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{{Infobox royalty
|type = monarch
|name = Bhumibol Adulyadej
|image = King Bhumibol Adulyadej 2010-9-29.jpg
|imgw = 180px
|caption = King Bhumibol Adulyadej in 2010
|succession = [[King of Thailand]]
|reign = 9 June 1946 – present ({{age in years and days|1946|06|09}})
|coronation = 5 May 1950
|predecessor = [[Ananda Mahidol]]
|suc-type = Heir apparent
|successor = [[Vajiralongkorn|Maha Vajiralongkorn]]
| reg-type =[[Prime Minister of Thailand|Prime Ministers]]
| regent ={{List collapsed|title=''See list''|1=[[Pridi Banomyong]]<br />[[Thawal Thamrong Navaswadhi]]<br />[[Khuang Abhaiwongse]]<br />[[Plaek Pibulsonggram]]<br />[[Thanom Kittikachorn]]<br />[[Sarit Thanarat]]<br />[[Sanya Dharmasakti]]<br />[[Seni Pramoj|MR Seni Pramoj]]<br />[[Kukrit Pramoj|M.R. Kukrit Pramoj]]<br />[[Tanin Kraivixien]]<br />[[Kriangsak Chomanan]]<br />[[Prem Tinsulanonda]]<br />[[Chatichai Choonhavan]]<br />[[Anand Panyarachun]]<br />[[Suchinda Kraprayoon]]<br />[[Chuan Leekpai]]<br />[[Banharn Silpa-archa]]<br />[[Chavalit Yongchaiyudh]]<br />[[Thaksin Shinawatra]]<br />[[Surayud Chulanont]]<br />[[Samak Sundaravej]]<br />[[Somchai Wongsawat]]<br />[[Abhisit Vejjajiva]]<br />[[Yingluck Shinawatra]]}}
|spouse = [[Sirikit|Sirikit Kitiyakara]]<br/>(Since 28 April 1950)
|issue = [[Ubolratana Rajakanya|Princess Ubolratana Rajakanya]]<br />[[Vajiralongkorn|''HRH'' Crown Prince Maha Vajiralongkorn]]<br/>[[Sirindhorn|''HRH'' Princess Maha Chakri Sirindhorn]]<br/>[[Chulabhorn Walailak|''HRH'' Princess Chulabhorn Walailak]]
|house = House of Mahidol<br/>[[Chakri Dynasty]]
|father = [[Mahidol Adulyadej|Mahidol Adulyadej, Prince of Songkla]]
|mother = [[Srinagarindra]]
| birth_date = {{Birth date and age|1927|12|5|df=y}}
| birth_place = {{nowrap|[[Cambridge, Massachusetts]], US}}
| death_date =
| death_place =
|date of burial =
|place of burial =
| religion = [[Theravada Buddhism]]
| signature = King Rama IX Signature.svg
| signature_alt =
}}

'''Bhumibol Adulyadej''' ([[Royal Thai General System of Transcription|RTGS]]: '''Phumiphon Adunyadet'''; {{lang-th|ภูมิพลอดุลยเดช}}, {{IPA-th|pʰūː.mí.pʰōn ʔà.dūn.jā.dèːt|pron|Bhumibol Adulyadej.ogg}}; [[Sanskrit]]: अतुल्यतेज भूमिबोल, ''Atulyatej Bhumibol''; [[#Titles and styles|see full title below]]; born 5 December 1927) is the current [[Monarchy of Thailand|King of Thailand]]. He is known as '''[[Rama (Kings of Thailand)|Rama IX]]''' (and within the Thai royal family and to close associates simply as Lek<ref name="Time magazine" />). Having reigned since 9 June 1946, he is the world's [[List of longest reigning current monarchs|longest-serving]] current [[head of state]] and the [[List of longest reigning monarchs of all time|longest-reigning]] monarch in [[History of Thailand|Thai history]].<ref name="longestthai">{{cite web |year=1996 |url=http://www.worldhop.com/Journals/J5/ROYAL.HTM |title=A Royal Occasion speeches |publisher=Worldhop | work = Journal |accessdate=5 July 2006 |archiveurl = http://web.archive.org/web/20060512194220/http://www.worldhop.com/Journals/J5/ROYAL.HTM |archivedate = May 12, 2006}}</ref> He was admitted to [[Siriraj Hospital]] in September 2009 for [[flu]] and [[pneumonia]].<ref>{{Cite document | place = UK | publisher = Female First | url = http://www.femalefirst.co.uk/royal_family/King+Bhumibol-53750.html | title = King Bhumibol to remain in hospital | date = 12 August 2010 | postscript = <!-- Bot inserted parameter. Either remove it; or change its value to "." for the cite to end in a ".", as necessary. -->{{inconsistent citations}}}}.</ref> Rumors about his ill-health caused Thai financial markets to tumble in October 2009.<ref>{{Cite document | url = http://www.reuters.com/article/newsOne/idUSTRE59F1XF20091016 | title = Why the Thai king's health can panic markets | first = Andrew | last = Marshall | publisher = [[Reuters]] | date = Fri 16 Oct, 2009 7:29am EDT | postscript = <!-- Bot inserted parameter. Either remove it; or change its value to "." for the cite to end in a ".", as necessary. -->{{inconsistent citations}}}}.</ref>

Although Bhumibol is legally a [[constitutional monarchy|constitutional monarch]], and is not legally allowed a role in politics, he has made several decisive interventions in the [[Politics of Thailand|Thai political sphere]]. He was credited with facilitating Thailand's [[History of Thailand since 1973#Democracy|transition to democracy]] in the 1990s, although he has supported numerous military regimes, including [[Sarit Dhanarajata|Sarit Dhanarajata's]] during the 1960s and the [[Council for Democratic Reform|Council for National Security]] in 2006–8. During his long reign, he has authorized over 15 coups, 16 constitutions, and 27 changes of prime ministers.<ref>{{cite news | url= http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/2009/oct/15/thailand-bhumibol-stockmarket-sickness | work=The Guardian | location= London | title=Fears for Thai monarch set stockmarket tumbling for second day | date=15 October 2009 | accessdate= 13 April 2010 | first= Ben | last= Doherty}}</ref> He has also used his influence to stop military coups, including attempts in 1981 and 1985. Bhumibol is advised by a hand-picked [[Privy Council (Thailand)|Privy Council]], many members of which have themselves made controversial forays into politics.

Bhumibol is respected by many Thais, although [[Abhisit Vejjajiva|conservative royalists]] have claimed that there are widespread threats to overthrow the monarchy.<ref name="ChannelNewsAsia">Channel News Asia, [http://www.channelnewsasia.com/stories/southeastasia/view/1074777/1/.html Thais celebrate Queen's birthday as govt investigates monarchy threat], 12 August</ref> Bhumibol is legally considered "inviolable", and [[lèse majesté|insults]], claims that he is involved in politics, and criticism of him can result in three to fifteen years in jail.<ref>{{Cite document | place = UK | url = http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/asia-pacific/7128935.stm | contribution = Why Thailand's king is so revered | publisher = BBC | title = News | date = 5 December 2007 | accessdate = 3 February 2010 | postscript = <!-- Bot inserted parameter. Either remove it; or change its value to "." for the cite to end in a ".", as necessary. -->{{inconsistent citations}}}}</ref> Although he claimed in a 2005 speech that he was not offended by [[lèse majesté]], thousands have been jailed and several governments overthrown due to alleged insults.<ref name="wrong">{{cite web |date=5 December 2005 |url=http://www.nationmultimedia.com/2005/12/05/headlines/data/headlines_19334288.html|title=Royal Birthday Address: 'King Can Do Wrong'|publisher=National Media|accessdate=2007-09-26}}</ref><ref name="Handley2006">{{cite book |author=Handley, Paul M. |title=The King Never Smiles |publisher=Yale University Press |year=2006 |pages=129–130, 136–137 |isbn=0-300-10682-3}}</ref><ref name="Thak1979">{{cite book |author=Thak Chaloemtiarana |title=Thailand: The Politics of Despotic Paternalism |publisher=Social Science Association of Thailand |year=1979 |page=98}}</ref>

Bhumibol is credited with a social-economic theory of [[Localism in Thailand|self-sufficiency]]. His personal wealth is tremendous: [[Forbes]] estimated Bhumibol's personal fortune, some of which is managed by the [[Crown Property Bureau]] to be US$30 billion in 2010.<ref>{{Cite document | url = http://www.mfa.go.th/web/200.php?id=20551 | title = Declaration on Crown Property and Royal Assets | publisher = Ministry of Foreign Affairs | date = 22 August 2008 | place = TH | postscript = <!-- Bot inserted parameter. Either remove it; or change its value to "." for the cite to end in a ".", as necessary. -->{{inconsistent citations}}}}</ref> He is the wealthiest man in Thailand and the world's wealthiest royal.<ref name=forbes09>{{cite news| url=http://www.forbes.com/2009/06/17/monarchs-wealth-scandal-business-billionaires-richest-royals.html | work=Forbes | first=Tatiana | last=Serafin | title= The World's Richest Royals | date= 17 June 2009}}</ref><ref>Tatiana Serafin, “[http://www.forbes.com/2010/07/07/richest-royals-wealth-monarch-wedding-divorce-billionaire_2.html The world’s richest royals]”, Forbes, 7 July 2010.</ref> He currently holds major shares in several private companies, including, more than 40% in [[Sammakorn]],<ref>{{Cite document | url = http://www.sammakorn.co.th/investor_th.html | publisher = Sammakorn Public Company | title = Investor | place = TH | postscript = <!-- Bot inserted parameter. Either remove it; or change its value to "." for the cite to end in a ".", as necessary. -->{{inconsistent citations}}}}.</ref> 30% in [[Siam Cement|SCG]],<ref>{{Cite document | title = Shareholder services| url = http://www.siamcement.com/th/04investor_governance/04_shareholder_services.php| publisher = The Siam Cement Group| archiveurl = http://www.webcitation.org/1312942296795210| archivedate = August 10 2011 | unused_data = <!--DashBotWC--> | postscript = <!-- Bot inserted parameter. Either remove it; or change its value to "." for the cite to end in a ".", as necessary. -->{{inconsistent citations}}}}.</ref> 30% in [[Thai Insurance PLC]]<ref>{{Cite document | url = http://www.thaiins.com/org/home/investor.php | publisher = Thaiins | title = บริษัท ไทยประกันภัย จำกัด(มหาชน) | trans_title = Investor | language = Thai | postscript = <!-- Bot inserted parameter. Either remove it; or change its value to "." for the cite to end in a ".", as necessary. -->{{inconsistent citations}}}}.</ref> and 20% in [[Siam Commercial Bank|SCB]].<ref>{{Cite document | url = http://www.set.or.th/set/companyholder.do?symbol=SCB&language=th&country=TH| title = ตลาดหลักทรัพย์แห่งประเทศไทย : ข้อมูลรายบริษัท/หลักทรัพย์| trans_title = Company holder| publisher = SET| language = Thai| place = TH| archiveurl = http://www.webcitation.org/1312942326931947| archivedate = August 10 2011 | unused_data = <!--DashBotWC--> | postscript = <!-- Bot inserted parameter. Either remove it; or change its value to "." for the cite to end in a ".", as necessary. -->{{inconsistent citations}}}}.</ref> The Crown Property Bureau claims that its wealth is held in trust for the Thai nation; however, this claim is controversial, and the exact value of its assets is confidential and reported to only Bhumibol.<ref>[http://www.crownproperty.or.th/en/social.php?c=1 The Crown Property Bureau - Youth Development] {{WebCite|url=http://www.webcitation.org/1312942356977725|date=August 10 2011}}<!--DashBotWC--> </ref> <!--and conservation programs.<ref>[http://www.crownproperty.or.th/en/social.php?c=5 The Crown Property Bureau - Conservation programs]</ref>--> Bhumibol himself has made donations to numerous development projects in Thailand, in areas including agriculture, environment, public health, occupational promotion, water resources, communications and public welfare.<ref>[http://www.hasekamp.net/king.htm Some information about HM King Bhumibol Adulyadej] {{WebCite|url=http://www.webcitation.org/1312942386392887|date=August 10 2011}}<!--DashBotWC--> </ref> Commemoration of Bhumibol's contributions to Thailand are ubiquitous in the Thai media.<ref name="ChannelNewsAsia"/>

==Early life==
[[File:Mom Sangwal and children.JPG|thumb|230px|Bhumibol (center) with his [[Srinagarindra|mother]] and siblings [[Ananda Mahidol]] (left) and [[Galyani Vadhana]] (right).]]
Bhumibol was born at the Mount Auburn Hospital in [[Cambridge, Massachusetts]], in the United States on 5 December 1927.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://kanchanapisek.or.th/biography/index.en.html |title=Biography of His Majesty King Bhumibol Adulyadej}}</ref> He was the younger son of HRH Prince [[Mahidol Adulyadej]] and [[Thai royal and noble titles#Mom (wife)|Mom]] [[Srinagarindra|Sangwal]] (later HRH Princess Srinagarindra, the Princess Mother: Somdej Phra Sri Nakarindhara Boromaratchachonnani). His name, Bhumibol Adulyadej, means "Strength of the Land, Incomparable Power".<ref>{{cite book |author=Wimuttanon, Suvit (ed.) |title=Amazing Thailand (special collector's edition)|publisher=World Class Publishing |year=2001 |page=33 |isbn=974-91020-3-7}}</ref>

Bhumibol came to Thailand in 1928, after Prince Mahidol obtained a certificate in the Public Health programme at Harvard University. He briefly attended [[Mater Dei Institute|Mater Dei]] school in [[Bangkok]] but in 1933 his mother took the family to Switzerland, where he continued his education at the [[Ecole Nouvelle de la Suisse Romande]] in [[Lausanne]]. He received the ''[[baccalauréat]] des lettres'' (high-school diploma with major in [[French literature]], [[Latin]], and Greek) from the Gymnase Classique Cantonal of [[Lausanne]], and by 1945 had begun studying science at the [[University of Lausanne]], when World War II ended and the family returned to Thailand.<ref name="kingjubnet">{{cite web |year=1999 |url=http://www.kanchanapisek.or.th/biography/hmk.en.html |title=Biography of His Majesty King Bhumibol Adulyadej |work=The Golden Jubilee Network |publisher=Kanchanapisek Network |accessdate=5 August 2006}}</ref>

==Succession and marriage==
{{Thai Royal Family}}
[[File:Bhumbol and Sirikit.jpg|thumb|left|230px|Bhumibol and [[Sirikit]] after their wedding.]]
Bhumibol ascended the throne following the death by gunshot wound of his brother, King [[Ananda Mahidol]], on 9 June 1946, in mysterious circumstances, prompting suggestions that Bhumibol had been involved in or responsible for his death.<ref>Handley, Paul M (2006). [[The King Never Smiles]]. Yale University Press, pp. 78–9. ISBN 0-300-10682-3.</ref> Bhumibol returned to Switzerland in order to complete his education, and his uncle, [[Rangsit, Prince of Chainat]], was appointed Prince Regent. Bhumibol then switched over his field of study to law and [[political science]].

While finishing his degree in Switzerland, Bhumibol visited Paris frequently. It was in Paris that he first met [[Mom Rajawongse]] [[Sirikit]] Kitiyakara, daughter of the Thai ambassador to France.<ref>{{cite web |last=Bhirom Bhakdi|first= Soravij | url= http://www.soravij.com/queens.html |title=Queens of the Chakri Dynasty |accessdate=1 August 2006}}</ref>

On 4 October 1948, while Bhumibol was driving a [[Fiat Topolino]] on the [[Geneva]]-[[Lausanne]] road, he [[rear-end collision|collided with the rear]] of a braking truck 10&nbsp;km outside of Lausanne. He hurt his back and incurred cuts on his face that [[enucleation of the eye|cost him the sight of his right eye]].<ref name= "BKP">{{cite web | date = 5 December 2005 |url=http://www.bangkokpost.net/60yrsthrone/60yrsthrone/index.html |title=The Making of a Monarch | publisher = Bangkok Post |accessdate=12 July 2006}}</ref><ref>Handley, Paul M (2006). [[The King Never Smiles]]. Yale University Press, p. 104. ISBN 0-300-10682-3.</ref> While he was hospitalised in Lausanne, Sirikit visited him frequently. She met his mother, who asked her to continue her studies nearby so that Bhumibol could get to know her better. Bhumibol selected for her a boarding school in Lausanne, [[Riante Rive]]. A quiet engagement in Lausanne followed on 19 July 1949, and the couple were married on 28 April 1950, just a week before his coronation.

Bhumibol and his wife Queen Sirikit have four children:

* (Formerly HRH) Princess [[Ubol Ratana]], born 5 April 1951&nbsp;in Lausanne, Switzerland;
* HRH Crown Prince [[Maha Vajiralongkorn]], born 28 July 1952;
* HRH Princess [[Maha Chakri Sirindhorn]], born 2 April 1955;
* HRH Princess [[Chulabhorn Walailak]], born 4 July 1957.

One of Bhumibol's autistic grandchildren, [[Bhumi Jensen]], was killed in the [[tsunami]] caused by the [[2004 Indian Ocean earthquake]]. He was the son of Princess Ubol Ratana.<ref>{{cite web |url= http://soravij.com/poomjensen.html | title= Khun Poom Jensen, Son of Princess Ubolratana |publisher=Soravij.com|accessdate=24 November 2007}}</ref>

==Coronation and titles==
[[File:Bhumbol coronation 1.jpg|thumb|left|200px|Bhumibol at his coronation at the [[Grand Palace]].]]
Bhumibol was crowned King of Thailand on 5 May 1950 at the Royal Palace in Bangkok where he pledged that he would "reign with righteousness for the benefit and happiness of the Siamese people" ("เราจะครองแผ่นดินโดยธรรม เพื่อประโยชน์สุขแห่งมหาชนชาวสยาม").<ref name="oath">{{cite web |url=http://www.2bangkok.com/news05t.shtml |title=Royal Power Controversy |publisher=2Bangkok.com |accessdate=4 January 2007}}</ref> Notable elements associated with the coronation included the [[Bahadrabith Throne]] beneath the Great White Umbrella of State; and he was presented with the royal regalia and utensils.<ref name="regalia_utensils">[http://www.chiangmai-chiangrai.com/royal-regalia_utensils.html Royal Regalia and Royal Utensils of Siam] + images</ref>

In 1950 on Coronation Day, Bhumibol's consort was made Queen ([[Thai royal and noble titles#Somdej Phra Boromarajini|Somdej Phra Boromarajini]]). The date of his coronation is celebrated each 5 May in Thailand as [[Coronation Day]], a public holiday. On 9 June 2006, Bhumibol celebrated his 60th anniversary as the King of Thailand, becoming the longest reigning monarch in Thai history.

Following the death of his grandmother Queen [[Savang Vadhana]], Bhumibol entered a 15-day [[Bhikkhu|monkhood]] (22 October 1956{{ndash}} 5 November 1956) at [[Wat Bowonniwet]], as is customary for Buddhist males on the death of elder relatives.<ref name="monkhood">{{cite web |year=2006 |url=http://www.thailandtraveltours.com/thailand-thai-monarchy-thailandthaimonarchy.htm |title=Thailand Monarchy |publisher=Thailand Travel and Tours |accessdate=26 September 2007}}</ref> During this time, Sirikit was appointed his regent. She was later appointed Queen Regent ([[Thai royal and noble titles#Somdej Phra Boromarajininat|Somdej Phra Boromarajininat]]) in recognition of this.

Although Bhumibol is sometimes referred to as King Rama IX in English, Thais refer to him as '''Nai Luang''' or '''Phra Chao Yu Hua''' (ในหลวง or พระเจ้าอยู่หัว: both mean "the King" or "Lord Upon our Heads"). He is also called '''Chao Chiwit''' ("Lord of Life").<ref>Head, Jonathan. [http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/asia-pacific/7128935.stm Why Thailand's king is so revered], ''BBC News'', 5 December 2007. Accessed 11 May 2008.</ref>
Formally, he would be referred to as '''Phrabat Somdej Phra Chao Yu Hua''' (พระบาทสมเด็จพระเจ้าอยู่หัว) or, in legal documents, '''Phrabat Somdej Phra Paraminthara Maha Bhumibol Adulyadej''' (พระบาทสมเด็จพระปรมินทรมหาภูมิพลอดุลยเดช), and in English as His Majesty King Bhumibol Adulyadej. He signs his name as ภูมิพลอดุลยเดช ป.ร. (Bhumibol Adulyadej Por Ror; this is the Thai equivalent of Bhumibol Adulyadej R[ex]).

==Role in Thai politics==
===Plaek Pibulsonggram era===
[[File:PPS.JPG|thumb|left|200px|Marshal and Mrs. Pibulsonggram with [[Eleanor Roosevelt]]]]
In the early years of his reign, during the government of military dictator [[Plaek Pibulsonggram]], Bhumibol had no real power and was little more than a ceremonial figure under the military-dominated government. In August 1957, 6 months after parliamentary elections, General [[Sarit Dhanarajata]] accused the government of Field Marshal [[Plaek Pibulsonggram|Pibulsonggram]] of [[lèse majesté]] due to its conduct of the 2,500th anniversary celebration of [[Buddhism]].<ref name="Handley2006" /><ref name="Thak1979" /> On 16 September 1957, Pibulsonggram went to Bhumibol to seek support for his government.<ref>{{cite book |author=Suwannathat-Pian, Kobkua |title=Thailand's Durable Premier |publisher=Oxford University Press |year=1995 |page=30 |isbn=967-65-3053-0}}</ref> Bhumibol told the Field Marshal to resign to avoid a coup; Pibulsonggram refused. That evening, Sarit Dhanarajata seized power, and two hours later Bhumibol imposed martial law throughout the Kingdom.<ref name="martialgaz">{{cite journal|date= 16 September 1957|title=The Royal Command on Imposition of the Martial Law throughout the Kingdom|journal=The Government Gazette of Thailand|volume=74|issue=76}}</ref> Bhumibol issued a Royal Command appointing Sarit as "Military Defender of the Capital" without anyone countersigning this Royal Command. The said Royal Command included the following statements:<ref>{{cite journal|date= 16 September 1957|title=The Royal Command Appointing the Military Defender|journal=The Government Gazette of Thailand|volume=74|issue=76|url=http://www.ratchakitcha.soc.go.th/DATA/PDF/2500/A/076/1.PDF}}</ref>

{{cquote|Whereas it is manifested that the [[public administration|country administration]] by the Government under the premiership of [[Field Marshal]] P. Phibunsonggram is untrustworthy, and the Government could not maintain the [[public order]]. The military under the leadership of Field Marshal Sarit Dhanarajata successfully took over the administration of the country and is acting as the Military Defender of the Capital. I, therefore, have appointed Field Marshal Sarit Dhanarajata as the Military Defender of the Capital. All the people are requested to remain calm while all public servants are to follow the Orders issued by Field Marshal Sarit Dhanarajat. This Royal Command shall come into force immediately. Proclaimed on 16 September Buddhist Era 2500 (1957).}}

===Sarit Dhanarajata era===
During Sarit's dictatorship, the monarchy was revitalised. Bhumibol attended public ceremonies, toured the provinces and patronised development projects. Under Sarit, the practice of crawling in front of royalty during audiences, banned by King [[Chulalongkorn]], was revived in certain situations and the royal-sponsored [[Thammayut Nikaya]] order was revitalised. For the first time since the absolute monarchy was overthrown, a king was conveyed up the [[Chao Phraya River]] in a [[Thailand's Royal Barge Procession|Royal Barge Procession]] to offer robes at temples.<ref>{{cite web |last=Evans |first=Dr. Grant |authorlink= |coauthors=citing Christine Gray |year=1998 |url=http://www.laosnet.org/fa-ngum/ewans.htm |title=The Politics of Ritual and Remembrance: Laos since 1975 |publisher=Laosnet.org |accessdate=5 July 2006}}</ref><ref>{{cite book |author=Evans, Dr. Grant |title=The Politics of Ritual and Remembrance: Laos since 1975 |publisher=University of Hawaii Press |year=1998 |pages=89–113 |isbn=0-8248-2054-1}}</ref>

Other disused ceremonies from the classical period of the [[Chakri dynasty]], such as the royally-patronised ploughing ceremony (Thai: พิธีพืชมงคล), were also revived.<ref>{{cite web |last=Klinkajorn |first=Karin |url=http://www.international.icomos.org/xian2005/papers/2-18.pdf |title=Creativity and Settings of Monuments and Sites in Thailand: Conflicts and Resolution |format=PDF|publisher=International Council on Monuments and Sites |accessdate=5 July 2006}}</ref> Bhumibol's birthday (5 December) was declared the [[national day]], replacing the previous national day, the anniversary of the [[Siamese Revolution of 1932]] (24 June).<ref>[http://www.ratchakitcha.soc.go.th/DATA/PDF/2503/D/043/1452.PDF ประกาศสำนักนายกรัฐมนตรี เรื่อง ให้ถือวันพระราชสมภพ เป็นวันเฉลิมฉลองของชาติไทย], ราชกิจจานุเบกษา เล่ม 77 ตอน 43 24 พฤษภาคม 2503 หน้า 1452</ref> Upon Sarit's death in 8 December 1963, an unprecedented 21 days of mourning were declared in the palace. A royal five-tier umbrella shaded his body while it lay in state. Long-time royal adviser Phraya Srivisarn Vacha later noted that no Prime Minister ever had such an intimate relationship with Bhumibol as Sarit.<ref>Thongthong Chandrangsu, A Constitutional Legal Aspect of the King's Prerogatives (M.A. thesis) Chulalongkorn University, 1986, page 160</ref>

Contemporary thinkers differ in their views about the relationship between Bhumibol and Sarit. Paul Handley, writer of ''[[The King Never Smiles]]'' views Sarit as Bhumibol's tool, whereas political scientist Thak Chaloemtiarana asserts that Sarit used Bhumibol in order to build his own credibility.<ref>ใจ อึ๊งภากรณ์, [http://www.prachatai.com/05web/th/home/page2.php?mod=mod_ptcms&ContentID=6366&SystemModuleKey=HilightNews&System_Session_Language=Thai บทความ รศ.ใจ อึ๊งภากรณ์ วิจารณ์ : The King Never Smiles], 14 ธันวาคม 2549</ref><ref>ทักษ์ เฉลิมเตียรณ, การเมืองระบบพ่อขุนอุปถัมภ์แบบเผด็จการ, สำนักพิมพ์มหาวิทยาลัยธรรมศาสตร์ 2525</ref>

===Thanom Kittikachorn era===

Field Marshal [[Thanom Kittikachorn]] was appointed premier a day after Sarit's death in 1963. He continued most of Sarit's policies for a decade. During the 1970s, Bhumibol was a key figure in the [[Village Scouts]] and [[Red Gaur]] paramilitary organisations. In October 1973 after massive protests and the deaths of a large number of pro-democracy demonstrators, Bhumibol opened the gates of the [[Chitralada Palace]] to fleeing protesters, and held an audience with student leaders. Bhumibol subsequently appointed the [[Thammasat University]] Rector [[Sanya Dharmasakti]] as the new Prime Minister, replacing Thanom. Thanom subsequently moved to the United States and [[Singapore]]. A succession of civilian governments followed, but the return of Field Marshal Thanom and his ordination as a novice monk at [[Wat Bowonniwet]] in 1976 led to renewed conflict, culminating in the [[6 October 1976 Massacre]] at Thammasat University by royalist [[paramilitary]] forces.

===Prem Tinsulanond era===
The ensuing chaos was used as a pretext for a military coup. The junta submitted three names to the king to choose from to become the next Premier: Deputy President of the king's [[Privy Council]] [[Prakob Hutasingh]], right-wing Bangkok Governor [[Thamnoon Thien-ngern]], and conservative Supreme Court judge [[Thanin Kraivixien]].<ref name="nationgracious">{{cite web |date=2 February 2007 |url=http://www.nationmultimedia.com/webblog/view_blog.php?uid=492&bid=1817%20His%20Gracious%20Majesty |title=His Gracious Majesty |publisher=The Nation |accessdate=25 September 2007}}</ref> Bhumibol chose Thanin as the most suitable. However, Thanin proved to be very right-wing himself, causing student protesters to flee to join the communists in the jungle. Thanin was himself overthrown in a military coup in October 1977 led by General [[Kriangsak Chomanan]]. Kriangsak was succeeded in 1980 by the popular Army Commander-in-Chief, General [[Prem Tinsulanond]], later the [[Privy Council (Thailand)|Privy Council]] President.

Bhumibol's refusal to endorse [[Manoonkrit Roopkachorn#Attempted coup of 1981|military coups in 1981 (the April Fool's Day coup)]] and [[Manoonkrit Roopkachorn#Attempted coup of 1985|1985 (the Share Rebellion)]] ultimately led to the victory of forces loyal to the government, despite some violence - including in 1981, the seizure of Bangkok by rebel forces. The coups led many to believe that Bhumibol had misjudged Thai society and that his credibility as an impartial mediator between various political and military factions had been compromised.<ref>Michael Schmicker, Asian Wall Street Journal, 23 December 1982</ref><ref>สุลักษณ์ ศิวรักษ์, "ลอกคราบสังคมไทย", กรุงเทพฯ: หนังสือไทย, 2528</ref><ref>Anonymous, "The Chakri Dynasty and Thai Politics, 1782–1982", cited in {{cite book |author=Handley, Paul M. |title=The King Never Smiles |publisher=Yale University Press |year=2006 |page=298 |isbn=0-300-10682-3}}</ref>

===Crisis of 1992===
[[File:Black May Thailand.jpg|thumb|left|250px|Royal intervention on the night of 20 May. Left to right: Chamlong Srimuang, Suchinda Kraprayoon and the King (seated).]]
{{Main|Black May (1992) }}
In 1992, Bhumibol played a key role in Thailand's transition to a democratic system. A coup on 23 February 1991 returned Thailand back under military dictatorship. After a general election in 1992, the majority parties invited General [[Suchinda Kraprayoon]], a leader of the coup group, to be the Prime Minister. This caused much dissent, which escalated into demonstrations that led to a large number of deaths when the military was brought in to control the protesters. The situation became increasingly critical as police and military forces clashed with the protesters. Violence and riot spread out in many areas of the capital with rumour on the rift among armed forces.<ref name="bloodymay">{{cite web |year=2000|url=http://www.seameo.org/vl/92may/92may1.htm |title=Development Without Harmony |publisher=Southeast Asian Ministers of Education Organization |accessdate=26 September 2007}}</ref>

Amidst the fear of civil war, Bhumibol intervened. He summoned Suchinda and the leader of the pro-democracy movement, retired Major General [[Chamlong Srimuang]], to a televised audience, urged them to find a peaceful resolution. At the height of the crisis, the sight of both men appearing together on their knees (in accordance with royal protocol) made a strong impression on the nation, and led to Suchinda's resignation soon afterwards.

It was one of the few occasions in which Bhumibol directly and publicly intervened in a political conflict. A general election was held shortly afterward, leading to a civilian government.<ref name="srimuang">{{cite web |year=2000|url=http://www.rmaf.org.ph/Awardees/Biography/BiographySrimuangCha.htm |title=BIOGRAPHY of Chamlong Srimuang |work=The 1992 Ramon Magsaysay Award for Government Service|publisher=Ramon Magsaysay Award Foundation |accessdate=26 September 2007}}</ref>

[[File:Vladimir Putin in Thailand 21-22 October 2003-10.jpg|thumb|200px|With then [[President of Russia|President]] [[Vladimir Putin]] in Bangkok on 22 October 2003.]]

===2003 War on Drugs===
In his 4 December 2002 speech on the eve of his birthday, King Bhumibol spoke about the rise in drug use, the high social costs and deaths caused by drugs, and called for a "War on Drugs."<ref>The Royal Jubilee Network, [http://kanchanapisek.or.th/speeches/2002/1204.th.html พระราชดำรัส พระราชทานแก่คณะบุคคลต่างๆ ที่เข้าเฝ้าฯ ถวายชัยมงคล ในโอกาสวันเฉลิมพระชนมพรรษา ณ ศาลาดุสิดาลัย สวนจิตรลดา พระราชวังดุสิตฯ วันพุธที่ ๔ ธันวาคม พ.ศ. ๒๕๔๕ (ฉบับไม่เป็นทางการ)]</ref> Privy Councillor General Phichit Kunlawanit called on the Thaksin Shinawatra government to use its majority in parliament to establish a special court to deal with drug dealers, stating that “if we execute 60,000 the land will rise and our descendants will escape bad karma”.<ref>Michael K. Connors, [http://sovereignmyth.blogspot.com/2009/09/ambivalent-about-rights.html Ambivalent About Rights: “Accidental” Killing Machines, Democracy and Coups D’etat.], Draft paper presented to Human Rights in Asia Workshop, University of Melbourne, October 1-2, 2009.</ref>

On 14 January 2003, Thaksin launched a campaign to rid "every square inch of the country" of drugs.<ref>Anucha Yuwadee, Bangkok Post, 15 January 2003</ref> His War on Drugs campaign consisted of setting provincial arrest and seizure targets including "blacklists", awarding government officials for achieving targets and threatening punishment for those who failed to make the quota, targeting dealers, and "ruthless" implementation. In the first three months, Human Rights Watch reported that 2,275 people were killed, almost double the number normally killed in drug-related violence.<ref name="thaivisa">National News Bureau of Thailand, [http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/378944-academics-call-for-law-to-prosecute-thaksin-in-world-court/ Academics call for law to prosecute Thaksin in World Court], 28 June 2010</ref> Human rights critics claimed a large number were [[extrajudicial execution|extrajudicially executed]].<ref name=NYtimes2003april8>
[http://query.nytimes.com/gst/fullpage.html?res=9405E7DF1038F93BA35757C0A9659C8B63 "A Wave of Drug Killings Is Linked to Thai Police"] By Seth Mydans, 8 April 2003 ''New York Times'' [http://www.akha.org/content/drugwar/drugwarsethmydansnyt.html]</ref><ref name=amnesty>[[Amnesty International]] report: [http://www.amnesty.org/en/library/info/ASA39/008/2003 Thailand: Grave developments – Killings and other abuses]</ref> The War on Drugs was widely criticized by the international community.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.nationmultimedia.com/search/page.arcview.php?clid=2&id=75010&date=4 March 2003 |publisher=The Nation |date=4 March 2003 |title=DRUG-RELATED KILLINGS: Verify the toll, say diplomats}}</ref>

According to the Narcotics Control Board, the campaign was effective in reducing drug consumption, especially in schools.<ref>[http://www.mapinc.org/newscsdp/v05/n471/a09.html Thailand: Public Senses War On Drugs Futile] 20 March 2005</ref> The War on Drugs was one of the most popular policies of the Thaksin government. Bhumibol, in a 2003 birthday speech, praised Thaksin and criticized those who counted only dead drug dealers while ignoring deaths caused by drugs.<ref>{{cite web |title=พระราชดำรัส พระราชทานแก่คณะบุคคลต่างๆ ที่เข้าเฝ้าฯ ถวายชัยมงคล ในโอกาสวันเฉลิมพระชนมพรรษา ณ ศาลาดุสิดาลัย สวนจิตรลดา พระราชวังดุสิตฯ วันพฤหัสบดีที่ ๔ ธันวาคม พ.ศ. ๒๕๔๖ (ฉบับไม่เป็นทางการ) |quote=ไอ้การชัยชนะของการปราบไอ้ยา​เสพติดนี่​ ​ดีที่ปราบ​ ​แล้ว​ก็ที่​เขา​ตำ​หนิบอกว่า​ ​เอ้ย​ ​คนตาย​ ​ตั้ง​ ๒,๕๐๐ ​คน​ ​อะ​ไรนั่น​ ​เรื่อง​เล็ก​ ๒,๕๐๐ ​คน​ ​ถ้า​นายกฯ​ ​ไม่​ได้​ทำ​ ​นายกฯ​ ​ไม่​ได้​ทำ​ ​ทุกปี​ ​ๆ​ ​จด​ไว้​นะ​ ​มีมากกว่า​ ๒,๕๐๐ ​คนที่ตาย​ ​ที่ตาย​ทั้ง​คนที่​เสพติด​ ​แล้ว​ก็ขึ้นไป​ ​ฆ่าคน​ ​หรือ​ทำ​อะ​ไร​ ​เผาอะ​ไรต่าง​ ​ๆ​ ​รวม​ทั้ง​เจ้าหน้าที่ที่​ต้อง​ไปปราบปกติ​ ​ก็ตายมากเหมือน​กัน​ ​แต่​ไม่​พูด​เท่า​นั้น​เอง​ ​ไม่​ไปนับ​ ​แต่นี้​เขา​ก็นับไปชี้​ ​ชี้​ ​ชี้นับ​ ​พวกที่ค้า​ ​พวกที่ทำ​ ​ก็ตายเยอะ​เหมือน​กัน​ ​ก่อนนี้​ ​แต่​ไม่​พูด​ถึง​ ​เชื่อว่าพอๆ​ ​กับ​ที่​ได้​จดว่า​ ​มี​ผู้​ที่ตาย​ใน​การสงครามต่อสู้ยา​เสพติด​ ​ที่ทราบว่าคนตาย​ ​เพราะ​ยา​เสพติดนี่​ ​มากมาย​ |publisher=The Golden Jubilee Network |year=2003 |url=http://kanchanapisek.or.th/speeches//1204.th.html}}</ref>

{{blockquote|"ไอ้การชัยชนะของการปราบไอ้ยา​เสพติดนี่​ ​ดีที่ปราบ​ ​แล้ว​ก็ที่​เขา​ตำ​หนิบอกว่า​ ​เอ้ย​ ​คนตาย​ ​ตั้ง​ ๒,๕๐๐ ​คน​ ​อะ​ไรนั่น​ ​เรื่อง​เล็ก​ ๒,๕๐๐ ​คน​ ​ถ้า​นายกฯ​ ​ไม่​ได้​ทำ​ ​นายกฯ​ ​ไม่​ได้​ทำ​ ​ทุกปี​ ​ๆ​ ​จด​ไว้​นะ​ ​มีมากกว่า​ ๒,๕๐๐ คนที่ตาย"

"Victory in the War on Drugs is good. They may blame the crackdown for more than 2,500 deaths, but this is a small price to pay. If the prime minister failed to curb [the drug trade], over the years the number of deaths would easily surpass this toll.<ref>Asia Sentinel [http://www.asiasentinel.com/index.php?Itemid=185&id=628&option=com_content&task=view The Long Wait for Justice in Thailand], 10 August 2007</ref>"}}

Bhumibol also asked the commander of the police to investigate the killings.<ref>{{th icon}} Royal Jubilee Network, [http://kanchanapisek.or.th/speeches/2003/1204.th.html 2003 Birthday Speech of King Bhumibol Adulyadej]</ref> Police Commander Sant Sarutanond reopened investigations into the deaths, and again claimed that few of the deaths were at the hands of the police.

After the 2006 coup, the military junta appointed a committee led by former Attorney General Kanit Na Nakorn to investigate deaths in the War on Drugs.<ref>[http://bangkokpost.net/breaking_news/breakingnews.php?id=120634 "Kanit to chair extrajudicial killings probe"] ''[[Bangkok Post]]'', 3 August 2007{{Dead link|date=July 2011}}</ref> The committee found no evidence linking Thaksin or members of his government to any extrajudicial killings. However, critics claimed that the true findings of the committee were suppressed.<ref name=economist24jan08>[http://www.economist.com/world/asia/displaystory.cfm?story_id=10566797 "Thailand's drug wars. Back on the offensive"] 24 January 2008 ''[[The Economist]]''</ref>

While he was opposition leader, Abhisit Vejjajiva accused Thaksin of [[crimes against humanity]] for the War on Drugs. After he became Prime Minister, Abhisit opened an investigation led by former attorney-general Kampee Kaewcharoen, claiming that a successful probe could lead to prosecution by the [[International Criminal Court]].<ref>Thailand Times, [http://thailandtimes.asia/thailand-news/thaksins-drug-murders-investigated/ Thaksin’s ‘Drug Murders’ investigated], 10 June 2010</ref><ref>[http://www.personalthailand.com/threads/677-Extra-juridical-killing-cases-by-Thaksin-government-investigated-again-in-Thailand Extra-juridical killing cases by Thaksin government investigated again in Thailand]</ref><ref name="thaivisa" /> As of the August 2011 parliamentary elections, Abhisit's investigation failed to find or publicize any evidence linking Thaksin or members of his Government to any extrajudicial killings.

===Crisis of 2005–2006 and the September 2006 coup===
{{Main|Thailand political crisis 2005-2006|Finland Plot|2006 Thailand coup d'état}}

====Background to the coup====
{{See also|Thailand political crisis 2005-2006}}
Weeks before the [[Thailand legislative election, April 2006|April 2006 legislative election]], the [[Democrat Party (Thailand)|Democrat Party]]-led opposition and the [[People's Alliance for Democracy]] petitioned Bhumibol to appoint a replacement prime minister and cabinet. Demands for royal intervention met with much criticism from the public. Bhumibol, in a speech on 26 April 2006, responded, "Asking for a Royally-appointed prime minister is undemocratic. It is, pardon me, a mess. It is irrational".<ref name="invalidate">{{cite web |url=http://nationmultimedia.com/2006/04/27/headlines/headlines_30002592.php
|title=HM the King's 26 April speeches |publisher=The Nation |accessdate=5 July 2006}}</ref>

After publicly claiming victory in the boycotted [[Thailand legislative election, April 2006|April parliamentary elections]], [[Thaksin Shinawatra]] had a private audience with the king. A few hours later, Thaksin appeared on national television to announce that he would be taking a break from politics.

In May 2006, the [[Sondhi Limthongkul]]-owned [[Manager Daily]] newspaper published a series of articles describing the "[[Finland Plot]]", alleging that Thaksin and former members of the [[Communist Party of Thailand]] planned to overthrow the king and seize control of the nation. No evidence was ever produced to verify the existence of such a plot, and Thaksin and his [[Thai Rak Thai]] party vehemently denied the accusations and sued the accusers.

In a rare, televised speech to senior judges, Bhumibol requested the judiciary to take action to resolve the political crisis.<ref name="invalidate"/> On 8 May 2006, the [[Constitutional Court of Thailand|Constitutional Court]] invalidated the results of the April elections and ordered [[Thailand legislative election, October 2006|new elections scheduled for 15 October 2006]].<ref>{{cite web |url=http://nationmultimedia.com/2006/05/08/headlines/headlines_30003512.php |title=Constitution Court invalidate the April election and order new election |publisher=The Nation |accessdate=5 July 2006}}</ref> The Criminal Court later jailed the Election Commissioners.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://nationmultimedia.com/2006/07/25/headlines/headlines_30009521.php |title=EC Commissioners arrive at Bangkok Remand Prison |publisher=The Nation |accessdate=25 July 2006}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=http://bangkokpost.net/breaking_news/breakingnews.php?id=111195 |title=EC Guilty in Historic Ruling |publisher=Bangkok Post |accessdate=25 July 2006}}</ref>

On 14 July 2006, [[Privy Council (Thailand)|Privy Council]] President [[Prem Tinsulanonda]] addressed graduating cadets of the [[Chulachomklao Royal Military Academy]], telling them that the Thai military must serve the King - not the Government.<ref name="chulacmilacademy">{{cite web |last=Tinsulanonda|first=General Prem |date=14 July 2006 |url=http://www.crma.ac.th/speech/speech.html |title=A special lecture to CRMA cadets |publisher=Chulachomklao Royal Military Academy |accessdate=25 September 2007}}</ref>

On 20 July, Bhumibol signed a royal decree endorsing new [[Thailand legislative election, October 2006|House elections for 15 October 2006]]. In an unprecedented act, the King wrote a note on the royal decree calling for a clean and fair election. That very day, Bhumibol underwent spinal surgery.<ref>{{cite web |last=Kosajan|first=Worranaree|date=22 July 2006 |url=http://www.nationmultimedia.com/2006/07/22/headlines/headlines_30009317.php |title=King urges fair poll |publisher=The Nation |accessdate=5 April 2007}}</ref>

====The coup====
{{See also|2006 Thailand coup}}
[[File:BKK24090611.jpg|thumb|right|Soldiers were welcomed with flowers]]
In the evening of 19 September, the Thai military overthrew the Thaksin government and seized control of Bangkok in a bloodless coup. The junta, led by the [[Sonthi Boonyaratglin]], Commander of the Army, called itself the [[Council for Democratic Reform under the Constitutional Monarchy]], accused the deposed prime minister and his regime of many crimes, including lèse majesté, and pledged its loyalty to Bhumibol. Martial law was declared, the Constitution repealed and the October elections cancelled.<ref>{{cite news |url=http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,214498,00.html |title=Thai Military Launches Coup to Remove PM Thaksin |agency=Associated Press |publisher=Foxnews.com |accessdate=19 September 2006 | date=19 September 2006}}</ref> Hundreds of Bangkokians came out to flock around the coup makers' stationed forces. Protests were banned and protesters were arrested. On 20 September, Bhumibol endorsed the coup, and ordered civil servants to take orders from Sonthi.

The [[2006 Thailand coup d'état#Role and position of the King|King's role in the coup]] was the subject of much speculation among Thai analysts and the international media. The King had an audience with [[Privy Council (Thailand)|Privy Council]] President [[Prem Tinsulanonda]] at the same time as the First Special Forces were ordered mobilised.<ref name="Timeline">{{cite web |date=20 September 2006 |url=http://nationmultimedia.com/2006/09/20/headlines/headlines_30014092.php |title=Coup as it unfolds |publisher=The Nation |accessdate=25 September 2007}}</ref> Anti-coup protesters claimed that Prem was a key mastermind of the coup, although the military claimed otherwise and banned any discussion of the topic. In a BBC interview, [[Thitinan Pongsudhirak]] of [[Chulalongkorn University]] noted, "This coup was nothing short of Thaksin versus the King... He is widely seen as having implicitly endorsed the coup." In the same interview, social critic [[Sulak Sivaraksa]] claimed, "Without his involvement, the coup would have been impossible." Sulak added that the King is "very skillful. He never becomes obviously involved. If this coup goes wrong, [[Sonthi Boonyaratglin|Sonthi]] will get the blame, but whatever happens, the King will only get praise."<ref name="kate">{{cite news |last=McGeown|first=Kate |date=21 September 2006 |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/asia-pacific/5367936.stm |title=Thai king remains centre stage|publisher=BBC News |accessdate=25 September 2007}}</ref> On Saturday 23 September 2006, the junta warned they would "urgently retaliate against foreign reporters whose coverage has been deemed insulting to the monarchy."<ref name="abcnews1">{{cite web |date=23 September 2006 |url=http://www.abc.net.au/news/newsitems/200609/s1747249.htm |title=Thai junta vows action against foreign media|publisher=ABC News |accessdate=25 September 2007}}</ref> The President of Bhumibol's Privy Council, General Prem Tinsulanonda, supported the coup. The junta later appointed Privy Council member General [[Surayud Chulanont]] as Prime Minister.

On 20 April 2009, Thaksin claimed in an interview with the [[Financial Times]] that Bhumibol had been briefed by Privy Councillors Prem Tinsulanonda and Surayud Chulanont about their plans to stage the 2006 coup. He claimed that General [[Panlop Pinmanee]], a leader of the People's Alliance for Democracy, had told him of the briefing.<ref>The Malaysian Insider, [http://themalaysianinsider.com/index.php/world/8266-feared-thai-ex-general-warns-of-bloodshed Feared Thai ex-general warns of bloodshed], 1 September 2008</ref><ref>Financial Times, [http://www.ft.com/cms/s/0/e8bd988e-2d43-11de-8710-00144feabdc0.html?nclick_check=1 Thaksin claims Thailand's king knew of coup plot], also available at [http://www.ft.com/cms/s/0/e8bd988e-2d43-11de-8710-00144feabdc0.html?nclick_check=1 this] and [http://www.ft.com/cms/s/0/e8bd988e-2d43-11de-8710-00144feabdc0.html this] page, 20 April 2009</ref> The Thai embassy in London denied Thaksin's claims.

====After the coup====
The junta appointed a [[Constitutional Court of Thailand|Constitutional Tribunal]] to rule on the alleged poll fraud cases concerning the [[Thai Rak Thai]] and [[Democrat Party (Thailand)|Democrat]] political parties. Guilty rulings would have dissolved both parties, Thailand's largest and oldest, respectively, and banned the parties' leadership from politics for five years. The weeks leading up to the verdicts saw rising political tensions. On 24 May 2007, about a week before the scheduled verdict, Bhumibol gave a rare speech to the Supreme Administrative Court (the President of which is also a member of the Constitutional Tribunal). "You have the responsibility to prevent the country from collapsing," he warned them in the speech, which was shown on all national television channels simultaneously during the evening. “The nation needs political parties.” The actual meaning of Bhumibol's advice was not clear, and interpretations varied. Some observers saw it as suggesting the judges should not make a compromise ruling. Others saw it as a warning against dissolving the two major parties. Bhumibol, who spoke standing but in a weak, rasping voice, was careful not to say where he stood on the merits of the case. "In my mind, I have a judgment but I cannot say," he said. "Either way the ruling goes, it will be bad for the country, there will be mistakes."<ref name="chinapost1">{{cite web |last=Ahuja|first=Ambika |date=25 May 2007 |url=http://www.chinapost.com.tw/international/110557.htm |title=Thai king urges firm, clear verdict in key case |publisher=China Post |accessdate=25 September 2007}}</ref><ref name="gulftimes1">{{cite web |date=25 May 2007 |url=http://www.chinapost.com.tw/international/110557.htm |title=Thai king against dissolving parties |publisher=Gulf Times |accessdate=25 September 2007}}</ref><ref name="bbcxyz">{{cite news |date=25 May 2007 |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/asia-pacific/6690441.stm |title=Thai king warns over court ruling |publisher=BBC News|accessdate=25 September 2007}}</ref> The Tribunal later acquitted the Democrat Party but dissolved the Thai Rak Thai party and banned 111 of its executives from politics for five years.

The junta-appointed Constitution Drafting Assembly later tried to use the King in a [[propaganda]] campaign to increase public support for its widely criticised [[2007 Constitution of Thailand|draft constitution]]. The CDA placed billboards saying, ''"Love the King. Care about the King. Vote in the referendum.'' throughout the [[Isaan|Northeast of Thailand]], where opposition to the junta was greatest.<ref name="reutersusb">{{cite news |last=Schuettler|first=Darren|date=13 August 2007 |url=http://www.reuters.com/article/worldNews/idUSBKK13776320070813?=undefined&sp=true |title=Academic accused of insulting Thai king in exam paper |publisher=Reuters News |accessdate=24 November 2007}}</ref>

====2008 crisis====
{{Main|2008–2010 Thai political crisis}}
The military's constitution passed the referendum, and [[Thai general election, 2007|general election]] was held in December 2007. The [[People's Power Party (Thailand)|People's Power Party]], consisting of many former [[Thai Rak Thai Party]] [[House of Representatives of Thailand|MP]]s and supporters, won the majority and formed a government.

In April 2008, Bhumibol appointed alleged coup plotter [[General]] [[Surayud Chulanont]] to [[Privy Council]] of Thailand.<ref>[http://www.ohmpps.go.th/ps_uploads/File/Surayud.pdf สำนักราชเลขาธิการ]</ref> The [[People's Alliance for Democracy]] (PAD) reformed and started protests, eventually [[Siege of Suvarnabhumi Airport|laying siege]] to [[Government House of Thailand|Government House]], [[Don Muang Airport]], and [[Suvarnabhumi Airport]]. Although the PAD claimed they were defending the monarchy, Bhumibol remained silent. However, after a PAD supporter died in a clash with police, Queen Sirikit presided over her cremation. Princess [[Sirindhorn]], when asked at a US press conference whether the PAD was acting on behalf of the monarchy, replied, "I don't think so. They do things for themselves."<ref>''The Economist'', [http://www.economist.com/world/asia/displaystory.cfm?story_id=12437715 Fuelling the pyre], 16 October 2008</ref> Questioning and criticism over Bhumibol's role in the crisis increased, particularly from the international press.<ref>ABC News, [http://www.abc.net.au/news/stories/2008/11/28/2432369.htm Thai power base useless in bridging social divide], 28 November 2008</ref><ref>IHT, [http://www.iht.com/articles/2008/11/28/asia/thai.php Thai protesters gird for a crackdown], 28 November 2008</ref><ref>Reuters, [http://www.reuters.com/article/rbssFinancialServicesAndRealEstateNews/idUSBKK2536420081127?pageNumber=1&virtualBrandChannel=0 Q+A-Thailand's intractable political crisis], 27 November 2008</ref><ref>Asia Times, [http://www.atimes.com/atimes/Southeast_Asia/JK25Ae01.html More turmoil in beleaguered Bangkok], 25 November 2008</ref><ref>Reuters, [http://www.reuters.com/article/rbssFinancialServicesAndRealEstateNews/idUSBKK8934620081129 Welcome to Bangkok airport - no passport needed], 29 November 2008</ref><ref>The Australian, [http://www.theaustralian.news.com.au/story/0,25197,24731325-25837,00.html Embarrassed citizens plan retaliation], 1 December 2008</ref><ref>MSNBC, [http://worldblog.msnbc.msn.com/archive/2008/11/26/1689630.aspx THAILAND'S POLITICAL MAZE – A BEGINNERS GUIDE], 26 November 2008</ref> “It is more and more difficult for them to hold the illusion that the monarchy is universally adored,” says a Thai academic.<ref>The Economist, [http://www.economist.com/opinion/displaystory.cfm?story_id=12724800 A right royal mess], 4 December 2008</ref>

In the weeks leading up to [[Thai general election, 2011|2011 general election]], Bhumibol appointed [[Air Chief Marshal]] [[Chalit Pukbhasuk]], a leader of the 2006 military coup, to his [[Privy Council of Thailand|Privy Council]].<ref>{{cite news |title=Former Air Force chief Chalit appointed privy councillor |url=http://www.nationmultimedia.com/home/Former-Air-Force-chief-Chalit-appointed-privy-coun-30155735.html |newspaper=The Nation (Thailand) |date=19 May 2011 }}</ref>

==Royal powers==
===Constitutional powers===
:''For a historical perspective on how Bhumibol's constitutional powers have changed over time, see the [[Constitutions of Thailand]] article''
Bhumibol retains enormous powers, partly because of his immense popularity and partly because his powers - although clearly defined in the Thai constitution - are often subject to conflicting interpretations. This was highlighted by the controversy surrounding the appointment of [[Jaruvan Maintaka]] as Auditor-General. Jaruvavn had been appointed by The State Audit Commission. However, the Constitutional Court ruled in July 2004 that her appointment was unconstitutional. Jaruvan refused to vacate her office without an explicit order from Bhumibol, on the grounds that she had previously been royally approved. When the Senate elected a replacement for Jaruvan, Bhumibol refused to approve him.<ref>{{cite web |date=9 September 2005 |url=http://www.nationmultimedia.com/specials/polcrisis/p25.php |title='My govt serves His Majesty' |publisher=The Nation |accessdate=14 August 2006}}</ref> The Senate declined to vote to override Bhumibol's veto.<ref>{{cite web |date=11 October 2005 |url=http://www.nationmultimedia.com/specials/polcrisis/p53.php |title=Senate steers clear of motion on Jaruvan |publisher=The Nation |accessdate=14 August 2006}}</ref> Finally in February 2006 the Audit Commission reinstated Jaruvan when it became clear from a memo from the Office of the King's Principal Private Secretary that King Bhumibol supported her appointment.<!--Senator [[Kaewsan Atibhodi]], a former member of the 1997 Constitution Drafting Committee, noted that under Article Seven of the 1997 Constitution said that: "whenever no provision under this Constitution is applicable to any case, it shall be decided in accordance with the constitutional practice in the democratic regime of government with the King as Head of the State”. Kaewsan interpreted this as giving Bhumibol veto powers over the Senate's appointment of a replacement to Jaruvan: "Whenever [the King] considers [something as being] not beneficial to the people and being unjust, His Majesty has a veto power".<ref>{{cite web |date=7 September 2005 |url=http://www.nationmultimedia.com/specials/polcrisis/p20.php |title=Thammasat Debate: Royal powers forum packed |publisher=The Nation |accessdate=5 July 2006}}</ref>-->

Bhumibol has vetoed legislation very rarely. In 1976, when the Parliament voted 149-19 to extend democratic elections down to district levels, Bhumibol refused to sign the law.<ref>{{cite book |author=Handley, Paul M. |title=The King Never Smiles: A Biography of Thailand's Bhumibol Adulyadej |publisher=Yale University Press |year=2006 |page=233 |isbn=0-300-10682-3}}</ref> The Parliament refused to vote to overturn the King's veto. In 1954, Bhumibol vetoed parliamentary-approved land reform legislation twice before consenting to sign it.<ref>{{cite book |author=Handley, Paul M. |title=The King Never Smiles: A Biography of Thailand's Bhumibol Adulyadej |publisher=Yale University Press |year=2006 |page=126 |isbn=0-300-10682-3}}</ref> The law limited the maximum land an individual could hold to 50 [[Rai (area)|rai]] ({{convert|80000|m2|sqft}}), at a time when the Crown Property Bureau was the Kingdom's largest land-owner. The law was not enforced as General Sarit soon overthrew the elected government in a coup and repealed the law.

Bhumibol has the constitutional prerogative to pardon criminals, although there are several criteria for receiving a pardon, including age and remaining sentence. The 2006 pardoning of several convicted [[paedophiles]], including an Australian rapist and [[child pornography|child pornographer]], caused controversy.<ref>{{cite web |year=2006 |url=http://www.nationmultimedia.com/breakingnews/read.php?newsid=30007691 |title=Aussie pedophile free on royal pardon |publisher=The Nation |accessdate=5 July 2006 |archiveurl = http://web.archive.org/web/20060707203217/http://www.nationmultimedia.com/breakingnews/read.php?newsid=30007691 |archivedate = 7 July 2006}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |last=McDonald |first=Phillipa |date=30 June 2006 |url=http://www.abc.net.au/news/newsitems/200606/s1675208.htm |title=Campaigners condemn paedophile's release |publisher=ABC News Online |accessdate=5 July 2006}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |last=Bathersby |first=Damien |date=2 July 2006 |url=http://www.sunshinecoastdaily.com.au/localnews/storydisplay.cfm?storyid=3690777&thesection=localnews&thesubsection=&thesecondsubsection= |title=Royal pardon for child predator |publisher=Sunshine Coast Daily |accessdate=5 July 2006}} {{Dead link|date=September 2010|bot=H3llBot}}</ref>

===Network monarchy and extraconstitutional powers===
[[File:King bhumibol monument.jpg|thumb|right|City decoration in observance of King Bhumibol's birthday in [[Phitsanulok]], Thailand]]
Several academics outside of Thailand, including [[Duncan McCargo]] and [[Federico Ferrara]] have noted the active political involvement of Bhumibol through a "network monarchy," whose most significant proxy is Privy Council President Prem Tinsulanond. McCargo claimed that Bhumibol's deeply conservative network worked behind the scenes to establish political influence in the 1990s, but was deeply threatened by the landslide election victories of Thaksin Shinawatra in 2001 and 2005.<ref>Duncan McCargo, Network monarchy and legitimacy crises in Thailand, The Pacific Review, Volume 18, Issue 4 December 2005</ref> Ferrara claimed, shortly before the Thai Supreme Court delivered its verdict to seize Thaksin Shinawatra's assets, that the judiciary was a well-established part of Bhumibol's network and represented his main avenue to exercise extra-constitutional prerogatives despite having the appearance of being constitutional. He also noted how, in comparison to the Constitutional Court's 2001 acquittal of Thaksin, the judiciary was a much more important part of the "network" than it was in the past.<ref>Federico Ferrara, Thailand Unhinged: unraveling the myth of a Thai-style democracy, Equinox Publishing 2010</ref>

The network's ability to exercise power is based partly on Bhumibol's popularity and strict control of Bhumibol's popular image. Bhumibol's popularity was demonstrated following the [[2003 Phnom Penh riots]] in Cambodia, when hundreds of Thai protesters, enraged by rumors that Cambodian rioters had stomped on photographs of Bhumibol, gathered outside the Cambodian embassy in Bangkok. Photographs of the stomping were not published in Thailand, but were available on the internet. The situation was resolved peacefully only when Police General Sant Sarutanonda told the crowd that he had received a call from royal secretary Arsa Sarasin conveying Bhumibol's request for calm. The crowd dispersed.<ref>{{cite web |year=2003 |url=http://www.2bangkok.com/burning.shtml |title=The Burning of the Thai Embassy in Cambodia |publisher=The Nation, 2Bangkok.com |accessdate=5 July 2006}}</ref>

==Royal projects==
<!-- This section is linked from '''Bhumibol Adulyadej''' -->

===History===
[[File:Bhumibol dam.jpg|thumb|Bhumibol Dam]]

{{quote|The development of the country must be fostered in stages. It must start with the construction of infrastructure, that is, the provision of food and basic necessities for the people by methods which are economic, cautious and conforming with principles. Once the foundation is firmly established, progress can be continually, carefully and economically promoted. This approach will prevent incurring mistakes and failures, and lead to the certain and complete achievement of the objectives.|Bhumibol's speech at [[Kasetsart University]] Commencement Ceremony on 19 July 1974.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.nesdb.go.th/Md/book/booksuffwork_eng.pdf |title=Sufficiency Economy :implications and applications |publisher=NESDB |accessdate=6 May 2010}}</ref>}}

Bhumibol has been involved in many social and economic development projects. The nature of his involvement has varied by political regime.<ref>{{cite web |last=Chitbundid |first=Chanida |year=2003 |url=http://socio.tu.ac.th/For%20Web%20(soc-anth) /2546_ANTH.htm |title=The Royally-initiated Projects: The Making of Royal Hegemony (B.E. 2494–2546) |publisher=Thammasat University |accessdate=6 July 2006}}</ref>

The government of [[Plaek Pibulsonggram]] (1951–1957) limited Bhumibol to a ceremonial role. During that period Bhumibol produced some films and operated a radio station from Chitlada Palace using his own personal funds.

In the military governments of [[Sarit Dhanarajata]] and his successors (1958–1980), Bhumibol was reportrayed as the "Development King" and the inspiration of the economic and political goals of the regime. Royally-ordered projects were implemented under the financial and political support of the government, including projects in rural areas and communities under the influence of the [[Communist Party of Thailand]]. Bhumibol's visits to these projects were heavily promoted by the Sarit government and broadcast on the state-controlled media.

During the governments of General [[Prem Tinsulanond]] (1981–1987), the relationship between the Thai state and the monarch was at its closest. Prem, later to become President of Bhumibol's [[Privy Council (Thailand)|Privy Council]], officially allocated government budgets and manpower to support royal projects. Most activities in this period involved the development of large scale irrigation projects in rural areas.

During the modern period (post-1988), the structured development of the Royal Projects reached its apex. Bhumibol's [[Chaipattana Foundation]] was established, promoting his [[Localism in Thailand|"sufficiency economy"]] theory, an alternative to the export-oriented policies adopted by the period's elected governments. Following the 2006 coup, establishment of a "sufficiency economy" was enshrined in the constitution as being a primary goal of the government, and government financial support for royal projects boomed.

===Example projects===
*[[Rama VIII Bridge]]. Suggested by Bhumibol, funded by the government
*[[Huai Ongkod]] land reform project, [[Kanchanaburi]] province. Suggested by Bhumibol, using government-owned land.
*Royal Medical Team. Bhumibol's private physicians accompanying him on village tours were encouraged to provide medical care for local residents. In addition, the Royal Household sends letters of support to physicians who volunteer to serve in hospitals in provinces where royal palaces are situated.<ref name="royaldev">{{cite web|url=http://www.rdpb.go.th/rdpb/EN/BRANDSITE/theproject_rdp07_5.aspx|title=The Projects|publisher=Office of the Royal Development Projects Board|accessdate=26 July 2009 |archiveurl = http://web.archive.org/web/20071103191658/http://www.rdpb.go.th/rdpb/EN/BRANDSITE/theproject_rdp07_5.aspx |archivedate = November 3, 2007}}</ref>

==Awards==
[[File:Eisenhower Bhumibol.jpg|thumb|right|300px|King Bhumibol Adulyadej, President [[Dwight D. Eisenhower]], [[Queen Sirikit]] and [[Mamie Eisenhower]] at the White House in June 1960.]]

Bhumibol has received numerous royal and state orders as befitting of his stature. <!--
* {{Flagicon|Cambodia}} Grand Cross of the [[Royal Order of Cambodia]], 1954
* {{Flagicon|Argentina}} Collar of the [[Order of the Liberator San Martin]]
* {{Flagicon|United States}} Chief Commander of [[Legion of Merit]], 1960,<ref>{{cite web |year=1960|url=http://www.presidency.ucsb.edu/ws/index.php?pid=11854&st=&st1= Citation Accompanying Legion of Merit, Degree of Chief Commander, Presented to the King of Thailand |title=Dwight D. Eisenhower |work=The American Presidency Project |publisher=University of California - Santa Barbara |accessdate=4 March 2008}}</ref>
* {{Flagicon image|Flag of EIIR.svg}} Recipient of the [[Royal Victorian Chain]], 1960
* {{Flagicon|Portugal}} Grand Collar of the Military [[Order of the Tower and Sword]], 1960
* {{Flagicon|Denmark}} Knight with Collar of the [[Order of the Elephant]], 1960
* {{Flagicon|Norway}} Grand Cross with Collar of The Royal Norwegian [[Order of St. Olav]], 1960
* {{Flagicon|Sweden}} Knight of the [[Order of the Seraphim]], 1960
* {{Flagicon|Italy}} Grand Cross of the [[Order of Merit of the Italian Republic]], 1960
* {{Flagicon|Vatican City}} Knight of the Collar of the [[Order of Pius IX]], 1960
* {{Flagicon|Belgium}} Grand Cross of the [[Order of Leopold (Belgium)|Order of Leopold]], 1960
* {{Flagicon|France}} Grand Cross of the [[Légion d'honneur]], 1960
* {{Flagicon|Luxembourg}} Grand Cross of the [[Order of the Gold Lion of the House of Nassau]], 1960
* {{Flagicon|Netherlands}} Grand Cross of the [[Order of the Netherlands Lion]], 1960
* {{Flagicon|Indonesia}} The [[Order of the Star of the Republic of Indonesia]], 1961
* {{Flagicon|Malaysia}} Collar of the [[Order of the Crown of Malaysia|Order of the Crown of the Realm]], 1963
* {{Flagicon|Japan}} Collar of the [[Order of the Chrysanthemum]], 1963
* {{Flagicon|Taiwan}} Grand Cordon of the [[List of orders, decorations and medals of the Republic of China|Order of Brilliant Jade]], 1963
* {{Flagicon|Greece}} Grand Cross of the [[Order of the Redeemer]], 1963
* {{Flagicon|Laos|1952}} Grand Cordon of the [[Order of a Million Elephants and White Parasol]], 1963
* {{Flagicon|Iran|1964}} Collar of the [[Order of Pahlevi]], 1968
* {{Flagicon|Ethiopia}} Knight and Collar of the [[Order of the Queen of Sheba]], 1968
* {{Flagicon|Philippines}} Grand Collar of the [[Order of Sikatuna]], 1968
* {{Flagicon|Germany}} Grand Cross of the [[Order of Merit of the Federal Republic of Germany]], 1984
* {{Flagicon|Nepal}} The [[Order of Nepal]] Pratap Bhaskara sash, 1986
* {{Flagicon|Spain}} Grand Cross Collar of the [[Order of Charles III]], 1987
* {{Flagicon|Brunei}} Royal Family [[Order of the Crown of Brunei]], 1990
* {{Flagicon|Spain}} Knight and Collar of the [[Order of the Golden Fleece]], 2006

===Others===
--> In addition, the king was awarded the William J. Donovan Medal, Award of Friendship OSS, New York, U.S.A.presented by the Office of Strategic Services (CIA) on 29 October 1987.<ref>{{cite web |year=2011 |url=http://www.thaiwaysmagazine.com/king/awarda_presented.html |title= Thaiways magazine: Awards presented to the king |accessdate=3 June 2011}}</ref>

Bhumibol, who serves as head of [[The National Scout Organization of Thailand]], was presented the [[Bronze Wolf]] award on 20 June 2006, the highest award of the [[World Organization of the Scout Movement]], for his support and development of [[Scouting]] in Thailand by [[Carl XVI Gustaf of Sweden|Carl XVI Gustaf]], King of Sweden and Honorary President of the World Scout Foundation. The presentation took place at [[Chitralada Palace]] in Thailand and was witnessed by Chairman of the [[World Scout Committee]] [[Herman Hui]].

In May 2006, UN Secretary-General, [[Kofi Annan]], presented the United Nations' first and only Human Development Lifetime Achievement Award to Bhumibol.<ref>{{cite web |year=2006 |url=http://www.un.org/apps/news/story.asp?NewsID=18625&Cr=Thai&Cr1= |title=With new Human Development award, Annan hails Thai King as example for the world |publisher=UN News Center |accessdate=5 July 2006}}</ref>

Bhumibol set a world record for receiving the greatest number of honorary university degrees (136) in 1997.<ref>{{cite book |author=Handley, Paul M. |title=The King Never Smiles |publisher=Yale University Press |year=2006 |page=417 |isbn=0-300-10682-3}}</ref> Most of his degrees came from [[List of universities in Thailand|Thai universities]]: for instance, [[Kasetsart University]] awarded him ten honorary doctoral degrees at once.

==60th Anniversary celebrations==
{{Main|60th Anniversary Celebrations of Bhumibol Adulyadej's Accession}}
Also called the Diamond Jubilee, the 60th Anniversary Celebrations of His Majesty the King's Accession to the Throne were a series of events marking Bhumibol's reign. Events included the [[Thailand's Royal Barge Procession|royal barge procession]] on the Chao Phraya River, fireworks displays, art exhibitions, pardoning 25,000 prisoners,<ref>{{cite news |last=Pinyorat |first=Rungrawee C. |year=2006 |url=http://www.boston.com/news/world/asia/articles/2006/06/09/millions_of_thai_honor_king |title=Millions of Thai honor king |publisher=Boston.com News, Associated Press |accessdate=5 July 2006 |archiveurl = http://web.archive.org/web/20071013150334/http://boston.com/news/world/asia/articles/2006/06/09/millions_of_thai_honor_king |archivedate = October 13, 2007}}</ref> concerts and dance performances.

Tied in with the anniversary, United Nations Secretary-General Kofi Annan presented Bhumibol with the [[United Nations Development Programme]]'s first Human Development Lifetime Achievement Award on 26 May 2006. National holidays were on 9 June and 12–13 June 2006. On 9 June, the King and Queen appeared on the balcony of Ananta Samakhom Throne Hall before hundreds of thousands of people. The official royal barge procession on 12 June was attended by the King and Queen and royal visitors from 26 other countries. On 13 June, a state banquet for the royal visitors was held in the newly constructed Rama IX Throne Hall at the Grand Palace, the first official function for the hall. The Chiang Mai Royal Flora Expo was also held to honour the anniversary.

On 16 January 2007, the CDRM officially declared the end of the 60th anniversary celebrations and commenced year-long celebrations of Bhumibol's 80th birthday.<ref name="hmanniv">{{cite web |date=16 February 2007 |url=http://nationmultimedia.com/2007/02/16/headlines/headlines_30027071.php |title=Govt launches commemorative events for HM the King's 80th birthday |publisher=The Nation |accessdate=25 September 2007}}</ref>

==Private life==
{{Chakri Kings}}
Bhumibol is a painter, musician, photographer, author and translator. His book ''Phra Mahachanok'' is based on a traditional ''[[Jataka]]'' story of [[Buddhism|Buddhist]] scripture. ''The Story of Thong Daeng'' is the story of his dog [[Thong Daeng]].<ref>HM King Bhumibol Adulyadej of Thailand. ''The Story of Tongdaeng''. Amarin, Bangkok. 2004. ISBN 9742729174</ref>

In his youth, Bhumibol was greatly interested in firearms. He kept a carbine, a Sten gun, and two automatic pistols in his bedroom, and he and his elder brother, King [[Ananda Mahidol]], often used the gardens of the palace for target practice.<ref name="KNS">{{cite book |author=Handley, Paul M. |title=The King Never Smiles |publisher=Yale University Press |year=2006 |page=70 |isbn=0-300-10682-3}}</ref>

There are two English language books that provide extensive detail - albeit not always verifiable - about Bhumibol's life, especially his early years and then throughout his entire reign. One is ''The Revolutionary King'' by William Stevenson, ISBN 978-1-84119-451-6; the other is ''The King Never Smiles'' by Paul M. Handley. A third and earlier work, ''The Devil's Discus'', is also available in Thai and English. All three books are banned in Thailand.

Bhumibol's creativity in, among other things, music, art, and invention, was the focus of a 2 minute long documentary created by the government of Abhibisit Vejjajiva that was screened at all branches of the Major Cineplex Group and SF Cinema City, the two largest cinema chains in Thailand.<ref>MCOT, [http://www.mcot.net/content/19232 Commerce Ministry launches film to honour creative King Bhumibol], 10 February 2010</ref>

===Health===
Bhumibol suffers from [[lumbar spinal stenosis]], a narrowing of the canal that contains the spinal cord and nerve roots, which results in back and leg pain and numbness in the legs. He received a microsurgical decompression in July 2006.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://bangkokpost.net/breaking_news/breakingnews.php?id=109508_19114638.html |title=Doctors to Permfom Surgery on Thai king, 78 |publisher=Bangkok Post |accessdate=20 July 2006}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.nationmultimedia.com/breakingnews/read.php?newsid=30008905 |title=Doctors to perform surgery to cure lumbar spine stenosis for His Majesty |work=Breaking News |publisher=The Nation |accessdate=20 July 2006}} {{Dead link|date=November 2010|bot=H3llBot}}</ref>

Bhumibol was taken to Bangkok's Siriraj Hospital on 13 October 2007, complaining he felt weak down his right side; doctors later found out through scans that he had a blood shortage to his brain.<ref>{{cite news |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/asia-pacific/7043205.stm |title=Thailand's king taken to hospital |publisher=BBC News |accessdate=24 November 2007 | date=13 October 2007}}</ref> He was discharged on 7 November 2007.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://enews.mcot.net/view.php?id=1204 |title=Homeward-bound King Bhumibol, in pink, snaps pics of happy, weeping subjects |publisher=MCOT English News, Thai News Agency |accessdate=24 November 2007}}</ref>

On 19 September 2009, he was once again admitted to Siriraj Hospital, apparently with the flu and pneumonia. US diplomatic cables from 2009, published by [[Wikileaks]] in 2011, reported that the king is suffering from [[Parkinson's disease]] and [[depression]].<ref>[http://www.theaustralian.com.au/news/world/wikileaks-cables-reveal-scandal-and-disease-in-thai-royal-family/story-e6frg6so-1226080868978 WikiLeaks cables reveal scandal and disease in Thai royal family] The Australian, June 24, 2011</ref> His youngest daughter [[Chulabhorn Walailak|HRH Princess Chulabhorn Walailak]] confirmed in an April 2011 television interview that the king remains in the hospital.<ref>[http://www.nationmultimedia.com/2011/04/08/national/His-majesty-the-king-still-works-tirelessly-in-hos-30152799.html His majesty the king 'still works tirelessly' in hospital] The Nation, April 8, 2011</ref>

===Music===
Bhumibol is an accomplished jazz [[royal musicians|musician]] and composer, particularly for his works on the alto saxophone. He was the first Asian composer awarded honorary membership of the Academy of Music and Dramatic Arts in Vienna at the age of 32.<ref>{{cite news |last=Tang |first=Alisa
|date=13 June 2006 |url=http://www.boston.com/news/world/asia/articles/2006/06/13/thailands_monarch_is_ruler_jazz_musician/?rss_id=Boston.com+%2F+News|title=Thailand's monarch is ruler, jazz musician |publisher=Boston.com News, Associated Press |accessdate=28 February 2007}} {{Dead link|date=September 2010|bot=H3llBot}}</ref> He used to play jazz music on air on the Or Sor radio station. In his travels, he has played with such jazz legends as [[Benny Goodman]], [[Jack Teagarden]], [[Lionel Hampton]], [[Maynard Ferguson]], and [[Preservation Hall Jazz Band]]. His songs can often be heard at social gatherings and concerts. In 2003, the [[University of North Texas College of Music]] awarded him an Honorary Doctorate in Music.

===Sailing===
Bhumibol is an accomplished sailor and sailboat designer.<ref>{{cite web |date=6 February 2006 |url=http://www.bangkokpost.net/60yrsthrone/art/index.html |title=The Heart for Art |publisher=Bangkok Post |accessdate=20 July 2006}}</ref> He won a gold medal for sailing in the Fourth [[1967 Southeast Asian Peninsular Games|Southeast Asian Peninsular (SEAP) Games]] in 1967, together with HRH Princess [[Ubol Ratana]] whom he tied for points.<ref>{{cite web |last=Cummins |first=Peter |month=December |year=2004 |url=http://www.chiangmai-mail.com/111/special.shtml |title=His Majesty King Bhumibol Adulyadej The Great: Monarch of Peace and Unity |publisher=Chiang Mai Mail |accessdate=20 July 2006}}</ref> This accomplishment is all the more remarkable given Bhumibol's lack of binocular [[depth perception]]. Bhumibol has also sailed the [[Gulf of Thailand]] from [[Hua Hin]] to Toey Harbour in [[Sattahip]], covering {{convert|60|nmi|km}} in a 14-hour journey on the "Vega 1," an OK Class dinghy he built.<ref name="KNS" />

Like his father, a former military naval engineer, Bhumibol was an avid boat designer and builder. He produced several small sail-boat designs in the International [[Enterprise (dinghy)|Enterprise]], OK, and [[Moth (dinghy)|Moth]] Classes. His designs in the Moth class include the “Mod,” “Super Mod,” and “Micro Mod.”<ref name="MODS">{{cite web|url=http://www.thai2arab.com/eng/content.php?page=sub&category=4&subcategory=43&id=31 |title=H.M. King Bhumibol Adulyadej |accessdate=4 March 2008 |publisher=Minsitry of Foreign Affairs, Kingdom of Thailand }} {{Dead link|date=October 2010|bot=H3llBot}}</ref>

===Patents===
Bhumibol is the only Thai monarch to hold a patent.<ref>{{cite web |date=9 June 2006 |url=http://bangkokker.blogspot.com/|title=Long Live The King! |publisher=Bangkokker |accessdate=17 August 2006}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |date=9 June 2006 |url=http://sunsite.au.ac.th/thailand/special_event/king9/english/his.html|title=H.M. Biography |publisher=Assumption University |accessdate=17 August 2006}}</ref> He obtained one in 1993 for a waste water aerator named "[[Chai Pattana]]", and several patents on rainmaking since 1955: the "sandwich" rainmaking patent in 1999 and lately the "supersandwich" patent in 2003.<ref>{{cite news |date=27 March 2003 |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/asia-pacific/2940430.stm |title=Thai king's patent to make rain |publisher=BBC News |accessdate=14 August 2006}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |date=17 June 2006 |url=http://60thcelebrations.com/english/news_detail.php?id=155|title=Weather Modification by Royal Rainmaking Technology |publisher=60th Celebrations |accessdate=14 August 2006}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |date=9 June 2006 |url=http://www.out-law.com/page-6996|title=Thai King gets rainmaking patent |publisher=60th Celebrations |accessdate=14 August 2006}}</ref>

==Wealth==
Estimates of the [[Asian economic crisis|post-devaluation]] (circa 1997–1998) wealth of the royal household range from 10 billion to 20 billion USD.<ref>{{cite news |last=Horn |first=Robert |date= 6 December 1999 |url=http://www.time.com/time/asia/magazine/99/1206/thai3.moneyman.html |title=The Banker Who Saved A King |publisher=Time Asia |accessdate=5 July 2006}}</ref>
In August 2008, [[Forbes]] came out with its 2008 version of ''[[List of the wealthiest royals|The World's Richest Royals]]''. King Bhumibol took first place on the list with an estimated wealth of $35 billion.<ref>{{cite news |last=Horn |first=Robert |date= 20 August 2008 |url=http://www.forbes.com/2008/08/20/worlds-richest-royals-biz-richroyals08-cz_ts_0820royalintro.html|title=Forbes The world's richest royals|publisher=Forbes|accessdate=21 August 2008}}</ref> A few days later the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Thailand issued a statement that the Forbes report erred, attributing wealth owned by the [[Crown Property Bureau]] (CPB) solely to Bhumibol.<ref name="around">{{cite web|url=http://www.manager.co.th/Around/ViewNews.aspx?NewsID=9510000099637|title=Forbes Says Bhumipol Richest Person In World|date=23 August 2008|publisher=ASTV|language=Thai|accessdate=2 May 2020}}</ref> In the 2009 version of its list, Forbes acknowledged the government's objections, but justified the continued inclusion of the CPB's assets on the ground that Bhumibol was its trustee.<ref name=forbes09/> The 2009 estimate was down to $30 billion due to declines in real estate and stocks.<ref name=forbes09/>

The wealth and properties of Bhumibol and the royal family are managed by the Crown Property Bureau and the Privy Purse. The CPB was established by law but is managed independently of the Thai Government and reports only to Bhumibol.<ref name="KNS" /><ref name="FORBES">{{cite news |first=Devon |last=Pendelton |coauthors=Tatiana Serafin |title=The World's Richest Royals |date=30 August 2007 |publisher= |url=http://www.forbes.com/2007/08/30/worlds-richest-royals-biz-royals07-cx_lk_0830royalintro.html |work=Forbes |pages= |accessdate=4 March 2008 |language=}}</ref>

Through the CPB, Bhumibol and the royal family own land and equity in many companies and massive amounts of land, including 3,493 [[acres]] in Bangkok.<ref>AFP, "King Bhumibol as world's wealthiest royal", 22 August 2008</ref> The CPB is the majority shareholder of [[Siam Cement]] (the largest Thai industrial conglomerate), [[Christiani & Nielsen]] (one of the largest Thai construction firms), [[Deves Insurance]] (which holds a monopoly on government property insurance and contract insurance), [[Siam Commercial Bank]] (one of the largest Thai banks), and [[Shin Corporation]] (a major Thai telecommunications firm, through the CPB's holdings in Siam Commercial Bank). The CPB also rents or leases about 36,000 properties to third parties, including the sites of the [[Four Seasons Hotel Bangkok]], the [[Suan Lum Night Bazaar]], [[Siam Paragon]] and the [[Central World Plaza#Central World Tower|Central World Tower]]. The CPB spearheaded a plan to turn Bangkok’s historical [[Rajadamnoen]] Avenue into a shopping street known as the “[[Champs-Élysées]] of Asia” and in 2007, shocked longtime residents of traditional marketplace districts by serving them with eviction notices.<ref name="sentinel">{{cite web |date=1 March 2007 |url=http://www.asiasentinel.com/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=402&Itemid=32 |title=Thailand's Royal Wealth: How Thailand's Royals Manage to Own All the Good Stuff |publisher=Asia Sentinel |accessdate=25 September 2007}}</ref> Bhumibol's substantial income from the CPB, estimated to be at least five billion [[baht]] in 2004 alone, is exempt from taxes.<ref name="sentinel"/><ref name="crownact">{{cite web |year=2007 |url=http://www.crownproperty.or.th/history.php |work=Section 8|title=Royal Assets Structuring Act of 1936 |publisher=The Crown Property Bureau |language=Thai |accessdate=25 September 2007 |archiveurl = http://web.archive.org/web/20070809204241/http://www.crownproperty.or.th/history.php |archivedate = August 9, 2007}} (พระราชบัญญัติ จัดระเบียบทรัพย์สิน ฝ่ายพระมหากษัตริย์)</ref> The CPB receives many state privileges. Although the Ministry of Finance technically runs the CPB, decisions are made solely by Bhumibol. The CPB's annual report is for the eyes of Bhumibol alone; the annual report is not released to the public.<ref name="sentinel"/>

In addition, Bhumibol has numerous personal investments independent of the CPB. He is personally the majority shareholder of the Thai Insurance Company and Sammakorn, as well as many other companies.<ref>See Stock Exchange of Thailand Report 56-1 for [http://www.set.or.th/dat/finreport/form56/0019F56300320060533533564T.zip TIC] and [http://www.set.or.th/dat/finreport/form56/0349F56310320060432572107T.zip SAMCO]</ref>

The CPB has a fleet of three aircraft for the use of the royal family, including a [[Boeing 737-800]] and an [[Airbus A319]]. The newer Airbus had been purchased by the Thaksin Shinawatra government for government use, but after the 2006 coup, the junta offered it to the king. The other planes are used by members of the royal family.<ref name="afone">{{cite web |date=21 April 2007 |url=http://nationmultimedia.com/2007/04/21/national/national_30032343.php |title=King's new aircraft arrives, with 'Air Force One' in reserve |publisher=The Nation |accessdate=25 September 2007}}</ref><!-- link did not work on 30 December 2007 -->

Among other vehicles, Bhumibol owns two custom-built stretch limousines from [[LCW Automotive Corp]].<ref>Business Wire, [http://finance.yahoo.com/news/A-Limousine-Built-for-a-bw-14750657.html?.v=1 A Limousine Built for a King], 26 April 2009</ref> The [[Golden Jubilee Diamond]], the largest faceted diamond in the world, was given to him by businessman Henry Ho.

==Lèse majesté==
===Scope of the law===
Although Bhumibol is held in great respect by many Thais, he is also protected by ''[[lèse majesté]]'' laws which allow critics to be jailed for three to fifteen years.<ref name="reuters1">{{cite news |last=Champion |first=Paul |date=25 September 2007 |url=http://www.reuters.com/news/video?videoId=67215&videoChannel=1 |title=Professor in lese majeste row|publisher=Reuters |accessdate=26 September 2007}}</ref> The laws were toughened during the dictatorship of royalist Premier [[Tanin Kraivixien]], such that criticism of any member of the royal family, the royal development projects, the royal institution, the Chakri Dynasty, or any previous Thai King was also banned.<ref>The original penalty was a maximum of 7 years imprisonment, but was toughened to a minimum of 3 years and a maximum of 15 years. This harsher sentence has been retained to the current day, see {{cite journal |author=Colum Murphy |year=2006 |month=September |title=A Tug of War for Thailand's Soul |journal=Far Eastern Economic Review}} As stipulated under the Constitution, ''lèse majesté'' only applied to criticism of the King, [[Sirikit|Queen]], [[Vajiralongkorn|Crown Prince]], and Regent.

Tanin, a former Supreme Court justice, reinterpreted this as a blanket ban against criticism of royal development projects, the royal institution, the [[Chakri Dynasty]], or any [[Kings of Thailand|Thai King]]. See {{cite journal |author=David Streckfuss |title=Kings in the Age of Nations: The Paradox of Lèse-Majesté as Political Crime in Thailand |journal=Comparative Studies in Society and History|volume=33 |issue=3 |pages=445–475}} The reinterpretation has stood to the present day.</ref> Jail terms for Thai citizens committing ''lèse majesté'' are usually harsher than for foreigners.

Politician [[Veera Musikapong]] was jailed and banned from politics for ''lèse majesté'', despite the palace's opinion that the remarks were harmless. Frenchman [[Lech Tomacz Kisielwicz]] refused to switch off a reading light on a [[Thai Airways International|Thai Airways]] flight he shared with two Thai princesses and was jailed under ''lèse majesté'' for two weeks after his flight landed in Bangkok.<ref name="timesonline1">{{cite news |last=Perry|first=Richard Lloyd |date=13 March 2007 |url=http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/news/world/asia/article1505585.ece|title=Moment of vandalism may lead to a lifetime in prison|publisher=Times Online|accessdate=26 September 2007 | location=London}}</ref> He was acquitted after apologizing to the King. Thossaporn Ruethaiprasertsung was arrested and charged with lèse majesté for making photocopies of leaflets with contents allegedly against the monarchy and the Privy Council.<ref>Prachatai, [http://www.prachatai.net/english/node/1156 Woman arrested for photocopying offensive leaflets in Nakhon Ratchasima], 18 April 2009</ref>

In 2009, Daranee "Da Torpedo" Chanchoengsilpakul was sentenced to 18 years in prison without suspension for "intending to insult" Bhumibol and Sirikit at a political protest.<ref>Bangkok Post, [http://www.bangkokpost.com/news/local/152894/18-years-in-jail-for-da-torpedo 18 years in jail for 'Da Torpedo'], 28 August 2009</ref> She did not actually mention the monarchs in her speech (she criticized, among other things, the "ruling class"), however, the court ruled that the prosecution "brought evidence that makes it possible to interpret that the defendant meant the King and Queen Sirikit."<ref>Fa Dio Kan, "Official Judgement of Daranee Chanchoengsilapakul", July – September 2009 (Year 7, No. 3)</ref> Social critic [[Sulak Sivaraksa]] has been charged several times with ''lèse majesté'', but has always been acquitted.

Arrests have also occurred for sending [[text message]]s (SMSs) criticizing Bhumibol - although Bhumibol was not the recipient of the messages.<ref>Bangkok Post, [http://www.bangkokpost.com/news/local/189225/man-arrested-for-offending-monarchy Man arrested for lese majesty SMSs], 3 August 2010</ref>

During the government of Abhisit Vejjajiva, numerous people were charged with insulting Bhumibol using [[body language]].
<ref>Matichon, [http://www.matichon.co.th/news_detail.php?newsid=1302949087 ดีเอสไอรวมหลักฐานเล่นงาน18แดงล้อม"จตุพร"ภาษกายชัดร่วมปราศรัยหมิ่นเบื้องสูง], 16 April 2011</ref>

There is controversy over whether criticism of members of Bhumibol's Privy Council also qualifies as criticism of Bhumibol.<ref name="foes">{{cite web |date=5 April 2007 |url=http://pages.citebite.com/v1x4o9y3g2jxi|title=Authorities close in on Prem's foes|publisher=Bangkok Post|accessdate=26 September 2007}}</ref> Police Special Branch Commander Lt-General Theeradech Rodpho-thong refused to file charges of ''lèse majesté'' against activists who launched a petition to oust Privy Council President Prem Tinsulanonda, claiming that the law only applied to members of the royal family.<ref name="nationxyz">{{cite web |date=3 April 2007 |url=http://www.nationmultimedia.com/2007/04/03/headlines/headlines_30030967.php|title=Row festers over website seeking to oust Prem|publisher=The Nation|accessdate=26 September 2007}}</ref> Two days later, he was demoted by Police Commander [[Seripisut Temivavej]].<ref name="nationabc">{{cite web |date=5 April 2007 |url=http://nationmultimedia.com/2007/04/05/headlines/headlines_30031154.php|title=Special Branch chief demoted in reshuffle|publisher=The Nation|accessdate=26 September 2007}}</ref> During the Songkran 2009 unrest, Thaksin Shinawatra accused the Privy Council President of masterminding the 2006 military coup. Royalists interpreted this as an attack on Bhumibol.

The website of Same Sky Books, publishers of [[Fah Diao Kan]] magazine, was shut down by the military government after comments on its bulletin board questioned claims made by the Thai media that the entire country was in mourning over the death of Princess [[Galyani Vadhana]].<ref>AP, [http://ap.google.com/article/ALeqM5ginktMpai4ogkr8Ze09NrEak1sGQD8U0B6D00 Thailand Shuts Down Political Web Site]</ref>

Bhumibol himself stated that he was not above criticism in his 2005 birthday speech. "Actually, I must also be criticised. I am not afraid if the criticism concerns what I do wrong, because then I know. Because if you say the king cannot be criticised, it means that the king is not human", he said. "If the king can do no wrong, it is akin to looking down upon him because the king is not being treated as a human being. But the king can do wrong."<ref name="wrong">{{cite web |date=5 December 2005 |url=http://www.nationmultimedia.com/2005/12/05/headlines/data/headlines_19334288.html|title=Royal Birthday Address: 'King Can Do Wrong'|publisher=National Media|accessdate=26 September 2007}}</ref> Despite this, few have dared to call for the repeal of the law. Any doing so have been accused of disloyalty and could also be charged with lèse majesté.<ref name="jazeerax">{{cite web |date=12 March 2007 |url=http://nationmultimedia.com/2007/04/05/headlines/headlines_30031154.php|title=Swiss man 'insulted' Thai king|publisher=Al Jazeera|accessdate=26 September 2007}}</ref> Political scientist [[Giles Ungpakorn]] noted that "the ''lèse majesté'' laws are not really designed to protect the institution of the monarchy. In the past the laws have been used to protect governments, to protect military coups. This whole [royal] image is created to bolster a conservative elite well beyond the walls of the palace."<ref name="frenchmanjail">{{cite news |date=13 March 2007 |url=http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/main.jhtml?xml=/news/2007/03/13/wthai13.xml|title=Swiss man faces jail for lèse majesté|publisher=Telegraph.co.uk|accessdate=24 November 2007 | location=London}}</ref>

In 2011 an American citizen, Joe Gordon ([[Lerpong Wichaikhammat]]), was arrested on charges he insulted the country's monarchy, in part by posting a link on his blog to a banned book about the ailing king. He is also suspected of translating, from English into Thai, portions of ''The King Never Smiles'' – and posting them online along with articles he wrote that allegedly defame the royal family.<ref>[http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2011/05/27/colorado-man-arrested-in-thailand_n_867982.html Colorado man arrested], Huffington Post</ref> "I want President Obama and Hillary Clinton to intervene on on my behalf," he is quoted as saying.<ref>{{cite news |title=US man held for 'Thai monarchy insult' appeals to Obama |author=Rachel Harvey |url=http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-asia-pacific-13613956 |newspaper=BBC News Asia-Pacific |date=1 June 2011 |accessdate=1 June 2011}}</ref>

===Political use of the lèse majesté law===
Lèse majesté has often been used to silence discussion about Bhumibol's role in politics, particular after the 2006 coup. Dozens of radio stations have been shut down due to alleged insults.<ref>Reporters Without Borders, [http://en.rsf.org/thailande-lese-majeste-charge-used-to-02-05-2011,40121.html Lèse-majesté charge used to {{sic|crackdown}} on opposition media], 2 May 2011</ref> As of December 2010, nearly 60,000 websites have been banned for alleged insults against Bhumibol. [[Chiranuch Premchaiporn]], webmaster of news website [[Prachatai]], has been jailed without bail for nearly a year for not removing an allegedly insulting comment from an article fast enough. Although the comments did not directly mention Bhumibol or members of his family, the court found that Chiranuch displayed insulting intent. Arrested in September 2010, she could face up to 50 years imprisonment if found guilty.<ref>[http://advocacy.globalvoicesonline.org/2011/09/02/police-lese-majeste-%E2%80%9Cexperts%E2%80%9D-in-prachatai-trial/ Police lèse majesté “experts” in Prachatai trial], 2 September 2011</ref><ref>[http://advocacy.globalvoicesonline.org/2011/02/05/thai-webmaster-facing-50-years-for-lese-majeste-postings/ Thai webmaster facing 50 years for lèse majesté postings], 5 February 2011</ref>

Premier [[Thaksin Shinawatra]] and royalist activist [[Sondhi Limthongkul]] both filed charges of lèse majesté against each other during the [[Thailand political crisis 2005-2006|2005–2006 political crisis]]. Thaksin's alleged lèse majesté was one of the stated reasons for the Thai military's [[2006 Thai coup d'état|2006 coup]].<ref name="protlaw">{{cite journal |author=Julian Gearing |date=3 December 1999|month=September |title=A Protective Law: It's called lèse-majesté - and it is taken seriously |journal=Asiaweek |volume=45 |issue=48}}</ref><ref name="murphy">{{cite journal |author=Colum Murphy |year=2006 |month=September |title=A Tug of War for Thailand's Soul |journal=Far Eastern Economic Review}}</ref><ref name="turkish">{{cite web |date=19 September 2006|url=http://www.turkishpress.com/news.asp?id=142951 |title=Thai coup leader says new PM within two weeks |publisher=TurkishPress |accessdate=26 September 2007}}</ref><ref name="worldnotes">{{cite web |date=15 September 1986|url=http://jcgi.pathfinder.com/time/magazine/article/0,9171,962326,00.html |title=World Notes Thailand |publisher=Time |accessdate=26 September 2007}}</ref>

In 2005, the Department of Special Investigation (DSI) issued arrest warrants for two Swedish citizens, Abdulrosa Jehngoh and Chipley Putra Jehngoh, claiming that their Manusaya.com website contained content insulting to Bhumibol.<ref name="specinv">{{cite web |year=2004|url=http://www.dsi.go.th/dsi/news_index.jsp?id=1290 |title=ข้อเท็จจริง สรุปผลการสืบสวนกรณีเว็บไซต์ Pulo.org และ Manusaya.com |publisher=The Department of Special Investigation |accessdate=26 September 2007 |archiveurl = http://web.archive.org/web/20070407011850/http://www.dsi.go.th/dsi/news_index.jsp?id=1290 |archivedate = April 7, 2007}}</ref><ref name="mediazyx">{{cite web |date=30 March 2006|url=http://www.asiamedia.ucla.edu/article.asp?parentid=41779 |title=THAILAND: Sondhi faces deluge of lese majeste claims |work=Bangkok Post |publisher=Asia Media |accessdate=26 September 2007}}</ref><!--Chipley Putra Jehngoh also held Malaysian and Thai citizenship and at the time lived in the Middle East. Abdulrosa Jehngoh was granted Swedish citizenship and lives in Sweden. The website was hosted in Canada and was linked to separatist organisation in southern Thailand or more specifically the website 'www.pulo.org' which incited separatist movement.<ref name="crimemanager">{{cite web |year=2006|url=http://www.manager.co.th/Crime/ViewNews.aspx?NewsID=9490000042318|title=ออกหมายจับ 2 ตัวการทำเว็บไซต์หมิ่นราชวงศ์ |publisher=Crime Manager |accessdate=26 September 2007}}</ref>Sondhi, a vocal opposition of Prime Minister Thaksin, often accused Thaksin and his affiliates of lèse majesté. In April 2007, a Bangkok criminal court sentenced Sondhi for defamation for claiming on his [[Muang Thai Rai Sapda]] talk show that Thaksin's Deputy Transport Minister, Phumtham Vejjayachai, was linked to the anti-royal Manusaya.com website.<ref name="newswatch1">{{cite web |date=2 April 2007 |url=http://www.newswatch.in/newsblog/7770 |title=Thai media tycoon sentenced for slandering Thaksin minister in 2005 |publisher=News Watch |accessdate=26 September 2007}}</ref>-->

After the 2006 coup, there were an increasing number of claims that Bhumibol or his advisers knew of the 2006 coup before it actually occurred. Such lines of thought was suppressed with the lese majeste law: the number of people jailed for this alleged "insult" skyrocketed to an unprecedented number.<ref>Council for Foreign Relations, [http://blogs.cfr.org/asia/2011/09/12/is-thailand-regressing-on-lese-majeste/ Is Thailand Regressing on Lèse-Majesté?], 12 September 2011</ref>

In May 2008, Minister Jakrapob Penkair of the People's Power Party resigned due to a lese majeste charge against him for statements during the interview in Bangkok's Foreign Correspondents’ Club of Thailand (FCCT) on 29 August 2007.{{Citation needed|date=June 2010}}.

Academics have been investigated, imprisoned, and forced into exile for lèse majesté. In 2007, Assistant Professor Boonsong Chaisingkananon of [[Silpakorn University]] was the subject of a police investigation for asking students in an exam if the institution of the monarchy was necessary for Thai society and if it could be reformed to be consistent with the democratic system. The university handed in students' answer sheets and the professor's marks.<ref>[http://article112.blogspot.com/2011/03/blog-post_6472.html กรณีบุญส่ง ชัยสิงห์กานานนท์], 30 มีนาคม พ.ศ. 2554</ref> Prominent historian [[Somsak Jeamteerasakul]] was arrested for proposing an eight-point plan on the reform of the monarchy. Somsak claimed that he never proposed to overthrow the monarchy and never insulted Bhumibol personally.<ref>[http://www.seapabkk.org/alerts/100447-seapa-alert-thai-history-professor-faces-lese-majeste-complaint.html SEAPA Alert: Thai history professor faces lèse majesté complaint], 10 May 2011</ref><ref>''Bangkok Post'', [http://www.bangkokpost.com/news/local/233524/intellectuals-join-somsak-to-defend-stance Intellectuals join Somsak to defend stance], 24 April 2011</ref> Associate Professor Giles Ji Ungpakorn went into exile after his book, ''[[A Coup for the Rich]]'', questioned Bhumibol's role in the 2006 coup.<ref>[http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/2009/feb/09/professor-thailand-charged-king British professor flees Thailand after charge of insulting king], 9 February 2009</ref>

Australian Harry Nicolaides was arrested upon arriving in Thailand and sentenced for 3 years in jail for self-publishing the book ''Verisimilitude''. The book, which sold a mere 7 copies, mentioned the "romantic entanglements and intrigues" of members of the royalty. Nicolaides was given a pardon after spending a month in jail and then deported.<ref>{{cite news| url=http://www.smh.com.au/national/author-denies-it-was-a-stunt-20090222-8er7.html | work=The Sydney Morning Herald | title=Author denies it was a stunt | first=Louise | last=Schwartzkoff | date=23 February 2009}}</ref>

Jonathan Head, the head of the Bangkok bureau of the [[British Broadcasting Corporation|British Broadcasting Corporation (BBC)]] was accused of lese majeste on numerous occasions, and eventually fled to Turkey. Among his alleged insults was authoring an article where he investigated whether Bhumibol or his advisers provided backing to People's Alliance for Democracy and allowing a picture of a politician to be placed above a picture of King Bhumibol on a BBC Web site.<ref>Wall Street Journal, [http://online.wsj.com/article/SB122411457349338545.html?mod=googlenews_wsj In Thailand, Insulting the King Can Mean 15 Years in Jail], 16 October 2008</ref><ref>Committee to Protect Journalists, [http://cpj.org/2008/12/bbc-reporter-charged-with-insulting-the-king.php BBC reporter charged with insulting the king], 24 December 2008</ref>

Australian foreign correspondent [[Eric Campbell]] and the entire Bangkok bureau of the [[Australian Broadcasting Corporation]] were banned from entering Thailand after they aired an investigation of Bhumibol's role in the military's violent [[2010 Thai political protests|2010 crackdown on protesters]]. The report was broadcast only in Australia on the ''[[Foreign Correspondent (TV series)|Foreign Correspondent]]'' series.

[[Amnesty International]] considers anyone jailed for insulting Bhumibol to be a [[political prisoner]].<ref>''Bangkok Post'', [http://www.bangkokpost.com/news/investigation/257120/all-eyes-on-article-112 All eyes on Article 112], 18 September 2011</ref>

===Insults to Bhumibol's image===
Acts deemed insulting to Bhumibol's image are also criminal offences in Thailand. In 2007, Oliver Jufer, a Swiss man, was sentenced to 10 years in jail for daubing black paint on portraits of Bhumibol while drunk.<ref name="bbcjailed">{{cite news |date=29 March 2007|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/asia-pacific/6505237.stm |title=Swiss man jailed for Thai insult |publisher=BBC News |accessdate=26 September 2007}}</ref> The Thai press was requested not to publish any information about the case. "This is a delicate issue and we don't want the public to know much about it," noted chief prosecutor Manoon Moongpanchon.<ref name="swissmantry">{{cite web |date=7 February 2007|url=http://www.iol.co.za/index.php?set_id=1&click_id=3&art_id=qw1170840064365B234 |title=Thailand to try Swiss man for insulting king |publisher=IOL |accessdate=26 September 2007}}</ref> The man originally pleaded innocent, but eventually pleaded guilty to five acts of lèse majesté. Foreign reporters were barred from the hearing.<ref name="skyxyz">{{cite web |date=12 March 2007|url=http://news.sky.com/skynews/article/0,30200-1255404,00.html|title=No One Can Offend Him |publisher=Sky News|accessdate=26 September 2007}}</ref> [[Saprang Kalayanamitr]] publicly suspected that Jufer was hired to perform the vandalism and ordered a military investigation.<ref name="telegr123">{{cite news |date=13 March 2007|url=http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/main.jhtml?xml=/news/2007/03/13/wthai13.xml|title=Swiss man faces jail for lèse majesté |publisher=The Telegraph|accessdate=26 September 2007 | location=London}}</ref> Jufer was pardoned by the king less than a month after his conviction and deported.

Suwicha Thakor was arrested and sentenced to 20 years in prison, later commuted to 10, for posting a picture on an internet web board that was deemed insulting to Bhumibol, in violating Article 112 of the Criminal Code and violating the Computer Crime Act of 2007. The CCA was passed by the military junta that followed 2006 coup; Suwicha's conviction was the first time that it had been successfully used to prosecute lèse majesté.<ref>Thai Netizen, [http://thainetizen.org/node/491 First Verdict On CCA-LM Is Scheduled For The Accused Internet User On 3 April 2009], 27 March 2009</ref><ref>The Nation, [http://www.nationmultimedia.com/breakingnews/30099588/Man-gets-10-year-jail-term-for-lese-majesty Man gets 10-year jail term for lese majesty]</ref>

Other insults to Bhumibol's image that have resulted in arrests for lèse majesté include placing photographs of anybody above photographs of the king on websites and not standing while the Royal Anthem is played at cinemas.<ref>Prachatai, [http://www.prachatai.com/english/news.php?id=577 Thai couple faces lèse majesté charges for not standing for royal anthem in cinema], 9 April 2008</ref><ref>Reuters, [http://in.reuters.com/article/asiaCompanyAndMarkets/idINBKK26310120080602 BBC rejects Thai royal slur complaint], 2 July 2008</ref>

===Internet blocking measures===
The government through the Office of Prevention and Suppression of Information Technology Crimes maintains a "war room" where about a dozen computer specialists monitor the content of the internet for pages which disparage the monarchy or pose a threat to national security. A [[web crawler]] is used to search widely. When an offending image or language is found the office obtains a court order blocking the site. As of 2011 70,000 pages had been blocked over a four-year period.<ref name ="NYT">{{cite news|last=Fuller|first=Thomas|title=A High-Tech War Against Slights to a Centuries-Old Monarchy|url=http://www.nytimes.com/2011/10/03/world/asia/03iht-thailand03.html|accessdate=October 4, 2011|newspaper=The New York Times|date=October 2, 2011}}</ref>
On 4 April 2007, the Thai government blocked Thai access to [[YouTube]] as a result of a video clip which it deemed insulting to the king.<ref name="cbsyoutube">{{cite news |date=5 April 2007|url=http://www.cbsnews.com/stories/2007/04/05/tech/main2651336.shtml |title=Thai YouTube Ban Persists Over King Clip|publisher=AP via CBS |accessdate=5 April 2007}}</ref><ref name="bbcyoutube">{{cite news |date=5 April 2007|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/asia-pacific/6532137.stm |title=More Thai king videos on YouTube|publisher=BBC |accessdate=8 April 2007}}</ref> Various leaders of the military junta claimed that the clip was an attempt to undermine the monarchy, attack Thailand as a country, and threaten national security.<ref name="nationyoutube">{{cite web |date=16 April 2007|url=http://nationmultimedia.com/2007/04/16/opinion/opinion_30031941.php |title=Inconvenient truths of censorship|publisher=The Nation|accessdate=26 September 2007}}</ref> On 28 October 2008, The [[Ministry of Information and Communication Technology (Thailand)|Ministry of Information and Communication Technology]] (ICT) announced plans to spend about 100 million to 500 million baht to build a gateway to block websites with contents defaming the royal institution.<ref>{{cite web |date=28 October 2008|url=http://www.bangkokpost.com/breaking_news/breakingnews.php?id=131678 |title=Thailand firewall to block 'offensive' websites|publisher=Bangkok Post|accessdate=2 November 2008}}</ref> "More than 4,800 webpages have been blocked since March last year, an ICT official told [[Agence France-Presse|AFP]], notionally because they contain content deemed insulting to Thailand's deeply-revered royal family."<ref>{{cite web |date=5 February 2009|url=http://www.bangkokpost.com/breakingnews/136259/media-freedom-threats-worry-internet-community|title=Media freedom threats worry internet community|publisher=Bangkok Post|accessdate=5 February 2009}}</ref>

On 29 April 2010, [[Wipas Raksakulthai]] was arrested following a post to his [[Facebook]] account allegedly insulting Bhumibol.<ref name="AFP">{{cite web |url=http://www.google.com/hostednews/afp/article/ALeqM5gl4ZSdUYK_wsrAZM2XQpzlrMtfGA |title=Thai man arrested for Facebook post about monarchy |author= |date=30 April 2010 |work= |publisher=Agence France-Presse |accessdate=15 May 2011}}</ref> The arrest was reportedly the first lèse majesté charge against a Thai Facebook user.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.bangkokpost.com/tech/mobile/184681/govt-cracks-down-on-social-networking-forums |title=Govt cracks down on social networking forums|author= |date=3 July 2010 |work= |publisher=''Bangkok Post'' |accessdate=15 May 2011}}</ref> In response, [[Amnesty International]] named Wipas Thailand's first [[prisoner of conscience]] in nearly three decades.<ref name="AI">{{cite web |url=http://www.nationmultimedia.com/home/Amnesty-International-names-Thailands-first-prison-30155366.html |title=Amnesty International names Thailand's first 'prisoner of conscience' |author= Pravit Rojanaphruk |date=14 May 2011 |work= |publisher=''The Nation'' |accessdate=15 May 2011}}</ref>

==Biographies==
American journalist Paul Handley, who spent thirteen years in Thailand, wrote the biography ''[[The King Never Smiles]]''. The [[Thailand Ministry of Information and Communication Technology|Information and Communications Ministry]] banned the book and blocked the book's page on the Yale University Press website in January 2006. In a statement dated 19 January 2006, Thai National Police Chief General [[Kowit Wattana]] said the book has "contents which could affect national security and the good morality of the people."<ref>{{cite web |last=Warrick-Alexander |first=James|date=6 February 2006 |url=http://www.yaledailynews.com/article.asp?AID=31649 |title=Thailand Bars Univ. Website |publisher=Yale Daily News |accessdate=5 July 2006 |archiveurl = http://web.archive.org/web/20071013142909/http://yaledailynews.com/article.asp?AID=31649 |archivedate = October 13, 2007}}</ref> The book provides a detailed discussion of Bhumibol's role in Thai political history and also analyzes the factors behind Bhumibol's popularity.

[[William Stevenson (Canadian writer)|William Stevenson]], who had access to the Royal Court and the Royal Family, wrote the biography ''The Revolutionary King'' in 2001.<ref>{{cite book |author=Stevenson, William |title=The Revolutionary King |publisher=Constable and Robinson |year=2001 |pages= |isbn=1-84119-451-4}}</ref> An article in ''Time'' says the idea for the book was suggested by Bhumibol.<ref name="Time magazine">{{cite news |last=McCarthy |first=Terry |date=6 December 1999 |url=http://www.time.com/time/asia/magazine/99/1206/thai1.king.html |title=The King and Ire |publisher=Time Asia |accessdate=5 July 2006}}</ref> Critics noted that the book displays intimate knowledge about personal aspects of Bhumibol. However, the book has been unofficially banned in Thailand and the Bureau of the Royal Household warned the Thai media about even referring to it in print. An official ban was not possible as it was written with Bhumibol's blessing. The book has been criticised for factual inaccuracies, disrespecting Bhumibol (it refers to him by his personal nickname "Lek"), and proposing a controversial theory explaining the death of King Ananda. Stevenson said, "The king said from the beginning the book would be dangerous for him and for me."<ref name="Time magazine" />

==Succession to the throne==
[[File:Royal Flag of King Rama IX.svg|thumb|200px|right|The King's [[Royal Cypher|royal cypher]] and [[Royal Flags of Thailand|personal flag]].]]
Bhumibol's only son, Prince [[Vajiralongkorn]], was given the title "Somdej Phra Boroma Orasadhiraj Chao Fah Maha Vajiralongkorn Sayam Makutrajakuman" (Crown Prince of Siam) on 28 December 1972 and made heir apparent (องค์รัชทายาท) to the throne in accordance with the [[Palace Law on Succession of 1924]].<ref>[http://www.ratchakitcha.soc.go.th/DATA/PDF/2515/A/200/1.PDF The Royal Gazette, 28 December 1972]</ref>

On 5 December 1977, Princess Sirindhorn was given the title, "Siam Boromrajakumari" (Princess Royal of Siam). Her title is often translated by the English-language press as "Crown Princess", although her official English-language title is simply "Princess".<ref>{{cite web |year=2004 |url=http://kanchanapisek.or.th/biography/sirindhorn/index.en.html |title=Biography of Her Royal Highness Princess Maha Chakri Sirindhorn |publisher=The Golden Jubilee Network |accessdate=5 July 2006}}</ref>

Although the [[Constitution of Thailand|constitution]] was later amended to allow the [[Privy Council (Thailand)|Privy Council]] to appoint a princess as successor to the throne, this would only occur in the absence of an heir apparent. This amendment is retained in Section 23 of the [[Constitution of Thailand|1997 "People's Constitution."]] This effectively allowed Princess [[Sirindhorn]] to potentially be second in line to the throne, but did not affect Prince [[Vajiralongkorn]]'s status as heir apparent.

Recent constitutions of Thailand have made the amendment of the [[1924 Palace Law of Succession|Palace Law of Succession]] the sole prerogative of the reigning king. According to Gothom Arya, former election commissioner, this allows the reigning king, if he so chooses, to appoint his son or any of his daughters to the throne.<ref>{{cite web |last=Aryan |first=Gothan |date=16 September 2004 |url=http://www.idea.int/news/upload/Nepal%20-%20Thai%20monarchy%20paper%20-%20Gothom%20Aryan.pdf |title=Thai Monarchy |format=PDF |publisher=International Institute for Democracy and Electoral Assistance |accessdate=5 July 2006}} presented in Kathmandu, Nepal</ref>

==Titles and styles==
{{Infobox Monarch styles
|royal name = King Bhumibol Adulyadej <br> Rama IX of Thailand
|image = [[Image:King's Standard of Thailand.svg|70px]]
|dipstyle = [[His Royal Majesty]]
|offstyle = Your Royal Majesty
|altstyle = ''Sir''}}

King Bhumibol Adulyadej's Thai full title is '''"Phra Bat Somdet Phra Poramintharamaha Bhumibol Adulyadej Mahitalathibet Ramathibodi Chakkrinaruebodin Sayamminthrathirat Borommanatbophit"''' ({{lang-th|พระบาทสมเด็จพระปรมินทรมหาภูมิพลอดุลยเดช มหิตลาธิเบศรรามาธิบดี จักรีนฤบดินทร สยามินทราธิราช บรมนาถบพิตร}}; {{Audio|Th-King Bhumibol's ceremonial name.ogg|listen}}), which is referred to in the chief legal documents; and in general documents, the title is shorthened to ''"Phra Bat Somdet Phra Poramintharamaha Bhumibol Adulyadej Sayamminthrathirat Borommanatbophit"'' or just ''"Phra Bat Somdet Phra Poramintharamaha Bhumibol Adulyadej."''

The literal translation of the title is as follows:<ref>[http://kanchanapisek.or.th/biography/hmk.en.html Kanchanapisek.or.th] {{en icon}}</ref>
* ''Phra''—a [[pronoun|third person pronoun]] referring to the person with much higher status than the speaker, meaning "excellent" in general. The word is from [[Sanskrit language|Sanskrit]] ''vara'' ("excellent").
* ''Bat''—"foot," from [[Sanskrit language|Sanskrit]] ''pāda.''
* ''Somdet''—"lord," from [[Khmer language|Khmer]] "samdech" ("excellency").
* ''Poraminthara''—"the great," from Sanskrit ''parama'' ("great") + ''[[indra]]'' ("leader")
* ''Maha''—"great," from Sanskrit, "[[Maha#Sanskrit|maha]]"
* ''Bhumibol''—"Strength of the Land," from Sanskrit ''bhumi'' ("land") +''bala'' ("strength")
* ''Adulyadej''—"Incomparable power," from Sanskrit ''atulya'' ("incomparable") +''teja'' ("power")
* ''Mahitalathibet''—"Son of [[Mahidol Adulyadej|Mahidol]]"
* ''Ramathibodi''—"[[Rama]], the [[Avatar]] of God [[Vishnu]] to become the great ruler"; from Sanskrit ''rama'' + ''adhi'' ("great") + ''patī'' ("president")
* ''Chakkrinaruebodin''—"Leader of the People who is from the [[House of Chakri]]", from Sanskrit ''Cakrī'' + ''nari'' ("men") + ''patī'' ("president")
* ''Sayamminthrathirat''—"the Great King of Siam," from Sanskrit ''[[Siam]]'' (former name of Thailand) + ''indra'' + ''ati'' ("great") + ''rāja'' ("king)
* ''Borommanatbophit''— "the Royalty who is the Great Shelter", from Sanskrit ''parama'' ("great") + ''nādha'' ("the one who others can depend on" or "Power/Right") + "pavitra" ("royalty")

==Ancestors==
{{ahnentafel top|width=100%}}
{{ahnentafel-compact5
|style=font-size: 90%; line-height: 110%;
|border=1
|boxstyle=padding-top: 0; padding-bottom: 0;
|boxstyle_1=background-color: #fcc;
|boxstyle_2=background-color: #fb9;
|boxstyle_3=background-color: #ffc;
|boxstyle_4=background-color: #bfc;
|boxstyle_5=background-color: #9fe;
|1= 1. '''Bhumibol Adulyadej (Rama IX)'''
|2= 2. [[Mahidol Adulyadej]]
|3= 3. [[Srinagarindra]]
|4= 4. [[Chulalongkorn|Chulalongkorn (Rama V)]]
|5= 5. [[Savang Vadhana]]
|6= 6. Chu Chukramol
|7= 7. Kham Chukramol
|8= 8. (=10.) [[Mongkut|Mongkut (Rama IV)]]
|9= 9. [[Debsirindra]]
|10= 10. (=8.) [[Mongkut|Mongkut (Rama IV)]]
|11= 11. [[Piam|Piam Sucharitakul]]
|12= 12. Chum Chukramol
|15= 15. Bha
|16= 16. (=20.) [[Buddha Loetla Nabhalai|Buddha Loetla Nabhalai (Rama II)]]
|17= 17. (=21.) [[Sri Suriyendra|Princess Boonrod]]
|18= 18. Prince Sririwongse, the Prince Matayapitaksa
|19= 19. Noi Bhamornmontri
|20= 20. (=16.) [[Buddha Loetla Nabhalai|Buddha Loetla Nabhalai (Rama II)]]
|21= 21. (=17.) [[Sri Suriyendra|Princess Boonrod]]
|22= 22. Luang Asasamdeang (Tang Sucharitakul)
|23= 23. Thao Sucharitdharmrong (Nag Sucharitakul)
}}</center>
{{ahnentafel bottom}}

==See also==
{{Portal box|Biography}}
*[[Monarchy of Thailand]]
*[[Golden Jubilee Diamond]], the largest faceted diamond in the world, was presented to Bhumibol Adulyadej on the 50th anniversary of his coronation.
*[[Constitutions of Thailand]], describing the evolution of Bhumibol's constitutional rights and responsibilities.
*[[History of Thailand (1932-1973)]]
*[[History of Thailand since 1973]]
*[[Public holidays in Thailand|Public Holidays in Thailand]]
*[[Thai royal and noble titles]]
*[[List of longest reigning monarchs of all time]]
*[[Royal Flags of Thailand]]

==References==
{{Reflist|2}}

==Literature==
* HM King Bhumibol Adulyadej of Thailand. ''The Story of Tongdaeng''. Amarin Book, Bangkok. 2004. ISBN 9742729174
* HM King Bhumibol Adulyadej of Thailand. ''The Story of Mahajanaka''. Amarin Book, Bangkok. 1997. ISBN 9748364712
* HM King Bhumibol Adulyadej of Thailand. ''The Story of Mahajanaka: Cartoon Edition''. Amarin Book, Bangkok. 1999. ISBN 9742720746
* HM King Bhumibol Adulyadej of Thailand. ''His Majesty the King's Photographs in the Development of the Country''. Photographic Society of Thailand & Thai E, Bangkok. 1992. ISBN 9748880508
* HM King Bhumibol Adulyadej of Thailand. ''Paintings by his Majesty the King: Special exhibition for the Rattanakosin Bicentennial Celebration at the National Gallery, Chao Fa Road, Bangkok, 1 April- 30 June 1982''. National Gallery, Bangkok. 1982. {{ASIN|B0007CCDMO}}
* HM King Bhumibol Adulyadej of Thailand, Chaturong Pramkaew (Ed.). ''My Country Thailand...land of Everlasting Smile''. Amarin Book, Bangkok. 1995. ISBN 9748363538

==External links==
{{Commons category|Rama IX}}
{{Wikisource|Announcement of the Prime Minister dated June 9, 1946|Announcement on Enthronement of Prince Bhumibol Adulyadej}}
* [http://www.navy.mi.th/sctr/royal_barge_60/eng/ The Sixtieth Anniversary Celebrations of His Majesty's Accession to the Throne] - official website for the Diamond Jubilee
* [http://www.bangkokpost.com/king2000/ A Visionary Monarch] - provides a lot of insights on his visions and contributions to the country.
* [http://kanchanapisek.or.th/royal-music/index.en.html Songs composed by Bhumibol]
* [http://kanchanapisek.or.th/index.en.html The Golden Jubilee Network] - has many subjects on Bhumibol, including his projects, speeches, and his royal new year card.
* [http://www.supremeartist.org Supreme Artist] - see works of art created by Bhumibol.
* [http://www.thailink.com/king.htm The King's Birthplace]
* [http://www.thaimain.com/eng/monarchy/ Thai monarchy]
* [http://www.bangkokpost.net/king/home.htm Thailand’s Guiding Light]
* [http://www.worldfreeinternet.net/news/nws62.htm Thailand: How a 700-Year-Old System of Government Functions] - article by David Lamb (LA Times staff writer) on Bhumibol
* [http://www.worldpress.org/Asia/2514.cfm "'The King Never Smiles': L'etat, c'est moi", Sreeram Chaulia, ''worldpress.org'', 4 October 2006]
* Far Eastern Economic Review, “The King’s Conglomerate”, June 1988. Contains an interview with Chirayu Isarangkun Na Ayuthaya, Crown Property Bureau
* [http://chiangmaibest.com/king-of-thailand/ King of Thailand]

{{S-start}}
{{S-hou|[[Chakri Dynasty|House of Chakri]]|05 December|1927|Living}}
{{S-reg}}
{{S-bef|before=[[Ananda Mahidol]]}}
{{S-ttl|title=[[Chakri Dynasty|King of Thailand]]|years=1946 – present}}
{{S-inc|heir=[[Maha Vajiralongkorn]]}}
{{End}}

{{Monarchs of Thailand}}

{{Use dmy dates|date=August 2010}}

{{Persondata
|NAME = Bhumibol Adulyadej
|ALTERNATIVE NAMES = Rama IX, the Ninth Rama, King Bhumipol
|SHORT DESCRIPTION = King of Thailand
|DATE OF BIRTH = 5 December 1927
|PLACE OF BIRTH = [[Cambridge, Massachusetts]], United States of America
|DATE OF DEATH =
|PLACE OF DEATH =
}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Bhumibol Adulyadej}}
[[Category:1927 births]]
[[Category:Amateur radio people]] <!-- HS1A -->
[[Category:Boat and ship designers]]
[[Category:Recipients of the Bronze Wolf Award]]
[[Category:Chakri Dynasty]]
[[Category:Current national leaders]]
[[Category:House of Mahidol]]
[[Category:Jazz musicians]]
[[Category:Knights of the Elephant]]
[[Category:Knights of the Golden Fleece]]
[[Category:Recipients of the Royal Order of Cambodia]]
[[Category:Recipients of the Order of the Liberator General San Martin]]
[[Category:Chief Commanders of the Legion of Merit]]
[[Category:Recipients of the Royal Victorian Chain]]
[[Category:Recipients of the Order of the Seraphim]]
[[Category:Knights Grand Cross of the Order of Merit of the Italian Republic]]
[[Category:Knights of Pius IX]]
[[Category:Grand Crosses of the Order of Leopold (Belgium)]]
[[Category:Grand Croix of the Légion d'honneur]]
[[Category:Recipients of the Order of the Gold Lion of the House of Nassau]]
[[Category:Knights Grand Cross of the Order of the Netherlands Lion]]
[[Category:Recipients of the Order of the Chrysanthemum]]
[[Category:Grand Crosses of the Order of the Redeemer]]
[[Category:Recipients of the Order of Sikatuna]]
[[Category:Recipients of the Order of Charles III]]
[[Category:Living people]]
[[Category:Sashes of the Order of the Star of Romania]]
[[Category:Grand Collars of the Order of the Tower and Sword]]
[[Category:Knights Grand Cross with Collar of the Order of St. Olav]]
[[Category:Order of the Queen of Sheba]]
[[Category:Order of the Star of the Republic of Indonesia]]
[[Category:Order of the Crown of Malaysia members]]
[[Category:Recipients of the Order of Pahlevi]]
[[Category:Commanders Crosses of the Order of Merit of the Federal Republic of Germany]]
[[Category:Knights of the Order of the Royal House of Chakri]]
[[Category:Order of Chula Chom Klao]]
[[Category:Recipients of the Olympic Order]]
[[Category:Reigning monarchs]]
[[Category:People from Cambridge, Massachusetts]]
[[Category:Saxophonists]]
[[Category:Thai monarchs]]
[[Category:Thai composers]]
[[Category:Thai Theravada Buddhists]]

[[ar:بوميبول أدولياديج]]
[[be:Пхуміпон Адульядэт]]
[[br:Rama IX]]
[[bg:Бумибол Адулядей]]
[[ca:Bhumibol Adulyadej]]
[[cs:Bhumibol Adulyadej]]
[[cy:Bhumibol Adulyadej]]
[[da:Bhumibol Adulyadej]]
[[de:Bhumibol Adulyadej]]
[[et:Bhumibol Adulyadej]]
[[el:Μπουμιμπόλ Αντουλγιαντέι]]
[[es:Bhumibol Adulyadej]]
[[fr:Rama IX]]
[[gl:Bhumibol Adulyadej]]
[[ko:라마 9세]]
[[hi:भूमिबोल अतुल्यतेज]]
[[hr:Rama IX., tajlandski kralj]]
[[id:Bhumibol Adulyadej]]
[[it:Bhumibol Adulyadej]]
[[he:ראמה התשיעי, מלך תאילנד]]
[[jv:Bhumibol Adulyadej]]
[[la:Bhumibol Adulyadej (rex Siamensis)]]
[[lv:Pūmipons Adunjadēts]]
[[lt:Rama IX]]
[[mr:नववा राम, थायलंड]]
[[ms:Bhumibol Adulyadej]]
[[my:ဘူမိဘော အဒူလျာဒက်]]
[[nl:Rama IX]]
[[ja:ラーマ9世]]
[[no:Bhumibol Adulyadej]]
[[nn:Bhumibol Adulyadej av Thailand]]
[[pms:Bhumibol Adulyadej]]
[[pl:Bhumibol Adulyadej]]
[[pt:Bhumibol Adulyadej]]
[[ro:Bhumibol Adulyadej]]
[[ru:Пхумипон Адульядет]]
[[simple:Bhumibol Adulyadej]]
[[sk:Pchúmipchón Adundét]]
[[sr:Рама IX]]
[[sh:Bhumibol Adulyadej]]
[[fi:Bhumibol Adulyadej]]
[[sv:Bhumibol Adulyadej]]
[[tl:Bhumibol Adulyadej]]
[[th:พระบาทสมเด็จพระปรมินทรมหาภูมิพลอดุลยเดช]]
[[tr:Bhumibol Adulyadej]]
[[vi:Bhumibol Adulyadej]]
[[wuu:拉玛九世]]
[[yo:Bhumibol Adulyadej]]
[[zh-yue:蒲眉王]]
[[zh:普密蓬·阿杜德]]

Revision as of 15:07, 24 October 2011

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