Government will assist public access to throne hall

The United Nations (UN) will hold a special assembly session Friday evening (Thailand time) to honour His Majesty King Bhumibol Adulyadej, according to Virachai Plasai, Thailand's ambassador to the UN.

Mr Virachai said the rare special session in the UN building in New York would begin at 10am Friday (9pm Thailand time). Representatives of member countries would have the opportunity to speak in honour of the late King.

The special session iss expected to last 15 minutes, Mr Virachai said.

It would begin with an address by the chairman of the UN General Assembly, followed by the chairs of five regions and Samantha Power, the US ambassador to the UN.

Mr Virachai said he would be the last person to make a speech.

Earlier report: Thai ambassador to speak at special session

The event would be broadcast live on the UN's webcast, the ambassador said.

Accompanying Their Majesties during the 1967 visit to UN headquarters in New York were U Thant, the (then) Burmese secretary-general of the world body, and the Thai foreign minister at that time, the late Thanat Khoman (left).

Meanwhile, deputy Bangkok governor Amnuay Nimmano said that the government's joint peace-maintaining command centre has concluded that the number of mourners who will pay their respects before the late monarch's body in the Dusit Maha Prasat Throne Hall in the Grand Palace will be limited to 10,000 each day.

Starting Saturday, mourners will be allowed to pay their respects before the Royal Funeral Urn of the late King from 8am to 9pm after the 15-day royal merit-making ceremony is completed Friday.

Those who participate must obtain queue numbers at Wat Maha That Yuwarat Rangsarit near the Grand Palace and groups of 150 at a time will be led inside the throne hall, Pol Lt Gen Amnuay said, adding that authorities will assess whether more mourners will be allowed in the Grand Palace.

Pol Lt Gen Amnuay also said security has been beefed up around Sanam Luang, with police deployed on the top floors of nearby buildings as part of security measures.

Col Winthai Suvaree, spokesman for the National Council for Peace and Order (NCPO), said that those queuing to get inside the Grand Palace must initially wait at 20 tents set up outside Wat Maha That which can accommodate up to 20,000 people.

National police chief Chakthip Chaijinda said about 3,000 police officers will be on hand to ensure the safety of mourners and to facilitate their movement from Saturday onwards.

Pol Gen Chakthip added that 1,300 closed circuit television cameras installed around Sanam Luang are fully functional.

Metropolitan Police Bureau chief Sanit Mahathavorn said that he has instructed police officers to be more thorough when searching people entering the Grand Palace.

In addition to the existing eight checkpoints, nine more checkpoints have been set up to screen people around Sanam Luang, Pol Lt Gen Sanit said, adding that soldiers will also be asked to assist police in carrying out checks.

Security checkpoints have also been set up on the outskirts of Bangkok to search suspicious-looking vehicles and people heading into the capital, Pol Lt Gen Sanit said.

Pol Lt Gen Sanit also suggested that people be allowed to request a queue number to enter the Grand Palace in advance via the internet.

Army deputy spokeswoman Sirichan Ngathong said Thursday that army chief Gen Chalermchai Sitthisart has ordered army camps in all regions to provide rest areas for people heading to Bangkok to pay their respects to His Majesty the late King.

Col Sirichan said army units had been ordered to work with with local government officials to assist mourners from the start of their trips until they return home.

Rest areas will be provided for travellers from the North at Jiraprawat Camp in Nakhon Sawan; at Sripatcharin Camp in Khon Kaen and Suranaree Camp in Nakhon Ratchasima for people from the Northeast; Thanarat Camp in Prachuap Khiri Khan for those from the South; and at a location on Buddha Monthon Sai 4 Road for people from the East, West and Central Region.

All rest areas will offer parking for vehicles and mourners will be provided with food, water, toilets and medical services, Col Sirichan said.

In the outskirts of Bangkok, mourners will be able to stop over at Impact Arena in Muang Thong Thani in Nonthaburi and at a location in the Buddha Monthon area in Nakhon Pathom. They will be provided with free transportation to Ratchadamnoen Avenue and Sanam Luang from both locations.

They will also be advised on how to properly pay their respects before the Royal Urn.

From Saturday, about 200 personnel -- territorial defence students, cadets and nursing students from all the armed forces, and army medical students -- will be assigned each day to ensure that mourners pay their respects to the late King properly, Col Sirichan said.

Source:
courtesy of BANGKOK POST

by BANGKOK POST

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