TIME Asia
King Bhumibol Adulyadej
Over 60 years, a beloved monarch has used his moral authority to guide Thailand through many crises
By Robert Horn
extract

The odds were against him. All across Southeast Asia, monarchies were being extinguishedтАФkings and princes stripped of power, driven into exile or executed. Yet young Bhumibol steadily grew in stature, not least by launching over 3,000 royal projects to help the poor. Even as a communist insurgency raged, he personally delivered relief to remote villages. Bhumibol also quietly counseled and sometimes openly cajoled governments, always urging them to put public interest first. Having sat on the throne for 60 years, he is the world's longest-reigning monarch. His stewardship has been so masterful that in times of crisis Thais invariably turn to one man: King Bhumibol. Indeed, on two occasionsтАФOctober 1973 and May 1992тАФwith Thailand descending into chaos, the King, armed only with his moral authority, intervened to end bloodshed.

Today, a group of generals has again seized power. They have pledged to give Thailand a fairer and lasting democratic system. Once more, Thailand's people will look to King Bhumibol, trusting him to ensure that the generals keep their promise.

http://www.time.com/time/asia/2006/hero ... yadej.html

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