UN meets to honour the King

The United Nations will organise a special assembly to honour HM King Bhumibol Adulyadej today, which will be broadcast live on the UN’s webcast.
Thailand’s ambassador to the UN, Virachai Plasai, said yesterday that representatives of UN member countries would speak in honour of the late King in a rare and special session held at 10am (9pm Thailand time) at the UN building in New York City. 
The 15-minute session will commence with an address by the chairman of the General Assembly, followed by the chairpersons of five regions and the US permanent representative to the UN, Samantha Power. The session will end with Virachai’s speech. 
The King passed away in his 89th year on October 13, eliciting nationwide mourning for the much-beloved monarch and international condolences. Throughout his seven decades on the throne, the King devoted himself to improving the well being of his people who remember him fondly as the dedicated father of the nation. 
Several times at critical junctures in the country’s history, the King exercised his moral authority to peacefully defuse crises. 
Demonstrating overwhelming loyalty for the late King, more than a million people have flocked to the Grand Palace to mourn his death, with black-clad mourners at the palace, where the late monarch’s body is resting, day and night. 
Merit-making ceremonies in dedication to the late King took place across the country yesterday to mark the 15th day since his passing. 

More than 3.7 million people have officially signed condolence books to bid farewell to the King. 
The Interior Ministry yesterday reported that 319,148 people had attended Abhidhamma prayer 
rituals for the King’s funeral, in addition to 49,057 people who joined alms-giving rituals and 56,915 people who participated in other activities to honour the King. 

In Phitsanulok province, people from the Hmong ethnic group 
performed a sacred ritual in front of the King’s portrait in the belief that his soul would then ascend to heaven. 
In another area of Phitsanulok, state officials joined a merit-making ceremony marking the 15th day of His Majesty’s passing. 
A similar ceremony also took place in Bueng Kan province with food presented to monks, praying rituals and water-pouring rituals honouring the King. 

Making merit for late King
Khon Kaen Governor Pongsak Preechawit also led local officials and people in his province in making merit for the late monarch. 
It has also been announced that mass alms-giving ceremonies would be held at Wat Pa Saeng Arun 
every Thursday in honour of the king.
Recognising the outpouring of love for the late monarch, authorities are preparing to accommodate an expected massive flow of mourners to the Grand Palace tomorrow, when it will open the Dusit Maha Prasat Throne Hall for people to pay respects to the late King before his Royal urn. 

Bangkok Metropolitan Administ-ration’s spokeswoman Threedow Aphaiwongs Sukhum said 10,000 queue cards would be handed out each day to grant admission to the throne hall. 
She said the hall would be 
open between 8am and 9pm every day for an indefinite period of time to accommodate the flow of mourners. 
Deputy Bangkok governor Pol Lt-General Amnuay Nimmano also said the number of mourners would be limited to 10,000 a day.
“For people from provinces, please head to Bangkok under the quota system that the Interior Ministry has arranged to ensure that your trip is smooth,” he said. 

Authorities will close 27 roads around the Grand Palace and nearby areas this weekend to help facilitate the flow of mourners. 
Army spokesman Colonel Winthai Suvaree said queue cards would be handed out at the Mahathat Temple, while in a nearby area 20 tents have been erected and 20,000 chairs provided for mourners.