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Thais flocking to hospital to pray for ill King
More than half a million Thais have reportedly prayed for the recovery of King Bhumibol Adulyadej, 81, since he was admitted to Siriraj Hospital on Sept
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ore than half a million Thais have reportedly prayed for the recovery of King Bhumibol Adulyadej, 81, since he was admitted to Siriraj Hospital on Sept. 19 for fever, lung infection and a loss of appetite.
People of different ages are still seen flocking the hospital to send their prayers as of this week, as the Thailand Royal Household Bureau announced the King's overall condition was good and the inflammation in his lungs had subsided further.
"I pray for his fast recovery, I'm really concerned about his health condition," said Jiamjit Nilsang, 50, after saying her prayers at a prepared place at the hospital Tuesday.
Rabob Vannakavit, 22, who went to the hospital the same day for the same purpose, also expressed similar concerns.
"He is the one who has been protecting Thailand. He solves the problems for Thailand. That's why I always pray for his good health," said Rabob, who has just come back from studying English in New Zealand.
He said he heard about the King's illness about two weeks ago, while he was still abroad, on the Internet, and finally managed to come in person to say his prayers at the hospital.
"I say long live the king in my prayer," Rabob said.
Jutatana Jikrasan, a royal household official who has been assigned at the hospital since a day after the King was admitted, said the number of people coming to the hospital to say their prayers had actually dropped significantly over the last few days.
He said everyone was welcome to say their prayers at the prepared site at the hospital from 8:30 a.m. to 8 p.m. every day and sign the books prepared for them. He said so far more than 500,000 Thais had signed the books.
Concern about the health of the world's longest-reigning monarch has influenced the country's stock market and currency. The Bangkok stock market fell 8 percent in a day last week following rumors that the King's health was worse than the royal household had admitted.
"He is the one figure that can stabilize the country," Thai journalist Kittipong Thavevong told The Jakarta Post on Wednesday.
Held in high regard as the father of the nation, many consider the King as almost divine. No one is allowed to criticize him or the royal family, as doing so is against the law.
"The King only speaks and teaches good things to Thai people. I always try my best to follow everything he says. That's the way I show my love and respect to him," Rabob said.
Large images of the King can be seen almost everywhere in the country, in public places such as airports, shopping malls and restaurants, as well as in private residential homes across the nation.
With the recent political turbulence, the King is seen to be the sole factor that can unify and stabilize the country. Many Thais believe only King Bhumibol can hold the country together, as he always had in the past.
In October 1973, for instance, King Bhumibol intervened at the height of bloody student demonstrations against a military government and persuaded the generals to step down and leave the country.
"If something really happens to the King, Thailand could be just fine but could also be in chaos, especially because the King has said nothing about the current political situation," said Marco Hamacher, of Germany, who once conducted a study on problems of democracy in Thailand.
