King stresses unity

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(BangkokPost.com, dpa)

His Majesty the King called on Thais to be united in his annual birthday-eve audience given at the Chitralada Palace on Tuesday evening.

His Majesty, the world's longest reigning monarch, turned 80 today (Wednesday, December 5).

This year's audience, granted to cabinet members and senior civil servants, was seen as having special significance because it comes at a time of great political uncertainty for the kingdom.

"If we are not united, the country will experience disaster," His Majesty said.

The king used his recent hospitalisation and difficulties walking to urge Thais to work together for the sake of the nation.

"My legs don't walk in union. I was saying the other day that the military and civilians need to be united. If we are not united, the country will face disaster."

His Majesty also touched on the age subject, and said that Prime Minister Surayud Chulanont, who has been widely criticised as being too old to head a government, is in fact not that old.

"Who has said that the premier is boring cannot say that as he works actively...The premier is a little above 60, which is at an appropriate age. Unlike me. I'm too old," he said.

But then he joked: "Tomorrow I will be 80. I am still young and strong."

His Majesty also commented on his own health, saying that he stays healthy to welcome those who come to listen to his speech.

"Doctors said my brain wasn't working well. But I didn't feel anything wrong. Then they said my colon did not function well. But they later found out everything was fine," His Majesty said. "It's the doctors' brain that weren't right."

His Majesty admonished the navy for recently expressing the wish to buy a submarine, noting that submarines were unsuitable for Thailand. The Gulf of Thailand is a shallow body of water.

Known worldwide for his sufficiency economy theories, the king also encouraged the manufacture of bio-fuel from palm oil, which can be grown domestically, to reduce dependency on imported oil.

Thousands of people wearing yellow T-shirts gathered outside the palace in Bangkok to hear the King speak.

This year's audience began with royal humour, when the king playfully admonished his 2-year-old grandson Dipangkorn Rasmijoti - the son of Crown Prince Vajiralongkorn - for talking during the ceremony.

"He is like his father. He talks a lot," His Majesty said of his grandson's interruptions.

By : Bangkok Post