When Paul Handley published The King Never Smiles one of the more common jabs at his work came from those who dismissed it as being based on “rumours”. Handley countered by arguing that “[t]he palace lives on gossip and rumor, at least that which benefits it”.
If comments here and in this post by Bangkok Pundit have any weight behind them then it looks like a new spate of rumours are doing the rounds.
There is still nothing, at least to my eye, that is particularly concrete. Is it only a matter of time? I’m sure the Pundit will update us when more is learned. At this stage all that is being given away is that the “clue is June 15″.
Readers looking to see how a previous episode of Bangkok rumour turned out will appreciate this New Mandala material from 2007. I might add that it is one of the most clicked-on posts in the almost 3-year history of this website.
39 responses so far ↓
1 Andrew Walker // Jun 5, 2009 at 5:14 pm
Relax. I haven’t been feeling 100% but I’m on the mend now. AW
2 blogskeptik // Jun 5, 2009 at 11:11 pm
Are you absolutely certain Pundit isn’t just wittering on about Thaksin’s dodgy prostate?
3 Somsak Jeamteerasakul // Jun 6, 2009 at 7:08 pm
Bangkok Pundit :
UPDATE: Want to clarify one thing. At any one time, there are a few different rumors – think back to 2007 – so the June 15 date was meant to be a hint to anyone who had heard the same rumor that this was what BP was referring too.
From searching the net, someone at Faw Diew Kan webboard has found out that “June 15, 2007″ was the date Princess Galaya, HMK’s sister checked into the Sirirat Hospital for her final cancer treatment. Cannot say whether this is what BP has in mind.
4 tum|bler // Jun 7, 2009 at 2:22 am
@blogskeptik
I think what’s important in BP’s post is “…in Thailand, on certain subjects, we hear nothing.” As far as I’m aware, there’s no reason why news of Thaksin’s health wouldn’t get reported. Certainly, the many enemies of Thaksin among the Thai media would jump at the chance to publish anything remotely damaging about him.
I’m inclined to believe that this rumour is not about Thaksin.
5 tum|bler // Jun 7, 2009 at 2:26 am
BTW, June 15, 2007 was the day when princess Kanlayani Wattana (the king’s deceased sister) was admitted to Siriraj hospital for the final time..
6 kim jung eel // Jun 7, 2009 at 6:05 am
“Somebody” has been enjoying his air hobby somewhere in Europe. That’s all folks!!
7 Marco // Jun 7, 2009 at 6:14 am
June 15 is a half moon. Is this an “auspicious” time to make a sensitive announcement, I wonder.
8 Ralph Kramden // Jun 7, 2009 at 12:17 pm
KJE: I can’t say that I understand this claimed rumour about a rumour at all, but the prince was on television last week, so he hasn’t disappeared.
9 blogskeptik // Jun 7, 2009 at 1:00 pm
The only thing I have noted about this date is that it tends to be the time of year when royals get promoted.
10 GBP // Jun 7, 2009 at 3:53 pm
So this is where the climate of fear engendered by lese majeste etc has got us. No one is willing to say what this rumour is. Some bloggers are obviously traceable, and if I were them I wouldn’t be sticking my neck out either. But there are sites that are essentially anonymous. When there are are such sites showing the video of a certain privileged Thai canine’s birthday party, with one prominent guest ‘au naturel’, surely someone somewhere could post details of what this rumour is all about ?
11 antipadshist // Jun 8, 2009 at 3:12 am
well, BP has certainly stirred up quite a huge internet traffic by this clue – so many people are doing extensive googling and search now for “15 June” ! LOL
there was some article on AS titled “Rumor nation” around that time in 2007. although it was not dated June 15th, it does mention:
so, phrase “past few weeks” somewhat corresponds to the date June 15 2007. although in that article it was mentioned that mostly these rumors are in some on-line sources, not in official media. therefore I guess it would be difficult to find them now.
although there was some other article by Marwaan (IPS/ GIN) on June 15 2007, which is now available on several news archives only through subscription – so, I couldn’t read more than its teaser part, which mentions only Thaksin and therefore I doubt it is related to the matter mentioned by BP. perhaps someone who has an access to the full article could try check and see if anything else is mentioned in it.
there were also some other events dated June 15th – as some anti-junta rally at Sanam Luang that day in 2007. but it is certainly wasn’t so big event to deserve such amount of rumors and discussions.
12 Michael // Jun 8, 2009 at 3:35 am
I’m starting a rumour: Fugitive ex-PM Thaksin has had gender reassignment & is currently in Bangkok, posing as the wife of Viktor Bout, the Russian gaolbird alleged to be a drug & arms dealer. Look at the photo on the front page of Bangkok Post website Sunday edition. If it’s gone, there’s a pretty revealing photo at the interview site @ http://www.bangkokpost.com/news/investigation/18067/viktor-bout-wife-breaks-her-silence
Fiendishly clever of him, say I!
13 Nero Hansen // Jun 8, 2009 at 4:20 am
Dear Andrew, dear Nicholas,
unfortunately I hv no clou how to contact you but I dont want you to miss saw this one about Thaksin hiding in Germany …
http://www.earthtimes.org/articles/show/271832,stay-by-thai-ex-premier-thaksin-in-germany-triggers-fury.html
German version of Süddeutsche Zeitung:
http://www.sueddeutsche.de/politik/504/471048/text/
Best,
NH
14 WLH // Jun 8, 2009 at 3:00 pm
It’s obviously not about Thaksin. He’s not a “sensitive” subject.
BP is more cautious than any other blogger when it comes to royals.
The post is titled “health and rumors.” The king is 82. Succession has been the elephant in the room for everything that’s happened in Thailand for 20 years.
So it’s almost certainly a rumor that the king is ill. From my count this is the 254th version of the rumor since 1999. Everyone hears it from a “reliable source.” I’ll credit BP with a higher standard than most, but still.
The SET is up today. If the king were really sick, powerful people with better sources than BP would be selling.
(Er, unless they all sold a year ago, which would explain a lot….)
15 Ralph Kramden // Jun 8, 2009 at 6:17 pm
Didn’t the king receive a new minister at Hua Hin last week? He was quoted in the press but I didn’t catch the royal news that night.
I think BP has to say more. I have asked everyone I know and the only rumour they have heard is BP’s rumour of a rumour. This is silly.
16 tum|bler // Jun 9, 2009 at 2:13 am
@Ralph:
I remember reading that in the news too. I think I even saw a photo of the king and the new minister on Matichon website.
17 antipadshist // Jun 9, 2009 at 5:10 am
WLH and Ralph
I think it is about another person, the next one in line –
who has not been seen lately in news at all.
18 nganadeeleg // Jun 9, 2009 at 10:17 am
I thought it had something to do with the special sitting of parliament called for on 15th June, and was thinking of a———, but that looks to have been discounted by further commentary by BP.
19 Ralph Kramden // Jun 9, 2009 at 11:30 am
antipadhist: As I said at no. 7, the CP was seen last week in live broadcasts.
20 WLH // Jun 9, 2009 at 3:57 pm
I’m with Ralph. I can’t find a trace of a rumor outside of BP. And he looks to have dropped it for today.
That was fun. Moving on…
21 polo // Jun 9, 2009 at 5:35 pm
How about Sirikit: has the queen been seen?
22 Nicholas Farrelly // Jun 10, 2009 at 8:07 am
A comment from Bangkok Pundit follows:
23 Ralph Kramden // Jun 10, 2009 at 9:48 am
King and queen were both on the royal news on TV for 9 June. For the anniversary of the death of Ananda Mahidol.
24 antipadshist // Jun 10, 2009 at 6:28 pm
@Ralph #8, 19, 23
“last week” (#19) – could you be more precise and provide the exact date, as you give it in your last post ?
I’ve paid attention during last few days (evening news) – and so far couldn’t see him on any of these news.
yesterday (June 9) – you’re right they were seen attending the ceremony. his 1st wife too was shown presiding over similar ceremony elsewhere. his present wife was also shown – but somehow alone, and the footage showed her visiting some rural area, and according to certain observation – this is a taped video, not the latest – because it has been shown some time before (also, one would suppose that she would be rather shown as attending similar ceremony related to the mentioned anniversary, as 1st wife, no ? and also – why she is shown alone?). his 2 sisters also were shown.
however he himself was not shown at all (as I said – at least 3-4 days already, which I especially paid attention to – although may be already longer than that, since before that I didn’t watch closely) – although supposedly he would be also presiding over one of such ceremonies related to this anniversary, don’t you think ? (also usually his wife won’t be shown alone, but mostly together with him – no? )
furthermore, in your last comm (#23) you don’t mention him yourself at all, right? so, any comment on that?
anyway, I let’s see next few days…
since BP says :
I surmise it indicates rather “likely date” according to lunar calendar, based on the similar date which has coinscided with “June 15″ some time before (in 2007? or may be in 2005 ?). so, I guess to be able to figure out the more precise day in the “near future” (coz as BP said the “clue” was about near future) – one has to check the lunar calender and compare it with date “June 15″ for last few years – which auspicious events (by lunar calendar !) has happened on June 15 previously (by solar calander), and then see when similar thing supposed to be this year
now I bet many more people will do more thorough extensive search.
hahaha
25 Thorn // Jun 10, 2009 at 7:17 pm
Yesterday (9th June), King Ananda’s day, the following Royal Family’s member showed up on the royal news. The King, the Queen, Princess Sirikit, Princess Chulaborn, Princess Srirasmi, and Princess Soamsavali.
26 antipadshist // Jun 11, 2009 at 12:22 am
relevant event, usually calculated by Thai Lunar calendar and therefore not a fixed date each year (by
Thai Solar calendar) , which this year will be on this date, and quite corresponds with above quote: 8th waning moon, 6th Thai lunar month (May–June)
Buddhist Calendar
(from the website of Wat Bowonniwet Vihara )
see on the right :
s0, perhaps it is related to this religeous “observance day” (not a public official public holiday)
2009 Calendar of Uposatha Days in Thailand also shows June 15th as quarter moon (”semi-Uposatha“).
“Wan Atthami Bucha” (วันอัฐมีบูชา): a “Buddhist observance commemorating the Buddha’s cremation”, a day remembered today in Thailand as “atthami puja“, “offering on the eighth” day, which is 8th waning moon, 6th Thai lunar month (May–June). this year apparently it falls on June 15th.
27 Michael // Jun 11, 2009 at 1:25 am
BP #22 – I wasn’t having a go at you in my #12. I saw the photos in Bangkok Post, was struck by the likeness, & simply thought it would be fun to inject some humour into this rather purse-lipped & silly thread. Personally, I love hearing all the rumours that abound in Bkk (cheap entertainment, & often so stupid as to be completely beyond the pail – from conceited idiots who claim to be ‘in the know’!), but I take most of them with a grain of whatever happens to be handy.
28 Ralph Kramden // Jun 11, 2009 at 2:19 pm
The CP was shown, live, around 1 June. Can’t recall the exact date. He was with his wife (the current one). She was on the news a day or so ago doing the school visits alone. She did this last year as well.
All of them have appeared in June so far.
I have asked all the journalists and academics I know and have drawn a blank.
Too much mumbo jumbo for me when we begin to talk lunar phases and so on.
Maybe Prem is missing.
29 antipadshist // Jun 11, 2009 at 9:47 pm
@Ralph
thanks for details. well, that’s what I thought – that it probably was already quite some time ago (as of today – it will be 10 days ago).
last night once again he wasn’t seen.
regarding your saying :
well, that might be. however you must keep in mind that a lot of ceremonies (including and probably especially those which involve importatn persons and religious rituals, even if it is merely “observance” days), as done and conducted on the “auspicious days”. therefore, it doesn;t really matter whether it might seem “mumbo jumbo” or not, but such dates make sense in certain context and certain circles. and Atthami Bucha is not an ordinary “observance day” as those regular other “Uposathas” – it is a day when Buddha was cremated, therefore considered quite important.
well, today it is 11th, we just wait few days more and see whatever is the coming events & who’ll give robes & gifts to monks.
30 amberwaves // Jun 11, 2009 at 11:30 pm
Unless my eyes deceived me, Prem was in the audience at the June 9 ceremony. Yes, I was looking for him.
31 Somsak Jeamteerasakul // Jun 12, 2009 at 2:28 am
Ralph Kramden
The CP was shown, live, around 1 June. Can’t recall the exact date. He was with his wife (the current one). She was on the news a day or so ago doing the school visits alone. She did this last year as well.
All of them have appeared in June so far.
This is not quite correct.
The CP was last seen in public on 30 May, i.e., twelve days ago.
Here’s the official press release (in Thai) of his activity on 30 May
http://thainews.prd.go.th/view.php?m_newsid=255205300132&tb=N255205&return=ok&news_headline=“ข่าวในพระราชสำนักประจำวันเสาร์ที่ 30 พฤษภาคม พุทธศักราช 2552 ”
(I have checked with TV news coverage that day, the activity on the press release had been confirmed by news clips.)
Since then, he didn’t appear in any of the daily royal functions, including several on the King Anan Day. On two or three occasions, he had assigned his current wife to perform on his behalf. During these twelve days, all other members of the Royal Family (except his older sister who is probably still in Europe following her attendance of the Cannes Film Festival) had appeared in public.
Is this unusual: the CP hasn’t been seen for twelve days, on any official functions? I’m not sure. Any body?
(I must emphasize that I’m not confirming any rumors whatsoever, just stating the fact, which I really couldn’t say whether it means anything.)
32 Ralph Kramden // Jun 12, 2009 at 2:01 pm
Somsak: I was doing it from memory, so it was a day or so earlier. Hardly seems to negate the point. He has been around and the original BP post was, I think, 4 June, so the prince had appeared just days earlier, making the rumour of ill-health seem unlikely, unless he got hit by a bus or a speeding Mercedes driven by FuFu.
(Maybe it is the latter who is ill? Haven’t seen the dog for a while).
The prince not appearing for 12 days is not abnormal in my view. He appears least in the royal news and long gaps seem common.
The stalwarts are Sirindhorn, Chulabhorn and Soamsawali.
By the way, you are also not quite correct. Ubolrat was on TV from the sidelines of Cannes and is now appearing in royal news doing “to be no. 1″ stuff. The last time I saw her was about 3-4 days ago.
But I guess we all wait for the revelation on the 15th?
33 Marco // Jun 14, 2009 at 7:40 am
BP said something along the lines of “this isn’t the biggest of rumours”, so this surely means it has nothing to do with the king. I reckon we can rile this out.
34 Alexandra E. Wales // Jun 15, 2009 at 10:53 am
Looks like the day of reckoning is here. The CP hasn’t surfaced since BP’s post. 15th straight day now. But then again, the Queen herself had disappeared for months on end once.
So, is this (http://bangkokpundit.blogspot.com/2009/06/succession-white-elephant-in-room.html) the bombshell?
35 antipadshist // Jun 16, 2009 at 12:13 am
watching the news right now .
sis was shown, spouse too – not him.
there is another important date coming up (June 23rd is mentioned), when certain ceremony must be held which demands his presence. this ceremony can’t be done by someone else.
so, let’s see who’ll conduct this imperative function.
it will be practically within a week from today.
36 Somsak Jeamteerasakul // Jun 20, 2009 at 12:44 am
Good news! For those of you who are, like my self, fiercely loyal subject, it can now be confirmed that our beloved CP has been to Europe. See the photo of his private plane at Munich airport, taken on 7 June 2009 here.
http://www.airliners.net/photo/Thailand—Air/Boeing-737-4Z6/1540895/&sid=5cb18d2980d596d96e922d41ab674433
(credit: this post at SameSky
http://www.sameskybooks.org/board/index.php?showtopic=33752
37 Ralph Kramden // Jun 22, 2009 at 12:05 pm
Almost the same picture – I say almost because I have no way of checking – was posted at the same site more than a year ago, also showing the plane in Germany.
38 antipadshist // Jun 23, 2009 at 1:58 am
daily eveining news (which are getting shorter and shorter it seems) show only sis, and once in while 1st wife (even last wife is not shown already quite for a while) – nobody else.
CP is not shown since … I don’t know how long – May 30th ?
June 23rd is tomorrow. let’s see who will conduct the ceremony which actually can’t be missed normally
39 antipadshist // Jul 1, 2009 at 9:16 pm
well, here are the good news:
just now on national TV there was a broadcast (they’re writing “sod sod“) of some event about boy-scouts at Suphasalachai (near to MBK) where CP has made appearance, being shown come out from stadium and get into his car.
so, it has been 1 month so far, and now I guess finally this appearance will put to rest the thrill of guessing and speculating.
(look again at 8pm news – surely it should repeat the report)
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