THURSDAY, March 28, 2024
nationthailand

Social media still grieves for HM the King

Social media still grieves for HM the King

A week after king’s passing, Thai netizens continue to pour out their feelings

Pictures, video clips and messages shared on social media over the past week reveal how Thais are still struggling to cope with their feelings over the passing of His Majesty King Bhumibol Adulyadej.
Panachit Kittipanya-ngam wrote: No word can describe our intense feelings. No understanding can stop our tear. No passing time can erase our memory of our beloved father. We always feel like our father is still nearby. But you are not here anymore. Today, we want you to know that we miss you with all our heart.” 
Wasunee Raksachan wrote: “I love writing. But it doesn’t mean I can write at any time, especially in times when I have to squeeze or fake my feelings – that’s not my work. But this period, since October 13, I have wanted to write; I want to preserve all my feelings in every letter.”
On Thursday, Nuinui Mum Pavinee wrote: “It has been seven days. TV shows have not finished airing documentaries on the King’s work. He has done so much.”
Yesterday, Ou Mahenkruangbin wrote: “It has been eight days since I woke up to the news and still feel deeply sad. Let us keep it in our memories and wake up from this nightmare, Thailand.”
Stories of the beloved King since his childhood, his contributions to Thailand and what he achieved during his visits to foreign countries overwhelmed the timeline. Thai social media users kept sharing them.
At the Ministry of Culture’s website, historical films and pictures related to HM the King are available.
At the same time, stories of his family members, including his father Prince Mahidol, the Princess Mother and his children were also shared. Social media users even shared information about the King’s pets. Many thanked social media for giving them the chance to know things they were not aware of earlier.
Rawikarn Ja Dechdi praised a clip, which was part of BBC’s documentary on HM the King, called “Soul of the Nation”. She asked to see a full version of the clip. 
BBC Thai shared some parts of the interview recorded in 1979.
Some wrote about HM Queen Sirikit and the Royal Family.
Suksit Sirsung posted a picture of HRH Crown Prince Maha Vajiralongkorn at the chanting ceremony and wrote, “Look into his eyes, I think he shares the same feelings as us.”
A video clip of HRH Princess Maha Chakri Sirindhorn, presiding over a graduation ceremony at Chulalongkorn University on Thursday, showed her weeping while people in the auditorium were singing the Royal Anthem. 
Netizens kept sharing pictures of themselves and the atmosphere around the Grand Palace and Sanam Luang where people are gathering every day to pay respects to King Rama IX. Some shared information and tips for preparation. 
Some expressed their feelings through drawings, paintings and songs. Tattoos and graphic designs of the Thai No 9 character have also been popular. 
Makut Onrudee shared nine-year-old Sayuri Sakamoto’s writing: “I travel by plane today. I want to clearly see the morning sky. The golden light touched the pink clouds. I secretly wish I have a chance to see Nai Luang [the King] walking on the clouds, which are like the paintings of flower fields.” 
Besides sharing their grief, Thais also paid tributes to the late King through good deeds. 
Social media like Facebook, Twitter, Line, Instagram and webboards have become the channels to find information and picture resources about the late King, to promote and order newspapers and magazines that produced issues to commemorate the King, and to promote donation and activities in memory of the beloved King. 
Lecturer Thon Thamrongnawasawat wrote: “I would like to invite friends in the teaching profession [to share the King’s work as case studies in their classes]. His Majesty worked with all the sciences. It’s not hard to find. We are willing to talk about him, students are also curious to know. We can go in full power.”
It is true that not all Thais feel the same way towards His Majesty the King. His admirers shared their writings to make others and foreigners understand. 
Kalyakorn Earn Naksompop on Facebook posted her article titled, “They said we were brainwashed”, and wrote, “So why is it hard to believe that our love for him derived from his goodness? Just because he’s a king? In a country with lese majeste law?”
While news of some conflicts or actions against others who did not wear black in mourning was reported, a lot of people announced donation of black attires and black ribbons to those in need. 
Many social media users continued to discuss witch-hunting, and whether it had actually happened pervasively. 
Sickheart wrote, “People may react to circumstances. The most important thing is our daily life, not the black or white clothing. We follow traffic rules as we don’t want to burden the officers, we keep the city clean, we are patient when we see people with bad mouth (we can report their abuse). We return lost items to the owners. We do our duty best.”
@chayahyun13 wrote: “When quarrelling, the first to stop shows he is well-educated. HM King Bhumibol’s teaching in 2009.”
Reacting to a news report in a foreign newspaper of a tourist’s complaint of his vacation in Thailand being ruined without a full-moon party and night-life entertainment in this period, @youdunnowwho wrote on Twitter: “Just a tourist; the newspaper was weird in choosing to publish it. It will be alright if it reported all sides of the story comprehensively.”
Kay Saengwattanakul wrote her reply on Facebook while Don Stewart posted a video clip with similar content asking tourists to understand Thais’ grief. He said tourists could still enjoy cultural and other beautiful aspects of Thailand. While they are always welcome, they can come back and enjoy the entertainment they expected in the future.

RELATED
nationthailand