Like Belgium, Thailand is a constitutional monarchy. But there are important differences. In Thailand, the monarchy is highly revered and the royal family is only referred to in the highest respectful terms. Critics and jokes can be made with regard to politicians, but never as far as the monarchy and the royal family members are concerned. Lèse majesté is punishable, and the law also applies to foreigners. The maximum penalty can be as high as 20 years imprisonment!

Thai people have the highest respect towards their king and the Chakri Rama dynasty to which he belongs. Especially Rama V (King Chulalongkorn) and the actual king Bhumibol Adulyadej (Rama IX) are revered. The Chakri dynasty has been established by King Phra Yot Fa (Rama I) in 1782. The name Rama refers to one of the most important deities of the Hindu pantheon. Thai culture is mostly Buddhist, but some historical roots go as far back as to link with the ancient Hindu kingdoms.

Everywhere, in offices, in restaurants, in market-stalls and in private houses, photos of the actual king, the members of his family and King Chulalongkorn can be seen, often decorated with small offerings to show respect. In particular 2007 has been an auspicious year for the Thai dynasty, when

Everyday, but mostly on Mondays, the day the king was born, people wear yellow polo shirts to pay respect to their king, and streets or offices are transformed in seas of yellow. Every day of the week has its distinct colour, and yellow is the colour of Monday.

King Bhumibol turned 80 and became the longest reigning monarch in the world.

King Bhumibol Adulyadej ascended the throne as Rama IX in 1946. During his entire reign he didn’t stop studying the conditions of his country and his people and encouraging the economic and social development of Thailand, particularly in favour of the poorest part of the population. Many ‘royal projects’ have been initiated and implemented to introduce new and valuable cash crop farming and to improve living standards of poor villagers.
The most famous examples of these royal projects are those replacing opium growing in ‘The Golden Triangle’ by income-generating farming activities benefiting hill-tribe minorities. In this northernmost area bordering Laos and Myanmar, the population used to be semi-nomadic, and grew lots of opium poppies. As destroying opium fields from time to time didn’t solve the problem, the king initiated agricultural projects to give an opportunity to the hill-tribe farmers to engage in new cash crops which replaced opium and enhanced the average income. Research stations were set up and new products were tested and introduced, such as coffee, vegetables and fruits (avocadoes, strawberries, apples, passion fruit…).

Rama V (King Chulalongkorn) is also widely respected and revered. His portrait is seen in many shops, offices and houses, or in medallions worn on necklaces.

He is the Rama king who abolished slavery and modernized Thailand in the beginning of the 20th century. He introduced a modern administration and reorganized, with the help of foreign experts, the judiciary, military and economic systems.

The judiciary system for example was restructured with the assistance of a Belgian expert, Gustave Rolin-Jaecquemyns.

Every day, at 8 am and again at 6 pm, the Thai national anthem is heard on radio and TV programmes, and sometimes on public roads. The latter disappeared in Bangkok, but not in Lumpini Park, where strollers and joggers have to interrupt there activities and stand still for a couple of minutes, when the national anthem resounds through loudspeakers. Everybody, including foreigners, has to pay respect, stand up and immobilize.

The kingdom also has its royal hymn , which is played when the king or a member of his family arrives to attend an official ceremony or a cultural or academic event. It is also played at the start of a movie theatre programme, and must be respected by every movie-goer by standing to attention, in complete silence.

The king’s portrait is as holy as the king himself. For instance his effigy on the Thai banknotes. This can not be destroyed or damaged. One day, a hot-blooded westerner got so angry while bargaining over a commercial item that he threw his banknote on the floor and trampled upon it. The shocked and scandalized on-lookers were so furious by seeing this disrespect for their king that the tourist had to be treated for severe wounds in the nearest hospital!