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Business News/ News / World/  Thai King Bhumibol Adulyadej dies at 88
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Thai King Bhumibol Adulyadej dies at 88

Bhumibol Adulyadej died on Thursday at Bangkok's Siriraj Hospital, having been ill and treated there since 2014

Thousands of Thais who gathered on Thursday outside of Siriraj Hospital broke down in tears when the news was announced. Photo: ReutersPremium
Thousands of Thais who gathered on Thursday outside of Siriraj Hospital broke down in tears when the news was announced. Photo: Reuters

Bangkok: Thai King Bhumibol Adulyadej, the world’s longest reigning monarch, has died, according to an announcement from the palace. He was 88.

Bhumibol died on Thursday at 3:52 pm at Bangkok’s Siriraj Hospital, having been ill and treated there since 2014, the statement said. The government subsequently declared one year of mourning.

“The team of doctors did as much as they could but his condition didn’t improve and continued to deteriorate," it said, adding that he passed away “peacefully."

Bhumibol has been a symbol of unity in Thailand, which had 10 coups during his seven-decade reign. He had been ill for years, making limited public appearances and spending most of his time in the hospital.

“It’s a great loss to Thai people," Prime Minister Prayuth Chan-Ocha said in a broadcast across Thai TV stations.

Thousands of Thais who gathered on Thursday outside of Siriraj Hospital broke down in tears when the news was announced. Many held photos of the monarch and dressed in pink for good luck to help him recover.

Thailand’s stock market and the baht have fallen this week after the royal palace said on Sunday the king’s condition was unstable. Prayuth’s government had earlier urged citizens not to panic over rumors circulating on social media.

Crown Prince Maha Vajiralongkorn, 64, is the king’s only son and heir apparent. While his father is beloved for his royal works, Vajiralongkorn doesn’t have the same adulation.

Mourning period

When the king’s mother, Princess Sangwal, died in 1995, an official mourning period of 100 days was announced during which time officials wore black. The same mourning period was announced in 2008 after the death of the king’s sister, Princess Galyani Vadhana, with companies and government agencies canceling public events and much of Thailand’s nightlife shut down for about two weeks.

Thailand’s economic recovery had gained momentum in recent months, with consumer confidence rising to a seven-month high in September. Tourism accounts for about 10% of gross domestic product.

Under Thailand’s constitutional monarchy, the king is head of state while the prime minister and parliament govern. All legislation requires his seal of approval.

Public discussion of Bhumibol and his political role is curbed under lese majeste laws that can be invoked for defaming, insulting or threatening the king, queen, heir apparent or regent. Offenders face up to 15 years in prison, and the military-run government has recently stepped up arrests to curb posts about the royal family on social media.

Repeatedly hospitalized

The king was repeatedly hospitalized over the past decade, and had been treated in recent months for hydrocephalus, a condition characterized by increased fluid in the cranium. In an 9 October statement, the royal palace said his overall condition was unstable. On 1 October, the palace had said the monarch’s condition had improved following a lung infection.

Prayuth became leader following a May 2014 coup that deposed the government of Yingluck Shinawatra, whose brother Thaksin Shinawatra was ousted by the military in 2006 and now lives in exile. Thaksin and his allies have won the past five elections in Thailand dating back to 2001, with his opponents taking power periodically after interventions by the military or courts. Bloomberg

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Published: 13 Oct 2016, 12:57 PM IST
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