Royal Trip Hailed As Step Toward Unity

AYUTTHAYA VISIT
Royal trip hailed as step toward unity
PIMNARA PRADABWIT,
JEERAPONG PRASERTPOLKRUNG,
SAMRIT JIAMJARERNPORN
THE NATION

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AYUTTHATA:-- Seeing King in good health a boost for all Thais, Chavanond says; PM urges nation to build on positive atmosphere

Politicians yesterday hailed the King and Queen's televised trip to Ayutthaya as a historic event that was a memorable delight for the whole nation and "the beginning of creation of Thailand's unity".

Democrat spokesman Chavanond Intarakomalyasut said the trip to Thung Makham Yong |district made on Friday by His Majesty, accompanied by Her Majesty the Queen and HRH Princess Maha Chakri Sirindhorn, was a rare occasion and a picture of delight for all loyal subjects.

Seeing the King with a cheerful face and in good health was a major encouragement to all Thais, he said, urging people to be grateful to the monarch. He said the Cabinet, given an audience during the trip, should express their loyalty and take this as the start of unity for the country.

Chavanond also urged Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra's government to show sincerity by expressing a clear stance towards lese majeste moves and websites, plus politicians who criticise Article 112 of the Criminal Code about lese majeste offences, as well as cable TV and local radio people making comments that border on lese majeste.

He said the government should be the major party to protect and raise the monarchy above politics and that PM Yingluck should act seriously against lese majeste offenders.

PM Yingluck commented before flying out on a four-day trip to Australia yesterday that she and all Thais were overjoyed to be granted an audience with Their Majesties the King and Queen, as well as the Princess on Friday.

All people should try to keep the delightful atmosphere because we would walk forwards together, she said.

As of yesterday many people continued to visit the pavilion at Ayutthaya’s Thung Makham Yong to take photos at spots where the royals passed.

Tourist Kosol Fakwang, 44, said she and her family travelled from Bangkok in the morning to the site to take photos after she saw the Royals' trip on TV and was happy to see the King in good health.

The site's popularity has soared after the royal visit, and the Fine Arts Department has said it will register Thung Makham Yong as a tourism heritage site, Ayutthaya Tourism Authority of Thailand Office director Pramot Sabyen said. He plans to contact related agencies to develop it as an interesting tourist attraction.

Ayutthaya Governor Wittaya Phewphong said that the province had printed 10,000 copies of the event leaflet for visitors on Friday. But, because many people wanted a copy of the program, they would ask those who saw the royal trip but didn't get a leaflet, to write about their feelings and post it to the province. They would then look at printing more leaflets for them.

Ayutthaya resident Kesorn Sawtdikul, 55, said she waited for a glimpse of the royals at the Siriyalai Pavilion from 4pm on Friday. Seeing the King as the motorcade slowly passed by at 7.40pm was worth the hours of waiting, she said, which lasted till 11pm when the King was sent off.

Another Ayutthaya resident Sunee Khumsupa, 68, who saw the King at Thung Makham Yong after waiting since 10am, said the heat and fatigue from hours of waiting vanished when she saw the royal motorcade slowly pass by only 80cm away. "It's my and my family's merit to be this close. I don't know when we will ever be this close to the King again," she said.