Trooping of the colours
December 3, 2007
Photo: Their Majesties the King and Queen and HRH Crown Prince Maha Vajiralongkorn stand on the raised platform at the trooping of the colour ceremony yesterday. PATTANAPONG HIRUNARD
A good place to start this morning might be with this youtube video of the annual trooping of the colours event. That will give you a very good idea of the parade and ceremony described in the story. Since His Majesty the King left the hospital less than a month ago, there were obvious concerns about his health. Read the story to find out how he looked yesterday. (Don't worry. The news is good.)
Much of the story deals with what the King said yesterday. In its simplest form, His Majesty said the that country was currently unstable and he urged people to think of national security and national unity. Everyone here will agree with his assessment, but they will also likely to interpret his words differently. Think, for example, how differently the anti-Thaksin groups will view the cause of the country's instability from those favouring the return of the former prime minister.
Reconciling these two points of view will not be easy and it will be very interesting to see what His Majesty the King will say tomorrow when he grants an audience to top government leaders and other dignitaries. His Majesty normally speaks informally without notes and I always make it a point to watch.
If you are ambiitous, you might want to go to my section on His Majesty the King and look for last year's coverage of the same event (December 5, 2006). It makes for an interesting comparison.
trooping – walking somewhere in a group เดินเป็นกลุ่ม เหล่า ในที่นี้หมายถึงเดินสวนสนาม
concerns – worries ความกังวล
unstable – of a situation that changes often and having to deal with a lot of dissatisfaction, protests or violence ที่ไม่สงบนิ่ง หมายถึงสถานการณ์บ้านเมืองที่ยังมีความปั่นป่วน ไม่มีเสถียรภาพ
urged – advised someone very strongly about what action or attitude they should take วิงวอน ขอร้อง
assessment – a judgment or opinion that is formed after carefully considering something ประเมิน ดำริ ความคิด การตัดสิน
interpret – to understand something in a particular way ตีความ
reconciling – finding a way to make ideas, beliefs, needs, etc. that are opposed to each other capable of existing together ไกล่เกลี่ย ประนีประนอม ปรองดอง
grant an audience – to allow a formal meeting to take place with an important person like a king พระราชทานพระราชวโรกาสให้ข้าราชการชั้นผู้ใหญ่เข้าเฝ้า
dignitaries – people who have important official positions ผู้มีตำแหน่งสำคัญ
King calls for unity in country
Current situation ‘unstable’ National security must come first
Photo:
His Majesty the King inspects the Royal Guards on parade, an annual
event which celebrates his birthday on Dec 5. JETJARAS NA RANONGHis Majesty the King yesterday called for unity among the armed forces and Thais, urging them to put national security above all else.
The King was addressing soldiers from 13 Royal Guard battalions who gathered at the Royal Plaza for their annual trooping of the colour parade and ceremony of taking an oath of allegiance to mark his 80th birthday on Wednesday.
‘‘It is clear that the current situation is unstable. We can say that if Thais have a lack of awareness for the country, unity, we all may face calamity,’’ His Majesty said.
‘‘Therefore, I ask all soldiers and all Thais in every circle to contemplate whether the country deserves your protection.
‘‘If you think so, please consciously stay honest, minimise prejudice and strengthen kindness and unity.’’
His Majesty, who was released from Siriraj Hospital on Nov 7 after three weeks of medical treatment for insufficient flow of blood to part of his brain, looked physically fit.
His Majesty, accompanied by Her Majesty the Queen and His Royal Highness Crown Prince Maha Vajiralongkorn, arrived at the Royal Plaza in a convertible about 5.10pm yesterday. Other members of the Royal Family also attended.
Several thousand people thronged the streets that led to the Royal Plaza to get a glimpse of the King and members of the Royal Family.
The King, with the Queen by his side, stood in the slowly moving car carrying his sceptre while reviewing the troops in full regalia.
Supreme Commander Boonsrang Niampradit led the soldiers in taking an oath of allegiance before His Majesty, who sat in a pavilion in front of Amporn Garden at the Royal Plaza.
Taking the oath, Gen Boonsrang said soldiers would do their utmost to carry out their tasks with honesty.
They were ready to make the ultimate sacrifice to protect the monarch and the Royal Family, he said.
After the oath, cannons at Sanam Sua Pa beside the Royal Plaza fired a 21-gun salute and 8,000 balloons were released into the sky.
addressing – speaking publicly to a group of people ปราศัย ให้โอวาท ทรงมีพระราชดำรัส
battalion – a large group of soldiers that consists of three or more smaller groups called companies กองพัน
oath of allegiance – a formal promise to be loyal and faithful to a person, group, idea or country ถวายสัตย์ปฏิญาณ
calamity – an event that causes serious damage, or causes a lot of people to suffer ความหายนะ โกลาหล
contemplate – to think very carefully about something for a long time คิด ไตร่ตรองอย่างถี่ถ้วน
consciously – in a deliberate, careful way อย่างระมัดระวังและรอบคอบ
minimise – to reduce to the lowest possible amount ลดลง ทำให้น้อยลง
prejudice – an unreasonable opinion or feeling, especially feeling of not liking a particular group of people อคติ
insufficient – not enough ไม่เพียงพอ
convertible – a car with a roof that can be folded back or removed completely รถเปิดประทุน
thronged – came in large numbers มารวมตัวกัน
glimpse – a short look or view of someone or something มองปราด กวาดตามอง
scepter – a decorated rod (a long thin bar or stick) that a king or queen carries คฑา
regalia – special clothes that you wear for a ceremony or official occasion ชุดแต่งกายเต็มยศ ชุดพิธีการ
pavilion – a building or tent at a special ceremony, exhibition or show พลับพลา ปะรำ
ultimate sacrifice – dying in support of your country, leader, etc. การเสียสละอันยิ่งใหญ่ อันสูงสุด
monarch – a king or a queen กษัตริย์ หรือ พระราชินี
21-gun salute – a ceremony in which guns or cannons are fired พิธียิงปืนใหญ่เพื่อเป็นการถวายความเคารพจำนวน 21 นัด
‘‘As
attested to
by
history, Thais have a close bond
and come together as one. They are not
divided, and always act
in concert,’’ the King said in his
speech to the Royal Guards after they swore allegiance to him.‘‘However, it is clear that the current situation is unstable. We can say that if Thais have a lack of awareness for the country, unity, we all may face calamity.’’
His Majesty urged soldiers and the public to decide for themselves whether the nation is of great importance and is worth protecting to ensure it continues to exist.
‘‘If you realise the country is important, then be careful with your actions and thoughts, stick to honesty, try to put a curb on prejudice and foster compassion and unity among each other.
‘‘No matter what you do, make national security the highest goal,’’ the King said, and wished all Thais happiness and success.
His Majesty then reviewed the soldiers on parade.
More than 2,000 soldiers from 12 Royal Guard battalions marched in the parade.
The trooping of the colour ceremony, which lasted one hour, concluded with a parade of cavalrymen on horseback from the 29th Cavalry Squadron, King’s Guard.
Their Majesties then left the Royal Plaza for Chitralada Palace about 6.10pm.
Along the way, the King waved to people who gathered on the road. They shouted ‘‘Long Live the King’’ as his motorcade passed.
territorial integrity – the quality of keeping a country’s lands whole and complete รักษาเอกราชและอธิปไตยของประเทศไว้ได้
attested – given proof or evidence that something is true ยืนยัน พิสูจน์
bond – connection; something that gives people or groups a reason to love one another or feel they have a duty to one another ความผูกพัน
act in concert – to do something together ปรองดอง ทำร่วมกัน สามัคคีกัน
curb – to limit ระงับ จำกัด
foster –to help something develop สร้าง ปลูกฝัง
compassion – a feeling of sympathy for someone who is in a bad situation because you understand and care about them ความเห็นอกเห็นใจ ความเข้าใจ
reviewed – officially visited during a ceremony ตรวจพล
cavalrymen – soldiers who fight on a horse a part of an army ทหารม้า
motorcade – a group of cars traveling with someone very important ขบวนรถ
The first was an exhibition of muay thai fighting skills by boxers, followed by a performance of five of the army’s marching bands playing several compositions by the King. As part of the week-long celebrations, the King is to address the nation tomorrow, when he grants an audience to members of the cabinet, chief justices and the National Legislative Assembly as well as high-ranking state officials at Dusidalai Pavilion in the compound of Chitralada Palace.
On Wednesday, His Majesty meets a congregation of people at Chakri Maha Prasart Throne Hall at 10.30am. Hundreds of thousands of people, in yellow shirts, are expected to gather along the route from Chitralada Palace to the Grand Palace.
prelude – an event that happens before and introduces a more important event งานที่จัดขึ้นก่อนงานสำคัญ
exhibition – a public show งานแสดง
compositions – pieces of music เพลง
compound – an enclosed area containing several buildings ในอาณาบริเวณ ในเขต
congregation – a group of people gathered together กลุ่มผู้ชุมนุม
throne – a special chair that a king or queen sits on บัลลังก์