King Bhumibol
 

Am I right that he is keeping silent so far? Usually when he makes his feelings known, things happen. I googled him and one article said he was "ailing". Anyone know any more about that? His birthday is coming up so maybe that will be a turning point.

i'm thinking that this will all be history by dec 5, the official birthday holiday

Bob, I hope you are right. The people do love their King.

DH was reading an article in the Herald Tribune at breakfast this morning. It indicated that this whole event is a struggle to see who gets power "after" the King is gone. They know that he is up in years.

It is all a sad situation to watch unfold, especially when one has travel plans in Dec/Jan!! Still keeping my fingers crossed that we can make our trip.

Carol (currently in Amsterdam)

He's in his 80s and had a stroke last year; he hasn't been seen much in public since.

He would certainly get involved behind the scenes long before you'd hear about it in the press. Keep in mind that the government (PPP) is much more anti-royalist than the airport protesters. So, it's hardly likely that HM is likely to get up on his hind legs and tell his closest allies to go home.

And he might even get credit for brokering a deal even if he's not involved. If some sort of agreement is reached, especially if one side is seen to have given a great deal in terms of compromise, the 3 main groups (PPP, PAD, Army) might say that this it was a deal proposed by the King, to improve the chances of people buying into it.

Still, it seems extremely odd that none of the print media (The Nation, Bangkok Post) seem to be even suggesting that HM exert his influence.

as i remember the bkk post is pro shinwatra?? you can never trust their stands or reporting on things....sort of like the new york times of today...

You have to follow what the King's aides are doing and not the King himself to know what is going on with the royal household.

excellent point...

A European reporter acquaintance had an interesting quote from one of his colleagues about the current situation: "It's like trying to explain the unexplainable without mentioning the unmentionable."

I took up my permanent residence in Thailand just two weeks before the 1992 democracy "riots". I still vividly remember the television coverage of General Chamlong, the leader of the protesters then as now, along with General Suchinda being literally called on the carpet in front of H.M.

I suppose we all wish it could be that simple now, but apparently it isn't.

So what are the king's aids doing?

I gather he is scheduled to give his normal eve of birthday speech on 12/4.