 |
| MAIN PICTURE, ABOVE:
Craning their necks for a
glimpse of their king,
large numbers of Thais
come out to show their
support for His Majesty
wherever he goes. FAR LEFT: Their Majesties the King and Queen visit a military base during the communist insurgency. LEFT: Hilltribe villagers present Doi Kham products to His Majesty. |
 |
| A touching moment between the young King and an elderly woman. |
OOf all the world's reigning monarchs, His Majesty King
Bhumibol Adulyadej of Thailand is recognised internationally
as “The Working Monarch” for his life-long dedication
to rural development causes.
His Majesty has logged an average of 200 working days
and 7,164km of travel per year working to break the cycle
of poverty among Thailand's rural poor and softening the
impact that natural disasters have had on their lives.
“That, however, doesn't mean that he works only 200
days out of each year,” Dr Sumet Tantivejkul, secretarygeneral
of the Chaipattana Foundation, said. “In fact, His
Majesty works 365 days a year. Whether he is travelling in
rural areas or in Bangkok, whether it is Saturday or Sunday,
the King never stops working. For the “working monarch”,
there is no day off. His Majesty often remarked that if those
who suffer are not spared from their ordeals on weekends,
then there should be no reason for him to delay his work
for the sake of a holiday.”
If work demands his full attention, it gets his full attention
until he accomplishes whatever it is he is doing.
“I remember one physically demanding trip that required
mountain trekking from dawn to dusk. At the end of the
exhausting journey, members of the King's entourage
collapsed in their beds, myself included. But His Majesty
went straight to his study to work on what he had not
finished earlier that day, without taking any rest.”
Known to be a strong walker, His Majesty has reached some
of the remotest parts of Thailand on foot, regardless of terrorist
threats, rough terrain or adverse weather conditions.
| “Science and wisdom cannot be separated; you need to use both. Wisdom does not refer only to intellect or academic skill, but also moral intellect, or the ability to judge right from wrong, to be farsighted, and to be almost enlightened to the point of seeing into the future by the light of your wisdom. Wisdom can light your way through the use of reason. Wisdom, when used properly, lets you see the future, because you have seen the past, and its conditions. Considering the people's skills and problems, you can see what the future will hold.” MARCH 5, 1964 |
By reaching remote villages, His Majesty has observed
firsthand different ways of living and widely varied terrain.
“Having frequented these small villages, whether they
were hill tribe settlements in the North or Muslim villages
in the South, His Majesty would recognise many of the
people he encountered — even recalling their first names
and family relationships.”
During the height of communist insurgency and Southern
separatist terrorism in the 1960s and '70s, His Majesty
was undaunted by danger. Pol Gen Vasit Dejkunjorn, former
chief of Permanent Royal Court Police Officers, recalled an
incident in 1979: “There were two bomb explosions not far
from a tent where His Majesty was presenting a flag to
village boy scouts. The fearless King continued with his
speech and went on with his scheduled village visits.
“On another occasion, terrorists attacked with cannon
fire a site slated for a visit by His Majesty the following day.
His Majesty went on with his schedule uninterrupted.
Even where terrorism is widespread, His Majesty has
remained undeterred, showing his strong determination
to pursue his public service in high-risk areas.
“His Majesty wishes for the well being of all of his subjects,
regardless of their ethnicity, race or religion. He believes
that once the people are better off, they will no longer have
reason to create conflict.
“During a trip to the North and Northeast, His Majesty
was interviewed by a foreign reporter who asked how his
work to improve the livelihoods of the rural poor would
help rid Thailand of the communist threat. His Majesty
said he didn't think about ridding the country of communism.
He said he wanted to see his people with fuller stomachs,”
said Pol Gen Vasit.
With little government support at first, His Majesty's
efforts to help the rural poor began to pay off as rural livelihoods
improved noticeably in areas where his projects had
been implemented.
earned more recognition. Help from government and
international organisations began to pour in by the start of
the third decade of his reign. Yet, it wasn't until the second
half of the fourth decade of his reign that the King's efforts
at rural development culminated in a major breakthrough.
In 1981 the government established and funded an organisation
to fully support His Majesty's projects.
THE THIRD DECADE: 1966-1975
“From the earth up to the sky, His Majesty has tried to
adapt nature to fit the needs of his subjects,” Dr Sumet
said, referring to His Majesty's effort to improve the lives of
his subjects.
From the parched earth, he brought life. From the sky,
he brought rain. After 12 gruelling years of research and
experimentation that began in 1956 during a visit to Phu
Phan, Sakon Nakhon province, His Majesty's quest to bring
down “more rain than that given by nature” was finally
realised.
On June 1, 1969, under the supervision of the late MR
Debbharidh Devakul, the first cloud seeding trials produced
significant amounts of artificially stimulated rainfall in
targeted areas of Pak Chong district in Nakhon Ratchasima.
The Royal Rain-Making Research and Development
Project officially offered artificial rain services to the farmers
beginning in 1971. For more than three decades, the
Royal Rain operation has effectively alleviated the harshest
effects of the dry season. His Majesty the King remains
actively involved in the operation of the project up to the
present day
“For Thai farmers, the Royal Rain provides a significant
benefit that people in many other countries do not receive,
even those in countries with more highly developed technological
bases,” observed Dr Sumet. “Likely, cost is a
factor in other nations. But here in Thailand the Royal
Rain from the King is provided to the people free of charge.”
Several of the more complex problems faced by Thai society
require more than a straight forward charitable solution.
His Majesty the King approaches every issue with
wisdom and sensitivity, especially if cultural, ethnic or religious
minorities are involved.
| “I don't wish to see anybody succumb to anybody else. I am for democracy. But we must create genuine and appropriate democracy. Democracy without wisdom will turn into chaos. And that chaos will develop into anarchy ... we must respect the dignity of humans, the dignity of individuals. We should think of how to promote people's dignity.” DECEMBER 15, 1970 |
His Majesty's subtle approach won the hearts of minority
groups in Northern Thailand so much that he was able
to lead the people and the government to a solution to the
problem of opium production.
By listening attentively to their problems and offering
them a better solution, His Majesty was able to convince
the hill tribes to abandon their generations-long tradition
of poppy cultivation and slash-and-burn agriculture and
to adopt instead the cultivation of temperate-zone cash
crops under the King's Royal Project.
As a consequence, the severely-denuded Northern
forests have been restored and opium production in Northern
Thailand has come to a complete halt. Most importantly,
the King's alternative cash crops for the hill tribes
actually have provided higher income and enhanced living
standards.
“We are so happy to be finally able to lead peaceful
lives. It's the best thing that ever happened to us,” said
Tong Sae Li, headman of Ban Khunklang, a Hmong village
on Doi Inthanon, who still vividly remembers an era of
constant military crackdowns meant to eradicate opium
cultivation. “His Majesty the King made it possible for the
hill tribe people to live peacefully,” he said.
According to HSH Prince Bhisatej Rajani, director of the
Royal Project Foundation, His Majesty the King's discussions
with the Hmong villagers in 1969 led to the discovery
that locals grew apricots as well as opium to earn
income. He then asked researchers to help improve the
quality and size of the apricots so that the villagers could
get better prices for them.
The King set up a fund at Kasetsart University to study
other possible crop substitutions for the hill people. Funding
from state agencies and foreign sources followed as it
became evident that the King's approach was effective in
eliminating opium cultivation in the North.
With technical assistance from the Royal Project, hill
tribes have become expert cultivators of temperate-zone
vegetables like baby carrots, leeks, sugar peas, zucchini
and sweet peppers as well as herbs like rosemary and
oregano, flowers like red roses, chrysanthemum, gladiolus,
gypsophila and aster, and fruits like strawberries, pears
and peaches — crops their forefathers never heard of.
“We now earn a reasonable living,” Grai Sae Waa, a Hmong farmer from Ban Mai Khunklang, said. “We have enough to eat and spend on what we need. We also feel life is more secure now that we no longer have to worry about crackdowns and forced eviction by the authorities.”
The illegal supply of opium that once equalled 150 tonnes
a year in northern Thailand was eventually reduced by 85
per cent.
Royal Project-initiated agricultural produce is marketed
under the Doi Kham brand name, and has won customer
confidence for its high quality.
“The key to the success of the Royal Project lies in the
working strategies given by His Majesty the King,” explained
 |
| LEFT TO RIGHT: His Majesty was keen on sailing and crafting boats. HM the King and his daughter, Princess Ubolratana, won a SEA Games gold medal in 1967. His Majesty’s hand-drawn chart for rain-making. The demonstration rice mill was set up in Chitrlada Palace in 1971. Student leaders of the October 14 uprising have an audience with His Majesty. |
Prince Bhisatej. “They focus on obtaining knowledge
through research, avoiding bureaucratic entanglements and
acting fast to respond to the villagers' needs while assisting
them to become self-reliant.”
The Project now has four research stations and 35 Royal
Project Development centres, covering 295 villages and
14,109 households comprising 85,000 people in the hilly
terrain of northern Thailand.
During his extensive travels throughout rural Thailand,
His Majesty encountered a great deal of suffering resulting
from inadequate or inaccessible heath care and public health
education. In 1967, His Majesty set up the Royal Medical Unit
manned by the King's personal physicians and a team of
volunteer medical professionals to offer free health care to
the rural poor. Additional Royal units travelled the country
delivering urgently needed health-related services.
With over six months of the year being spent in rural areas,
His Majesty still found time for Bangkok-based projects. In
addition to his fish pond and dairy farm, His Majesty set
aside a plot of land in the palace compound for a model rice
mill. With an initial investment of 50,000 baht, the demonstration
rice mill displayed how farmers could earn more by
joining forces to own and operate communal rice mills.
His Majesty's rice mill employs an environmentally
friendly process which recycles husk residues from the
mill. Husks are processed as organic fertiliser, solid fuel
and as feed for cattle and fish.
In 1973, His Majesty took an unprecedented stance in
the political realm. Street violence erupted on October 14
after the military-led government brutally crushed demonstrations
by unarmed students calling for democratic
reforms. The crisis quickly evolved into one of the bloodiest
political crises in Thailand's history.
Before the violence was aggravated any further, His
Majesty stepped in and brought the crisis to an abrupt
end. Albeit outside the realm of his duties as set down in
Thai law, His Majesty's ability to dissipate a national crisis
of such magnitude is a unique political phenomenon.
“Our monarchy is quite distinctive from those in other countries. In one dimension it is an institution that stays above politics. Yet, in a spiritual dimension, the monarchy is a persuasive force that is more effective than the law itself. Apparently, as a constitutional monarch, His Majesty has no duty or power to relieve political gridlocks. But in crises when all existing systems are paralysed and fail to function properly, only His Majesty can promptly restore harmony to society,” Dr Sumet said.
His Majesty once again played an extraordinary role in
Thai politics during the “Black May” street violence in
1992, when his intervention brought bloodshed to a
complete halt.
 |
CLOCKWISE, FROM
TOP LEFT:
HRH Crown Prince Maja
Vajiralongkorn on a tractor
with his father at the
demonstration rice field in
Chitralada Palace.
Their Majesties the King and the Queen inspect a cattleraising project at the Huay Hong Krai Royal Development Study Centre in Chiang Mai. His Majesty traveled across rugged terrain in the North to gain insight into the problem of poppy production by hilltribe villagers. A computer graphic made by His Majesty showing rain-making procedure. On a boat, during a Royal visit to the provinces. |
| “Heavy development of advanced and more efficient machinery creates joblessness because people are robbed of their jobs by machines ... therefore we should think of tools and plans that are easy and practical, making the most of the energy and other resources available in our country. Such plans may not look glamorous or modern and give not as much in terms of yield, yet the produce obtained would be enough for consumption. More than that, most people will have jobs and be able to earn the decent living they wish for.” OCTOBER 18, 1975 |
His Majesty's role has gone beyond rural development and politics. His sportsmanship and craftsmanship put his name in international record books in 1967 when, at the age of 40, His Majesty won a gold medal together with HRH Princess Ubolratana in the SEA Games sailing tournament in a dinghy he designed and built. The nation celebrated the sight of their King and Princess standing on the medallists' podium to receive the SEA Games' gold medal.
As a child, His Majesty built toy ships from discarded wood and sailed them. He combined his boat building and sailing abilities to make himself a unique sportsman. Altogether, His Majesty has designed eight dinghies, all falling within the International OK and Moth classes, but designed especially to be compatible with the smaller stature of Thai sailors. His Majesty designed his first dinghy, Rajptan, in 1964, followed by Navaruek, Veca 1, Veca 2 and Veca 3 in the OK Class. In the Moth class he designed The Mod, Super Mod and Micro Mod. He also designed Mok, a hybrid between Moth and the OK classes.
His Majesty's Super Mod was selected for the 4th South East Asian Peninsular Games in 1967 and again for 13th South East Asian Games in 1985. His Majesty holds a design patent in the UK for The Mod. By designing and granting the right to produce dinghies which are both compatible and affordable for local sailors, His Majesty has promoted sailing as a popular sport in Thailand.
Because of his extensive commitments to the promotion of rural economic development, His Majesty completed only two musical compositions during his third decade. The first one, written in 1966, was composed for Kasetsart University. Another highly-acclaimed piece, Kwam Fan An Soong Sud, was composed in 1971. A patriotic poem turned into a song, the piece was highly acclaimed.
THE FOURTH DECADE: 1976-1985
“Before dealing with a new problem, His Majesty visualises the situation he is facing and the changes that he would like to make,” Dr Sumet explained. “Then he gathers information, analyses it and distils the information into a list of important facts.”
Most importantly, before any of his new initiatives are launched, His Majesty holds public hearings by inviting those who have a stake in the project to voice their opinions and differences.”
If the consensus from a public hearing is against the proposed project, His Majesty will not press the matter further. “His Majesty's process is quite democratic. He is open to hearing opinions. Whether they are positive or negative, he is ready to accept them.”
 |
| LEFT TO RIGHT:
The first rice bank, initiated
by His Majesty.
The Cow and Buffalo Bank was initiated by His Majesty in 1979. This fruitful papaya tree and the farmer’s big smile attest to the success of the first ‘Living Museum’ at Khao Hin Sorn. During street violence in May 1983, His Majesty successfully convinced Gen Suchinda Kraprayoon and Maj Gen Chamlong Srimuang to end their confrontation for the sake of public peace and harmony. |
In 1979, after decades of wisdom accumulated through trial and error, His Majesty moved his experimental projects off the palace grounds and set up a new research and development centre at Khao Hin Sorn in Phanom Sarakham district, Chachoengsao province. The centre, located on 300 hectares of land, suffered from severe soil degradation caused by deforestation, years of corn and cassava cultivation and topsoil erosion.
Hence the centre focused its attention first on developing methods to improve soil fertility, water resource management, forest rehabilitation, crop cultivation planning and animal husbandry.
| “There are three things that can be provided by our forests: firewood, fruit and wood for building houses. People — both highlanders and lowlanders — have knowledge about these things. They've been working for generations and have done it well. They're clever and know where to grow crops and where the trees should be kept.” FEBRUARY 26, 1981 |
In 1981, two years after the research and development centre
was established, the government founded the Office of the
Royal Development Projects Board (RDPB), which matched
Royal projects with professional and financial assistance from
the appropriate agencies within the government.
“An initial budget of 300 million baht eventually increased to a floating fund of one billion baht,” explained Dr Sumet. “With an established coordinating organisation, His Majesty's initiated projects have increased in number by some 50 a year.”
After the establishment of the RDPB, the Royal Research and Development Centre set its sights on creating what is now the very well known and often replicated “Living Museum” concept. Each Living Museum covers the areas in a respective region where His Majesty directs projects related to reforestation, irrigation, land development and farm technology. Villager-friendly technology — which varies from region to region — is showcased and promoted.
Each museum functions as a “one-stop service centre”, allowing farmers to pick and choose what they think best suits their needs and localities.
“Until the Living Museum concept was introduced, the government offered similar service to farmers regardless of the geological diversity, weather or individual needs. Worse yet, the centres were located so far apart that distribution of new rice varieties or fish fingerlings was made almost impossible,” Dr Sumet said.
“His Majesty's R&D centre is the first where farmers and their entire families can all acquire useful information and services. Agricultural support is provided. Information about income generating activities via handicraft production is available through the SUPPORT Foundation. Even health care services are provided: All under one roof.
“Most importantly, these centres facilitate a two-way exchange of knowledge and wisdom. The farmers can acquire modern knowledge. At the same time research officials can glean local wisdom and important data from local farmers. Together, they develop.”
The second Living Museum, called Kung Krabaen Bay Royal Development Study Centre, was set up in 1981 in Tha Mai district of Chanthaburi province. The 4,000-rai centre continues to explore agricultural methods suitable to the coastal zone of the eastern region.
In January of the following year, the Pikul Thong Royal Development Study Centre started its operation at Muang district in Narathiwat province. The major challenge of this third centre has been to solve the problem of water-logged peat soil and to transform it into viable agricultural land.
Later in 1982, The Phu Phan Royal Development Study Centre was established at Huai Yang subdistrict in Muang district, Sakon Nakhon province. Its stated goal: To introduce appropriate development and occupational training for people in the northeastern region.
Also established around the end of 1982 was the Huai
Hong Khrai Royal Development Study Centre. Occupying
8,500 rai of land in Pa Khun Mae Kuang National Forest
Reserve at Doi Saket district, Chiang Mai, the centre has
spearheaded new methods of watershed conservation,
reforestation and agricultural development in the North.
| “Some people say that a royal project cannot be touched. This is a mistaken view, or a view that is not quite right. If a royal project cannot be commented on, Thailand cannot develop. A royal project is a royal opinion..” DECEMBER 4, 1993 |
 |
CLOCKWISE, FROM TOP:
Their Majesties the King
and Queen visit a military
base during the
communist insurgency. A worker at Khao Hin Sorn tends an organic vegetable plot as part of the centre’s efforts to promote chemical-free farming. Workers tend organic vegetable gardens at the Khao Hin Son Centre. |
The last of the six Living Museums was established in
Cha-am district of Phetchaburi province in April 1983.
Called the Huai Sai Royal Development Study Centre, its
research focuses primarily on reforestation and cultivation
of agricultural crops suitable to the needs of the southwestern
section of Thailand's central region.
To help alleviate the vicious cycle of debt repayment
being faced by many rural farmers, His Majesty initiated a
new and innovative system whereby loans and interest
payments could be made using rice and buffalo instead of
money.
Established in 1976, at Chom Thong district of Chiang Mai, the Rice Bank received an initial rice stock from the King. Loans of rice made during the off-season, when rice could not be grown, were repaid with interest after the harvest the following season. Two years later, in 1979, Buffalo Bank gave similar service to farmers.
In the public health arena, His Majesty expanded the Royal Medical Team Project from mobile medical unit to “village doctor”. Under this 1982 initiative, volunteers received training as “village doctors”.
Each volunteer was trained to provide minimal health assistance and serve as a primary point of contact between patients and medical officials from the local health centres and provincial hospitals.
In 1976 His Majesty established the Phra Dabos Project to provide vocational education to stray and abandoned children marginalised by mainstream society. Presently the Phra Dabos Foundation is open to people from all walks of life and every age group.
One of the most challenging problems His Majesty has encountered was the damage to millions of households and tremendous economic loss caused by the heavy floods that affected Bangkok in late 1970s and early 1980s.
In 1980 His Majesty proposed a long-term project to alleviate the flooding by dredging 19 canals, 173.4km in total, and setting up 43 pumping stations to regulate the flow of water to and from the sea.
Called Kham Ling (Monkey Cheeks), the project consists of a system of canals excavated along the coastal areas to the west and the east of the Chao Phraya River. The canals serve as storage reservoirs and drain floodwaters away using the power of gravity and tidal flow.
A budget of 375 million baht was approved in 1983 for the implementation of the King's plan.
In addition to the Bangkok region, the Kaem Ling Project presently covers the Nong Yai Area Development Project (Nong Yai-Natural Kaem Ling) in Chumphon province and the Project to Relieve Food Problems in the Khlong U Ta Phao Basin in Hat Yai, Songkhla province.