Government says there's no need to rush to mourn

The government has confirmed the closing date for paying homage to His Majesty the King before his body has not been specified so members of the public have no need to rush to join the event.

It is expected a large number of mourners will flock to the Grand Palace on Saturday which will be the first time mourners can pay their respects before the King's body in the Dusit Maha Prasat Throne Hall.

Currently, people are paying their respects to the King before his portrait at the Sahathai Samakom Pavilion in the Grand Palace.

Previously, there was a news report that people will only have until Jan 20 to pay respect to the King in the Dusit Maha Prasat Throne Hall.

This sparked concerns among the public that they will have only 84 days to pay their respects to the King in the hall.

Prime Minister's Office Minister Suwapan Tanyuwattana, who is also the secretary of the government's monitoring command centre, said Wednesday the closing date has not been specified yet.

Mourners will be allowed to pay their respects before the late monarch's body from 8am to 9pm in the Dusit Maha Prasat Throne Hall inside the Grand Palace. Access will be allowed after the 15-day merit-making ceremony is completed this Friday.

A large number of mourners are expected to attend the event from Saturday to Monday, Mr Suwapan said.

From Saturday, a road section from Lan Luang intersection to Ratchadamnoen Avenue, stretching to Arun Amarin intersection on the Thon Buri side of the Chao Phraya River, as well as around Sanam Luang, will be shut to passenger cars from 7am. Public buses will be arranged to transport people.

Mr Suwapan said 10,000 mourners are allowed to pay respects to the late King each day. Groups of 150 will be led inside the throne hall each time and those who participate must obtain queue numbers.

A large vessel which can handle 400 passengers will be in service from Sathon pier to Tha Chang pier, which is close to the Grand Palace, from this Saturday. Chartered buses will be allowed to park at eight designated spots which are to be announced.

Fifteen spots for first aid treatment have been prepared around Sanam Luang.

A facility at the Thai-Japanese Din Daeng Stadium, "Ban Ounirak" nursing home and Nang Loeng Horse Racecourse will also be set aside to accommodate mourners.

Mr Suwapan said tourists will be allowed to enter the Grand Palace through the Wiset Chaisri Gate from Nov 1 between 8am and 4pm. Their coaches will be allowed to park at the Royal Rattanakosin Hotel and the Government Lottery Office on Ratchadamnoen Avenue.

Mourners will enter the Grand Palace through the Manee Nopparat Gate and exit at the Tevapirom Gate. But those who wish to pay respects to the late King after 4pm will be led through the Wiset Chaisri Gate.

Meanwhile, security has been stepped up along routes leading to the Grand Palace with eight screening checkpoints.

Maj Gen Pongsawat Phannajit, deputy chief of the 1st Army Region responsible for traffic and security during the mourning, said the eight checkpoints are located at "Suan Chao Chet" Territorial Defence Department, Tha Chang, Tha Phra Chan, Thammasat University, the Volunteer Soldiers' Monument, Phan Phiphop Lila Bridge, Kalayanamaitri intersection and a bridge across Khlong Lot near the Phramae Thorani Bip Muay Phom (Goddess of Earth) statue.

Maj Gen Pongsawat said the area around the Grand Palace will be under surveillance with 1,400 CCTV cameras.

He said a large tethered balloon was raised in Sanam Luang Wednesday as a meeting point for people who may get lost.

The hotline number 1899 has been launched to receive alerts about missing people, those who are sick and other notifications, Maj Gen Pongsawat said.

Volunteer motorcycle drivers who shuttle people to the event will be asked to register with officials at an operations centre located at Thammasat University.

The move came after some drivers disguised as volunteers were caught charging their passengers, he said.

Regarding efforts to clear up rubbish around the Grand Palace, Maj Gen Pongsawat said army chief Chalermchai Sitthisat had instructed soldiers to help the Bangkok Metropolitan Administration (BMA) deal with the matter.

Dust cart drivers are also required to be registered and screened as a security measure, he said. A total of 200 lorries will be used to remove rubbish from the area three times a day.

National Council for Peace and Order spokesman Winthai Suvaree said Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha thanked the state, private and public sectors for voluntarily helping ensure convenience for mourners.

Security in the area has been set at a high level and electronic devices are being used to screen mourners at checkpoints, he said.

Bangkok governor Aswin Kwanmuang said the Interior Ministry is also helping mourners from upcountry paying homage to the late King.

Every day, mourners from five provinces will be arranged to join the event with 750 people from each province.

About 2,000 chairs will be put in place for those queueing to get inside the Grand Palace, he said.

Deputy Bangkok Governor Amnuay Nimmano called on people to stop handing out food to people after 8pm to prevent people taking shelter at Sanam Luang at night.

Source:
courtesy of BANGKOK POST

by WASSANA NANUAM

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