Thailand’s 100 Days of Mourning
Public Celebrations Canceled for 15 Days To Mark Princess's Death
Thailand has been plunged into 100 days of official mourning as a mark of respect for the death of the nation's much loved Princess, HRH Galyani Vadhana.
Public celebrations and fairs have been postponed and night entertainment venues have been asked not to operate for a period of 15-days, says the Nation Newspaper of 3rd January 2008.
The 15-day period will end on 17th January 2008.
Public Events Canceled and Entertainment Venues Asked to Close
The sad news of Princess Galyani’s death, on the morning of 2nd January 2008, comes at a time when Thailand is at its height of the tourist season.
According to the Phuket Gazette 's online news of 2nd and 3rd January 2008, The Ministry of Interior has asked for all private entertainment venue operators to observe the national mourning. In Phuket, the District Office began circulating a letter to entertainment operators asking them "to not stage any live music performances or use any sound systems during the 15-day period."
Government offices, schools, embassies and public institutions will wear black and fly theThai national flag at half-mast. However, students will continue to attend school in their normal uniforms.
According to the Phuket Gazette, Thailand Enters National Mourning, 2/01/08, the Thai government has also asked its officers “to deter merry-making events from taking place during the next 100 days while vigil is being kept over HRH Galyani’s body." The private sector will also voluntarily cancel many high-profile events.
The Beloved Princess
The elder sister of Thailand’s longest serving monarch, HM King Bhumibol Adulyadej, succumbed to cancer after nearly 6 months of hospitalization at the Siriraj Hospital in Bangkok. She was 84 years old.
The Nation states, “The Royal Household Bureau announced that the mourning period will continue up the 100th day of her passing”
The Princess was dearly loved by the Thai people, given her many charitable activities and continued support for numerous foundations. According to the Bangkok Post's article, Princess of an Era,03/01/08, HRH Galyani was president and honory president of organizations such as the Autistic Foundation of Thailand, Cardiac Children’s Foundation and the Princess Mother’s Charity Fund.
Princess Galyani's Charity Work
The Princess was an dedicated supporter of the Foundation of Voluntary Doctors, which provides medical services for people in remote areas and those who cannot afford medical services. She also created her own foundation to provide funds for gifted students of music and was Royal Patron of the Bangkok Opera.
Born in London on 6 May 1923, Princess Galyani earned degrees in chemistry and liberal arts from Lausanne University and taught French literature, language and history at two of Bangkok’s most prestigious universities. In addition to her many royal duties she also wrote 11 books on the royal family and 10 travelogues. The Princess traveled widely within Thailand and overseas as a repesentative of the royal family.
A Nation in Mourning Unites
The current somber mood and the wearing of black by the majority of the Thai nation is in sharp contrast to last month’s colorful political wrangling that led up to the general election.
For now at least the people of Thailand are united “in paying tribute to a woman considered a guiding light to the nation and a great pillar of strength for the Royal Family.” Says the Nation's article, Politically Divided Thais Set Aside Everything Yesterday to Mourn a Guiding Light to Nation.
