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It was a rare occasion for a Thai audience to see her on a talk show. Headlined in local newspapers several days ahead, the famous talk show “Woody Kerd Ma Kui” on Channel 9 recently aired an exclusive royal interview with HRH Princess Chulabhorn Walailak, the youngest daughter of HM King Bhumibol Adulyadej. She reflected that royalty was not to be viewed as a fairy tale but as hard work.
Hosted by Mr. Vuthithorn “Woody” Milintachinda, the show has become one of the most highly rated and influential talk shows in the country. It is known for its exclusive interviews of controversial public figures and topics that penetrate into Thai pop-cultural consciousness, and for Woody’s bold style of direct questioning. These features of the show had heightened the anticipation for this particular interview.
Humbly conducting his interview on the floor by her feet and occasionally crawling on his knees and hands, Woody had understandably proved that his show was after all not so controversial when it came to a talk with one of the members of the most revered royal family in the world. The Princess was asked to talk about her religious practice taught by Laung Maha Bua, the late influential monk of whom she had become a close follower, before proceeding to her personal experiences as a royal. Beginning her royal duties at the age of fourteen, the 54-year-old Princess spoke of her inherited belief that the royals were born to serve their people. Although her father had tirelessly done so, she explained that young Thais were poorly aware of his great dedication, and urged the local media to keep them reminded. This, as she asserted, was not to bolster his image but to provide the people with correct information to enable them to form the correct judgment he deserves.
Woody was then brought to tears upon the Princess’s recall of the King’s declining health condition as a result of the Bangkok riots last year. His displayed emotion only reiterated the common appreciation of the Thai public for the monarch.
As a Thai citizen living in Thailand, I beg to differ with the Princess about the inadequacy of royal publicity. What she should regularly be reminded is the very fact that Thai people, especially the young, have a mind of their own. While the bombardment of royal publicity has been successful in maintaining the royal strength, it could eventually prove futile if this institution is unwilling to strive to stay relevant within modern Thai society.
But it is also interesting to argue based on her decision to appear on the show that the Princess is well aware of the independent minds who are currently working to undermine the monarchy. Her appearance can be viewed as a royal protest. Particularly, her refusal during the interview to be spoken to with the royal language was perhaps portrayed as a way to suggest that the institution was not merely kind but also accessible.
I was not too naive as to look forward to hearing a question or two about the lese majeste law, which it has been suggested serves to undermine the monarchy. And I was also prepared for the fact that once again this was just another public event to put the monarchy in a favorable light. So I was not too disappointed.
Next week when the interview continues, the Princess will reveal her father’s health condition. Having been hospitalized in Siriraj Hospital since September 2009, the 84-year-old King’s health has become the center of national attention. While it is to be expected, considering the country’s overwhelming respect for as well as reliance on him, that no one wants to be reminded by his natural old age of what may come, this feature of the interview may or may not keep us stuck in a state of denial.
The fact remains that she and the other members of the Thai royal family are very, very rich, while there are vast numbers of poor people in Thailand, and one can witness everyday examples of the very, very poor and incredibily miserable without straying far from one’s daily path. I must ask the following question. Why is it, if the King is so truly benevolent and munificent, that there is so much poverty persisting in Thailand at the same time that the wealth of the Crown Property Bureau continues to grow exponentially?
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Arthurson,
Is it possible that many Thais accept this fate? That people can be born poor? I know here in the west, at least in America, we stress the fact that one can move up in the ranks of socio-economic statuses via education and hard work.
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Actually, all credit to the Princess for eschewing the royal language. Perhaps, as a result, meaning was glimpsed a little more clearly through the eternal smoke and mirrors of Thai language structure.
It never fails to amaze me how so much of the content of Thai language courses for foreigners serves to reinforce power relations in this country.
I note with interest that the upcoming International Conference of Thai Studies has a session on “romanisation of the Thai alphabet.” Perhaps a first step might be to join the rest of the world and insert gaps between Thai words.
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I’m afraid Arthurson’s comment is somewhat naive. Why is there income inequality anywhere in the world? Why is the Vatican so increadibly well-endowed with priceless works of art when so many of its adherents live in poverty? These are rhetorical questions, by the way; I don’t believe they are capable of a simple answer, and certainly not the simplistic answer of “Sell all you have and give to the poor”. They are useful polemical arguments for beating up your opponents, but have little value otherwise.
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The maybe most important part of the interview should be pointed out as well, to be found on the fourth part. To my knowledge Princess Chulabhorn made there the first public comment of any member of the Royal family regarding the protests last year. She mentioned here the burning of the buildings (“phau ban phao mueang”), how much it affected the health of the king, and brought this in relation to the burning of Ayutthaya by the Burmese.
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“…Although her father had tirelessly done so, she explained that young Thais were poorly aware of his great dedication, and urged the local media to keep them reminded. This, as she asserted, was not to bolster his image but to provide the people with correct information to enable them to form the correct judgement he deserves…”
I hear this all the time from Malaysia’s corrupt rulers, including Malaysia’s less than perfect monarchy.
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“being divisive is not good for the country. We should try to talk. Don’t use violence. Divisiveness and blocking roads makes traffic jams, and people are moody. ”
Chularbhorn is right
Thai people should try to talk
The Thai royals should refuse to accept Thai military use of force to “protect them”
The Thai military should be banned from any involvement in operations or any activities involving the population, including migrants and refugees, in Thailand
The royals should avoid contributing to traffic jams and travel without special privileges and police actions
The royals should remove a major reason for the moodiness of the people by supporting free and fair elections and accept the authority of democratically elected governments to manage their institution as well as the military for the benefit of the people
The royals should remove another reason for the moodiness of the people by ceasing the use of lese majeste and grovelling at their feet
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Nick Nostitz,
Good point you have made about the burning mentioned by Princess Chulabhorn. Why was the fact that 91 people killed deliberately disregarded?
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And their legacy is Thaksin ……
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@ Stephen Johnson – 4
My question wasn’t intended to be rhetorical at all. I really would like to know how the Royal Thai propaganda machine can justify pushing “sufficiency economy” for the masses when the Crown Property Bureau seems to be following a much different economic model, that of maximizing profits.
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Talking of the protests, she also lamented how closing down roads caused traffic jams and made people angry!!
Is there a Thai word (or concept) for irony?
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The Thai word for irony, depending on exact context, and there are a few idiomatic phrases that fit well. The problem, perhaps, with the word irony is that we are probably looking at a definition along the lines of “That is what you set up and now you have to live with it – despite the fact that you, who were not supposed to be subject to it, are the first to feel the pain.”
Thailand’s greatest irony, however, seems to be the irony between being guaranteed equality on the one hand in the charter and exposed, on the other, to the difference between sky and earth. This is a human irony.
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[…] aspects of the interview. At New Mandala, Guest Contributor Skye Phu-ngarm has a post entitled “A Thai response to Princess Chulabhorn’s interview.” Ignoring the allusion to “Thai-style” anything, it does present a sympathetic position […]
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“During the interview with Wuttitorn, the princess also talked about music, her pet dogs and her views about doomsday.”
http://www.nationmultimedia.com/2011/04/08/national/His-majesty-the-king-still-works-tirelessly-in-hos-30152799.html
This is probably in the next installment. ********!
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“her views about doomsday.”
Sounds a bit “fin de siecle”…. can anyone expand on it?
“Qu’ils mangent de la brioche.”
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I was more focused on the cupcake that woody seems to like so much, it brought him to tears for half an hour. Hmm… that must have been one REALLY delicious cupcake.
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Thats right, bow before your overlord Woody and accept the fact that your children , and their children and their children’s children’s children will bow to the feet and nibble the dog cupcakes of the offspring of the current members of the Chankri dynasty and their children and their childrens’ childrent ………….. forever……………..
if they have their way………………………….
Oh what a grand future that will be……………………..
NOT.
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LONG LIVE THE KING.
I AM PROUD TO BE A THAI.
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Patummar Ratchasi: You sound like you would also be “proud to be a North Korean”……
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It was amazing to see how open the royal family of Great Britain was during the wedding ceremonies. Open easily visible in a slow-moving vehicle, allow the people who adore them to actually see them.
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