn’t improved and he declined accordingly until 13 October, 2016,” the palace said in its announcement. | “Even though the team of doctors tried their best, his illness hasn’t improved and he declined accordingly until 13 October, 2016,” the palace said in its announcement. |
| Although the king’s death had long been anticipated, the reality of his passing still came as a shock to many Thais. | Although the king’s death had long been anticipated, the reality of his passing still came as a shock to many Thais. |
| “I really, really love the king,” said Thanthai Kaenwong, 35, a bartender. | “I really, really love the king,” said Thanthai Kaenwong, 35, a bartender. |
| “He is the father of all Thais,” he added. “We closed our club today to mourn him. But no one is in the mood, anyway.” | “He is the father of all Thais,” he added. “We closed our club today to mourn him. But no one is in the mood, anyway.” |
| Wimonsiri Kaewsadet, 39, a Bangkok food vendor, grew teary as she spoke of the king. She said her chest felt tight, her face was numb, and she could not eat. She said her sense of loss was even greater than when her own father died. | Wimonsiri Kaewsadet, 39, a Bangkok food vendor, grew teary as she spoke of the king. She said her chest felt tight, her face was numb, and she could not eat. She said her sense of loss was even greater than when her own father died. |
| “My heart is broken in pieces,” she said. “No one wished him to go so soon like this. But he was very, very sick. He could not go on. He had endured so much pain.” | “My heart is broken in pieces,” she said. “No one wished him to go so soon like this. But he was very, very sick. He could not go on. He had endured so much pain.” |
| She said the king’s absence made her feel uncertain about the country’s future. | She said the king’s absence made her feel uncertain about the country’s future. |
| “It’s the news that no one wants to hear,” she said. | “It’s the news that no one wants to hear,” she said. |