UN Secretary General salutes HM the King's 'Sufficiency Economy'

BANGKOK, May 26 (UNIS-TNA) - His Majesty King Bhumibol Adulyadej will be saluted Friday morning in a high level-panel focusing on His Majesty the King and Human Development at Thailand's Ministry of Foreign Affairs, with a keynote address by United Nations Secretary General Kofi Annan.

President of the Privy Council and Statesman General Prem Tinsulanonda will present an opening address, following remarks by caretaker Deputy Prime Minister Surakiart Sathirathai.

Participants in the panel discussion on sufficiency economy and the development of Thailand will include Dr. Chirayu Israngkun Na Ayuthaya, Director General of the Bureau of the Crown Property; Pim Totankum, representative of Sakhon Nakhon Province and Elizabeth Fong, regional manager of the UNDP Regional Centre in Bangkok.

Later Friday the UN Secretary-General will present an international award to His Majesty the King in recognition of his dedication to improving the lives of Thai people.

According to United Nations Information Services, it will be the first time that the UNDP Human Development Lifetime Achievement Award will be given to an individual in honour of his lifetime work to furthering the understanding and progress of human development in a national, regional or global context.

The UNDP award will be presented at a ceremony at Klaikangvol Palace in Hua Hin on the occasion of His Majesty's sixtieth anniversary of his accession to the throne.

"His Majesty has worked tirelessly to improve the lives of the poor," says UNDP Resident Representative, Joana Merlin-Scholtes. "This award honours his assiduous dedication to the well-being of the people of Thailand recognized the world over," she says.

According to UNDP, royal projects, which often focus on small-scale agriculture, appropriate farming technologies, sustainable use of water resources, conservation and flood and drought mitigation, have benefited millions of people in rural areas across Thailand.

Rural development projects in northern Thailand have helped to significantly reduce the production of opium harvests through crop substitution and greatly benefit ethnic groups living in the mountainous areas along the borders with Myanmar and Lao PDR.

His Majesty has given his Royal patronage and support to a range of important social causes. These include promoting the health and well-being of children; supporting polio eradication campaigns; combating iodine deficiency and leprosy; improving the nutritional status of children; improving access to formal and informal education and providing scholarships to orphans.

The Thai monarch always shows his deep concern for the safety and well-being of the people of Thailand.

He has also made an invaluable contribution to human development through his philosophy of "Sufficiency Economy" that guides behaviour of people at all levels, in the community and in the conduct of business and government affairs. It calls for a "middle way" to be observed, emphasizing responsible consumption and resilience against negative impacts of the globalization.

TNA
May 26, 2549

UN's Annan praises Thai monarch's approach to development

BANGKOK, May 26 (TNA) - "Human development, reduced to its essence, is a very simple concept: it is about empowering people." So spoke UN Secretary-General Kofi Annan Friday morning as the United Nations focused on the special role of Thailand's monarch in making a worldwide example of how people can live with and respect one another and their environment.

Addressing a High-Level Panel on "His Majesty the King and Human Development" at Thailand's Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Mr. Annan said the ceremony also is especially significant because it marks the very first time that the UN has recognized outstanding contributions to development through the Award.

The people, said Mr. Annan, is "Not the few, not even the many, but all people."

The achievement of His Majesty the King "is about empowering them through education, through opportunity, through health care and nutrition. It is about empowering individuals with choices so that they may live healthy, knowledgeable and creative lives," the UN Secretary-General said.
"Human development puts the individual at the centre of development. It emphasizes economic growth and sustainability, human rights and security, equity and political participation," according to Mr. Annan.

"After all, if human development is about putting people first, there can no better advocate for it than His Majesty."

Thailand's monarch has conducted his duties as a monarch for 60 years, Mr. Annan said. "At his coronation in 1946, His Majesty uttered the famous Oath of Accession: 'We shall reign with righteousness, for the benefit and happiness of the Siamese people'. Ever since, His Majesty has lived this Oath, selflessly devoting his time and efforts to the wellbeing and welfare of the people of Thailand, regardless of their ethnicity, religion or legal status."

"As the world's 'Development King,', His Majesty reached out to the poorest and the most vulnerable people of Thailand, listened to their problems and empowered them to take their lives into their own hands," Mr. Annan noted appreciatively.

"His Majesty's rural development projects have benefited millions of people across Thailand. They have prompted small-scale agriculture; appropriate farming technologies; sustainable use of water resources; conservation and flood and drought mitigation."

"In Northern Thailand, His Majesty's rural development initiatives have helped reduce opium harvests through crop substitution. At the same time, these projects have improved access to healthcare and education for the local population and brought significant benefits to the ethnic groups living in the mountainous region along the Myanmar and Lao borders."

"His Majesty's active support for a wide range of social causes has proved crucial to their success. From promoting child health to combating iodine deficiency, from campaigning against disease to increasing access to education, programmes supported by His Majesty impact the every day lives of millions of his subjects," he continued.

"At the same time, His Majesty's visionary thinking has helped shape the global development dialogue," Mr. Annan noted.

"His Majesty's "Sufficiency Economy" philosophy - emphasizing moderation, responsible consumption, and resilience to external shocks - is of great relevance to communities everywhere during these times of rapid globalization. The philosophy's "middle path" approach strongly reinforces the United Nations' own advocacy of a people-centred and sustainable path toward human development."

"His Majesty's development agenda and visionary thinking are an inspiration to his subjects and to people everywhere," Mr. Annan said.

"With today's Award, we hope to further promote the ideas and experiences of His Majesty's work, and to help draw attention to their underlying thinking well beyond the borders of the Kingdom of Thailand."

"Later today I will have the honour to present the United Nations Development Programme's inaugural Human Development Lifetime Achievement Award to His Majesty King Bhumibol Adulyadej. I feel especially privileged to do so on the sixtieth anniversary of His Majesty's accession to the throne," the Secretary-General concluded.

UNIS/TNA
May 26, 2006

UN Secretary-General presents UNDP award to HM the King

BANGKOK, May 26 (TNA) - United Nations Secretary-General Kofi Annan presented the world organisation's first Human Development Lifetime Achievement Award Friday to Thailand's King Bhumibol Adulyadej for his decades-long dedication to the nation's development.

The inaugural United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) honour was in response not only for His Majesty the King's sustained commitment to a series of royally-initiated projects, but also for His Majesty's lifelong expression of concern and action for the well-being of all his country's people.

"Your Majesty has made an extraordinary contribution to human development. As the world's 'Development King,' Your Majesty has reached out to the poorest and the most vulnerable people of Thailand--regardless of their status, ethnicity or religion--listened to their problems, and empowered them to take their lives in their own hands," Mr. Annan said in honouring His Majesty for his activities to promote the well-being of the Thai people since he ascended the throne 60 years ago.

"Your Majesty's countless rural development projects have been at the forefront of innovation and benefitted millions of people across Thailand," Mr. Annan said.

His Majesty the King spent decades initiating development projects, especially those in agriculture and water management in impoverished rural areas.

"As a visionary thinker," the UN Secretary General said, "Your Majesty has played an invaluable role in shaping the global development dialogue. Your Majesty's 'Sufficiency Economy' philosophy--emphasising moderation, responsible consumption, and resilience to external shocks--is of great relevance worldwide during these times of rapid globalisation."

His Majesty King Bhumibol, now the world's longest-reigning monarch, was born on Dec. 5, 1927, in Boston, Massachusetts, in the United States. He became the ninth king of the Chakri Dynasty in June 1946.

Kings, queens and other royalty worldwide have been invited to Bangkok for grand celebrations of the 60th anniversary of his ascension to the throne in June.

Mr. Annan's visit is the last leg in a two-week trip to Asia that has taken him to South Korea, Japan, China and Vietnam. He is scheduled to depart Bangkok on Saturday.

TNA
May 26, 2006

Government organizes grand exhibition on HM the King's 60 years on throne

NONTHABURI, May 26 (TNA) - The government, in cooperation with the private sector, is organizing a grand exhibition in honour of His Majesty King Bhumibol Adulyadej on the auspicious occasion of the 60th anniversary of the beloved Thai monarch's accession to the throne this year.

The Royal exhibition is held at the IMPACT Trade and Exhibition Centre in Muang Thong Thani of Nonthaburi Province--on the outskirts of Bangkok-- from May 26-June 4.

Privy councilor Thanin Kraivichien presided over the opening ceremony of the 10-day grand exhibition Friday morning on behalf of His Majesty the King.

The Royal exhibition was graciously divided into sections, including His Majesty the King's biography, the Royal Wedding and Family, Royal-initiated projects and Royal activities, covering more than 140,000 square metres--from Hall 1-Hall 8--of the centre.

Six most popular photos of Their Majesties the King and Queen, voted recently by the public, are also exhibited.

Millions of people are expected to visit the special Royal exhibition, delightedly supported by both the public and private sectors with a total fund of Bt446 million--more than half, or Bt245 million, was sponsored by the private sector.

The public and private sectors of the People Republic of China and Japan have also offered to launch a series of historic firework displays in honour of His Majesty the King, using high technology techniques.

The spectacular firework displays will be organized here from June 9-11, coinciding with state and Royal ceremonies marking the Diamond Jubilee of His Majesty the King with the participation of royalties and dignitaries from countries across the world,

The government is also specially issuing Bt60 banknotes and pins to commemorate the auspicious occasion. They are being offered to the general public as souvenirs.

TNA
May 26, 2006