BANGKOK – Former Thai prime minister Tanin Kraivixien has been named as the new president of its privy council.

He takes over from General Prem Tinsulanonda, who is now standing in as regent, pending Crown Prince Maha Vajiralongkorn’s accession to the throne.

After Thailand’s revered King Bhumibol Adulyadej, the world’s longest reigning monarch, died on Thursday (Oct 13), the heir apparent asked for some time to mourn with the people before ascending the throne.

This triggered a legal clause requiring then privy council president Prem, 96, to handle royal duties as a temporary regent.

The positions of privy council chief and regent cannot be held by the same person.

Mr Tanin, 89, is a former supreme court judge and staunch anti-communist who was made prime minister after a military coup was staged in 1976 following a massacre of left-wing student protesters in Bangkok.

His own administration was upended by another coup in 1977. That was the same year he was appointed by King Bhumibol to the privy council.

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Photo Gallery

Large crowds gather as convoy transports Thai king’s body to Grand Palace

Source:

Reuters

AFP

The Straits Times

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Last year, Mr Tanin wrote a letter to Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha in which he urged the government to bar corrupt politicians for life and to seize their assets.

According to Thai media reports, he has also supported the idea of building a canal across southern Thailand that would allow international cargo to bypass the Malacca Strait and boost Thailand’s standing as a transportation hub.

This article was first published on October 19, 2016.
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With preparations underway for the succession to the throne and royal cremation, authorities are making maximum efforts to prepare for the hundreds of thousands of mourners who plan to pay their respects to His Majesty King Bhumibol Adulyadej at the Grand Palace and Sanam Luang.

Prime Minister General Prayut Chan-o-cha yesterday visited the operations command centre at Sanam Luang.

He told officers to provide special care to children, the elderly and disabled, as well as people who lose their way and other special cases.

Prayut said he was content with the overall management, as were many visitors to the area.

The number of black-clad mourners has continued to increase.

Authorities have not yet announced plans for the upcoming long weekend from Saturday to Monday, when hundreds of thousands of people are expected to enter the Grand Palace compound.

They have updated national police chief Pol General Chaktip Chaijinda about the operational plans.

Police officers have been assigned to ensure public safety around the Grand Palace.

Public can direct questions about transportation to the Grand Palace to hotline numbers 1197, 191, and 1111.

The Metropolitan Police Bureau would arrange vans to provide free transportation from Victory Monument, MBK Centre and Wong Wian Yai from 8am to 4pm, the police chief said.

The Marine Police Division has prepared passenger boats to provide transportation since yesterday.

The Police General Hospital has arranged mobile medical services in the vicinity of the Grand Palace.

It has already assisted more than 40,000 people.

The Army has assigned psychological operations units to explain guidelines to people in the Sanam Luang area, according to Army deputy spokesperson Colonel Sirichan Ngathong.

The First Army Area and the Quartermaster Department has arranged two water trucks and four food trucks, which are expected to prepare 8,000 meals per day to serve visitors in front of Thammasat University’s Tha Prachan campus.

Another food and medical unit will be available in front of the Territorial Defence Command on Charoen Krung Road to serve up to 1,000 people from 8am to 10pm.

Parking lots will be able to accommodate up to 100 cars starting at 4pm until next Thursday.

The BMA, meanwhile, has arranged four shuttle buses, two trams and two double-decker London-style buses to provide transportation to Sanam Luang from Suan Santiporn Park, Democracy Monument, Phan Fa, Sky High restaurant, City Pillar Shrine, the Suan Chao Chet building, the World War I Monument and the Tourism Department.

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A look back at Thailand’s King Bhumibol Adulyadej’s life

Source:

Reuters

AFP

The Straits Times

The Nation/ANN

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The Interior Ministry is preparing logistical facilities starting on October 28, when the late King’s royal urn will be displayed for public homage at Dusit Maha Prasat Hall.

According to Interior Minister General Anupong Paochinda, the ministry will co-operate with police in organising public transportation in provincial areas.

The ministry will also prepare government buildings, temples and tents for people to rest in the Bangkok metropolitan area.

Steps to the throne

Deputy Prime Minister Wissanu Krea-ngam said he had instructed the Foreign Ministry to clarify the procedures on the succession to the throne to clear up confusion in minds of the public and the international community.

The ministry would make clear that the succession and cremation involve three steps, he said.

Step one would be the succession to the throne, which would happen soon.

Step two would be the royal cremation, which would take place within a year.

Step three would be the coronation of the heir to the throne, which would take place within a specified period after the cremation.

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Photo Gallery

Thailand’s Crown Prince Maha Vajiralongkorn, soon to be King

Source:

AFP

Reuters

Bangkok Post

The Nation/ANN

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SEOUL – North Korea on Thursday conducted what was believed to be another failed test of a powerful medium-range missile capable of hitting US bases as far away as Guam, the South Korean military said.

It was the second failed launch in less than a week of the nuclear-armed North’s powerful Musudan missile, which some experts warn could become operational as early as next year.

The last test on Saturday was denounced by the UN Security Council which is currently debating a fresh sanctions resolution against Pyongyang over its fifth nuclear test carried out last month.

Analysis by South Korean and US military monitors suggested Thursday’s missile had exploded shortly after take-off at around 6:30am Pyongyang time (2200 GMT Wednesday), the Joint Chiefs of Staff said in a statement.

“Our military strongly condemns North Korea’s continued illegal provocative actions and are fully prepared for the possibilities of further provocation,” the statement said.

First unveiled as an indigenous missile at a military parade in Pyongyang in October 2010, the Musudan has a theoretical range of anywhere between 2,500 and 4,000 kilometres (1,500 and 2,500 miles).

The lower estimate covers the whole of South Korea and Japan, while the upper range would include US military bases on Guam.

The missile has now been tested eight times this year – but only once successfully.

A Musudan launched in June flew 400 kilometres into the Sea of Japan (East Sea), and was hailed by leader Kim Jong-Un as proof of the North’s ability to strike US bases across “the Pacific operation theatre”.

Despite the string of failures, some experts believe the missile is moving swiftly towards operational deployment.

According to John Schilling, an aerospace engineer specialising in rocket propulsion, the aggressive launch schedule, while multiplying the risk of failure, also increases the information gleaned from each test.

“If they continue at this rate, the Musudan intermediate-range ballistic missile could enter operational service sometime next year – much sooner than had previously been expected,” Schilling wrote recently on the 38North website of the US- Korea Institute at Johns Hopkins University.

The latest Musudan test came with the United States and China still thrashing out a new UN sanctions resolution after the North’s September nuclear test.

North Korea has been hit by five sets of UN sanctions since it first tested a nuclear device in 2006.

After Pyongyang carried out its fourth nuclear test in January, the Security Council adopted the toughest sanctions resolution to date, targeting North Korea’s trade in minerals and tightening banking restrictions.

The ongoing negotiations on the new sanctions measure are focused on closing loopholes and zeroing in on North Korea’s nuclear and ballistic missile technology industry, according to Security Council diplomats.

A look at North Korea’s Kim Jong Un

Click on thumbnail to view photos. Source: 

AFP, Reuters